Sanjak of Niš
Encyclopedia
The Sanjak of Niš or Sanjak of Nish was one of the sanjak
s of the Ottoman Empire
and its county town
was Niš
. It was composed of the kazas of Niš
, Pirot
, Leskovac
, Vranje
, Kuršumlija
, Prokuplje
and Tran (today in Bulgaria)
.
Ottoman Empire captured Niš in 1375 for the first time. At the battle of Niš (early November, 1443), crusaders
led by John Hunyadi
, captured Ottoman
stronghold Niš
and defeated three armies of the Ottoman Empire. After 1443 Niš was under control of Đurađ Branković. In 1448 it was again captured by Ottoman Empire and remained under its control for the next 241 years. In 1689 (during Great Turkish War
) and in 1737 Niš was captured for a brief period of time by Austrian monarchy.
Midhat Pasha was one of the most noteworthy sanjakbeys of the Sanjak of Niš whose reforms organized in this sanjak while he was its sanjakbey (1861 — 1864) were so beneficial that the sultan
charged him with preparing the scheme for adapting them to the whole empire.
The Sanjak of Niš became part of the Danube Vilayet when the latter was created in 1864. In 1868 Sanjak of Niš was joined with the Sanjak of Prizren
, Sanjak of Skopje
and Sanjak of Dibra into one vilayet, Prizren Vilayet, which existed till 1877. In 1871 Sanjak of Niš was joined to Sanjak of Novi Pazar
to establish the new Ottoman vilayet — Vilayet of Novi Pazar which existed less than a year, when previous situation was restored.
Albanians
were majority population in many areas of Sanjak of Niš, like Toplica
region and some villages in district of Vranje
, prior to the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878).
The largest part of Sanjak of Niš was retained by the Principality of Serbia after Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), while smaller part and the whole Sanjak of Sofia were annexed by the Principality of Bulgaria
.
Sanjak
Sanjaks were administrative divisions of the Ottoman Empire. Sanjak, and the variant spellings sandjak, sanjaq, and sinjaq, are English transliterations of the Turkish word sancak, meaning district, banner, or flag...
s of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and its county town
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
was Niš
Niš
Niš is the largest city of southern Serbia and third-largest city in Serbia . According to the data from 2011, the city of Niš has a population of 177,972 inhabitants, while the city municipality has a population of 257,867. The city covers an area of about 597 km2, including the urban area,...
. It was composed of the kazas of Niš
Niš
Niš is the largest city of southern Serbia and third-largest city in Serbia . According to the data from 2011, the city of Niš has a population of 177,972 inhabitants, while the city municipality has a population of 257,867. The city covers an area of about 597 km2, including the urban area,...
, Pirot
Pirot
Pirot is a town and municipality located in south-eastern Serbia. According to 2011 census, the town has a total population of 38,432, while the population of the municipality is 57,911...
, Leskovac
Leskovac
Leskovac is a city and municipality in southern Serbia. It is the administrative center of the Jablanica District of Serbia...
, Vranje
Vranje
Vranje is a city and municipality located in southern Serbia. In 2011 the city has total population of 82,782, while the urban area has 54,456...
, Kuršumlija
Kuršumlija
Kuršumlija is a town and municipality located in the south of Serbia, nearby the rivers Toplica, Kosanica and Banjska, on the southeast of mountain Kopaonik, and northwest of Radan Mountain...
, Prokuplje
Prokuplje
Prokuplje is a town and municipality located in Serbia at 43.24° North, 21.59° East. According to 2011 census, the town has a total population of 27,163 inhabitants, while population of municipality is 43,631. It is the administrative center of the Toplica District of Serbia. It is one of the...
and Tran (today in Bulgaria)
Tran, Bulgaria
Tran |thorn]]") is a small town in Pernik Province, western Bulgaria. It is 27 kilometres away from the town of Breznik and 15 km from the border with Serbia....
.
Ottoman Empire captured Niš in 1375 for the first time. At the battle of Niš (early November, 1443), crusaders
Crusaders
The Crusaders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Christchurch that competes in the Super Rugby competition. They are the most successful team in Super Rugby history with seven titles...
led by John Hunyadi
John Hunyadi
John Hunyadi John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: Ioannes Corvinus or Ioannes de Hunyad, Romanian: Iancu (Ioan) de Hunedoara, Croatian: Janko Hunjadi, Serbian: Сибињанин Јанко / Sibinjanin Janko, Slovak: Ján Huňady) John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: ...
, captured Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
stronghold Niš
Niš
Niš is the largest city of southern Serbia and third-largest city in Serbia . According to the data from 2011, the city of Niš has a population of 177,972 inhabitants, while the city municipality has a population of 257,867. The city covers an area of about 597 km2, including the urban area,...
and defeated three armies of the Ottoman Empire. After 1443 Niš was under control of Đurađ Branković. In 1448 it was again captured by Ottoman Empire and remained under its control for the next 241 years. In 1689 (during Great Turkish War
Great Turkish War
The Great Turkish War refers to a series of conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and contemporary European powers, then joined into a Holy League, during the second half of the 17th century.-1667–1683:...
) and in 1737 Niš was captured for a brief period of time by Austrian monarchy.
Midhat Pasha was one of the most noteworthy sanjakbeys of the Sanjak of Niš whose reforms organized in this sanjak while he was its sanjakbey (1861 — 1864) were so beneficial that the sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
charged him with preparing the scheme for adapting them to the whole empire.
The Sanjak of Niš became part of the Danube Vilayet when the latter was created in 1864. In 1868 Sanjak of Niš was joined with the Sanjak of Prizren
Sanjak of Prizren
The Sanjak of Prizren was one of the sanjaks in the Ottoman Empire with Prizren as its administrative centre. It was founded immediately after Ottoman Empire captured Prizren from Serbian Despotate in 1455. It was one of the sanjaks established on the territory which Ottoman Empire conquered from...
, Sanjak of Skopje
Sanjak of Skopje
The Sanjak of Skopje or the Sanjak of Uskub was one of the sanjaks in the Ottoman Empire with Skopje as its administrative centre.Skopje became part of Ottoman Empire after it was captured from District of Branković on January 6, 1392. The first Ottoman governor of Skopje was Pasha Yiğit Bey, a...
and Sanjak of Dibra into one vilayet, Prizren Vilayet, which existed till 1877. In 1871 Sanjak of Niš was joined to Sanjak of Novi Pazar
Sanjak of Novi Pazar
The Sanjak of Novi Pazar was an Ottoman sanjak that existed until the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 in the territory of present day Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.-History:It was part of the Bosnia Vilayet and later Kosovo Vilayet and included...
to establish the new Ottoman vilayet — Vilayet of Novi Pazar which existed less than a year, when previous situation was restored.
Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
were majority population in many areas of Sanjak of Niš, like Toplica
Toplica District
The Toplica District expands in the southern part of Serbia. It has a population of 90,600 and has been named after the river Toplica. Seat of the District is in the city of Prokuplje.-Municipalities:It encompasses the municipalities of:*Prokuplje*Blace...
region and some villages in district of Vranje
Vranje
Vranje is a city and municipality located in southern Serbia. In 2011 the city has total population of 82,782, while the urban area has 54,456...
, prior to the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878).
The largest part of Sanjak of Niš was retained by the Principality of Serbia after Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), while smaller part and the whole Sanjak of Sofia were annexed by the Principality of Bulgaria
Principality of Bulgaria
The Principality of Bulgaria was a self-governing entity created as a vassal of the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878. The preliminary treaty of San Stefano between the Russian Empire and the Porte , on March 3, had originally proposed a significantly larger Bulgarian territory: its...
.
Further reading
- Vendosja dhe pozita e shqipëtarëve të Sanxhakut të Nishit, Sabit Uka (1993)
- Life and activity of Albanians in the Sanjak of Nish up to 1912, Sabit Uka (2004)