Sanjak of Salonica

Sanjak of Selonica سنجاق⁩ سلانیك Σαντζάκι Θεσσαλονίκης
Sanjakof theOttoman Empire
1430–1912
A map of Salonica Sanjak within the Salonica Vilayet(c. 1900)
Capital	Thessalonica(Selanik)
History
•Ottoman conquest	1430
•Greek capture	1912
Preceded by Succeeded by Republic of Venice Thessaloniki Vardar Macedonia
Today part of	Greece North Macedonia

TheSanjak of Salonica,Selanik(Ottoman Turkish:سنجاق⁩ سلانیك,Sancağı-i Selânik), orThessalonica(Greek:Σαντζάκι Θεσσαλονίκης,Santzáki Thessaloníkis) was asanjakof theOttoman Empire.It was named for its capitalSalonica,also known by itsTurkishname Selanik and itslatinizedGreekname Thessalonica. It was also known under the Ottomans as theLiva of Salonica&c. (لواء سلانیك,Livâ-i Selânik;Λιβάς Θεσσαλονίκης,Libás Thessaloníkis). The sanjak existed from its formation in 1430 as part of theRumeli Eyaletuntil its conquest in theFirst Balkan Warin 1912 and its reorganization in 1915 as theThessalonica Prefectureof theKingdom of Greece.It served as the pasha sanjak of theEyalet of Salonicafrom 1846–1867 and of theVilayet of Salonicafrom 1867–1912.

History

1907 Ottoman map of the Salonica Vilayet, including the Sanjak of Salonica in the left

A year into theOttomansiegeofThessalonica,its governorAndronikos Palaiologosceded control of the city to theRepublic of Venicein September 1423 in exchange for their commitment to keep the city out of Turkish hands. After the Ottomans finally occupied the city in 1430, its hinterland was organized as the Salonica Sanjak of theRumeli Eyalet,encompassing theChalcidice PeninsulaandMacedoniabetween theVardarandAliakmon Rivers.

As part of theTanzimatreforms, Salonica was elevated to the capital of the new province ofSalonica Eyaletin 1846. This was reorganized in 1867 as theSalonica Vilayet.Its immediate sanjak then became the provincialpasha-sanjak.

At the outbreak of theFirst Balkan Warin 1912, Salonica Sanjak comprised the followingkazas:Selanik (Thessalonica), Kesendire (Kassandra Peninsula), Karaferye (Veroia), Yenice Vardar (Giannitsa), Vodina (Edessa), Langaza (Langadas), Gevgelü (Gevgelija), Avret Hişar (Neo Gynaikokastro), Toyran (Star Dojran), Ustrumca (Strumica), Tikoş/Kavadar (Kavadarci), Katerin (Katerini), Aynaroz (Mount Athos) and Karâğâbad.

Most of the sanjak was captured by thearmyof theKingdom of Greecein October 1912 with Thessalonica falling on the 26th, but its northern portions fell toSerbiaand are now part ofNorth Macedonia.King ConstantineIhad demanded control of the Greek-occupied districts of Macedonia but theprime ministerEleftherios Venizeloscreated agovernorateand named hisminister of JusticeKonstantinos Raktivanto head it instead. The newGovernorate of Macedoniakept the Ottoman administration and officials in place until prefectures were established by royal decree in 1915. The Ottoman kazas were then renamed subgovernates (υποδιοικήσεις,ypodioikíseis) and overseen by governate commissioners (διοικητικοί επίτροποι,dioikitikoí epítropoi) nominated by thegovernor-general.