Scutari vilayet

Division of the Ottoman Empire located in Montenegro and Albania

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|

Vilâyet-i İşkodra
Vilajeti i Shkodrës

Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire
1867–1913

Flag

The Scutari Vilayet in 1867–1912
Capital| Scutari (present-day Shkodër)
Area|
• Coordinates| 42°4′N 19°30′E﻿ / ﻿42.067°N 19.500°E﻿ / 42.067; 19.500
Population|

• 1911[1]

| 349,455
History|

• Vilayet Law

| 1867

• First Balkan War

| 1913

Preceded by | Succeeded by

|

|  | Sanjak of Scutari

|

| Provisional Government of Albania |

|

Kingdom of Montenegro |
Today part of| Montenegro
Albania

The Vilayet of Scutari, Shkodër or Shkodra (Turkish: İşkodra Vilayeti or Vilayet-i İşkodra; Albanian: Vilajeti i Shkodrës) was a first-level administrative division (vilayet) of the Ottoman Empire that existed from 1867 to 1913, located in parts of what today is Montenegro and Albania. In the late 19th century it reportedly had an area of 13,800 square kilometres (5,310 square miles).[2]

## History

[edit]

Main article: Sanjak of Scutari

The Scutari Vilayet was established in 1867.[3] The Sanjak of Scutari was established when Ottoman Empire acquired Shkodra after the Siege of Shkodra in 1478–79. A big part of Principality of Zeta was added to territory of Sanjak of Scutari in 1499.[4] In 1514 this territory was separated from the Sanjak of Scutari and established as separate Sanjak of Montenegro, under the rule of Skenderbeg Crnojević. When he died in 1528, the Sanjak of Montenegro was merged with Sanjak of Scutari, as unique administrative unit with certain degree of autonomy.[5]

In 1867, the Sanjak of Scutari merged with the Sanjak of Skopje and became the Scutari Vilayet. Its sanjaks were Sanjak of Scutari, Prizren, and Sanjak of Dibra. In 1877, Prizren passed to the Kosovo Vilayet and Dibra passed to the Monastir Vilayet, while Durrës (Dıraç) township became Durrës Sanjak. After the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) Bar, Podgorica, İşpozi and Zabyak townships were ceded to Montenegro in 1878. Also Ülgün one was ceded to Montenegro in 1881.[6]

In the late Ottoman period, unlike in other areas of the empire, Albanian Catholics in İşkodra vilayet had access to emerging Albanian language schooling subsidized by Austria-Hungary.[7] Local Catholic clergy were also involved in developing mostly religious Albanian literature, aimed at preserving and strengthening the Roman Catholic faith in the region.[7] Due partly to the location of being near the border with Montenegro the state exempted the townspeople of İşkodra from regular military service and unlike other urban dwellers within the empire they paid fewer taxes.[7]

Ottoman control mainly existed in the few urban centres and valleys of the vilayet and was minimal and almost non-existent in the mountains, where Malisors (Albanian highlanders) lived an autonomous existence according to kanun (tribal law) of Lek Dukagjini.[8] Disputes would be solved through tribal law within the framework of vendetta or gjakmarrja (blood feuding) and the activity was widespread among the Malisors, while Ottoman officials strongly disproved of the practice.[7] Nineteen percent of male deaths in İşkodra vilayet were caused by murders due to vendetta and blood feuding during the late Ottoman period.[7] Malisors viewed Ottoman officials as a threat to their tribal way of living and left it to their bajraktars (chieftains) to deal with the Ottoman political system.[8]

The Malisors (highlanders) lived in three geographical regions within İşkodra sanjak.[9] Malesia e Madhe (great highlands) with its religiously mixed Catholic-Muslim five large (Hoti, Kelmendi, Shkreli, Kastrati and Gruda) and seven small tribes; Malesia e Vogel (small highlands) with seven Catholic tribes such as the Shala, Shoshi, Toplana, Nikaj; and Mirdita, which was also a large powerful tribe that could mobilise 5,000 irregular troops.[9] The government estimated the military strength of Malisors in İşkodra sanjak as numbering over 30,000 tribesmen and Ottoman officials were of the view that the highlanders could defeat Montenegro on their own with limited state assistance.[10]

Dıraç sanjak contained the fertile plain of Zadrima between Mirdita and the Drin river.[11] Political life in the sanjak was dominated by a few powerful Albanian landowners such as the Toptani family who controlled the area around Kruja and Tirana as a personal fiefdom with family holdings amounting to some 123,000 acres.[11] To protect economic interests landowning beys in the area maintained small private armies numbering between 200 and 500 men that also served as bodyguards during travel.[11] In the 1880s from an Albanian point of view the sanjaks of İşkodra and Dıraç along with the whole of İşkodra vilayet belonged to the region of Gegënia.[12]

A map showing the administrative divisions of the Ottoman Empire in 1317 Hijri, 1899 Gregorian, Including the Vilayet of Scutari and its Sanjaks.

In 1912 and beginning of 1913 it was occupied by members of Balkan League during the First Balkan War. In 1914 the territory of Scutari Vilayet became a part of Principality of Albania, established on the basis of peace contract signed during London Conference in 1913.[13]

## Administrative divisions

[edit]

Sanjaks of the Vilayet:[14]

1. Sanjak of Scutari (Shkodër, Lezhë, Orosh, Pukë, Tuzi)
2. Sanjak of Durrës (Durrës, Tirana, Krujë, Kavajë, Shijak)

## Demographics

[edit]

During the 1880s, the population of İşkodra vilayet ranged between 200,000 and 300,000 people, split between the two sanjaks of İşkodra (Catholic majority) and Dıraç (Muslim majority).[7] Albanians were the main ethnicity in the vilayet consisting more than 90 percent of the population.[7]

Ottoman-Albanian intellectual Sami Frashëri during the 1880s estimated the population of Shkodër as numbering 37,000 inhabitants that consisted of three-quarters being Muslims and the rest Christians made up of mostly Catholics and a few hundred Orthodox.[15]

### 1874 estimation

[edit]

According to Russian consulate Ivan Yastrebov's estimations, there were 80.000 Catholic males, 20.000 Orthodox males, and 9.500 Muslim males in the Sanjak of Scutari. The majority of the population spoke the Albanian language. He asserted that the Orthodox, and a number of Muslims, spoke the Serbian language.[16]

### 1911 estimation

[edit]

According to Ottoman census data, the total population of the vilayet in 1911 was 349,455 with the following ethnoreligious composition (Orthodox Serbs and Albanians were counted as Greeks):[17]

* Muslims \- 218,089
* Catholics \- 120,611
* Greeks \- 10,755

### 1912 estimation

[edit]

A publication from 21 December 1912 in the Belgian magazine Ons Volk Ontwaakt (Our Nation Awakes) estimated 185,200 inhabitants:[18]

* Muslim Albanians \- 80,000
* Muslim Serbs \- 40,000
* Orthodox Serbs \- 30,000
* Catholic Albanians \- 14,000
* Orthodox Vlachs \- 10,000
* Jews \- 5,000
* Muslim Gypsies \- 5,000
* Muslim Turks \- 1,200

## See also

[edit]

Part of a series on the

History of Albania

Early History

* Prehistoric Albania
* Origin of the Albanians
* Christianization of Albania
* Illyria
* Illyrians
* Macedonia
* Illyricum

Medieval

* Byzantine rule
* Bulgarian rule
* Principality of Arbanon
* Angevin Kingdom of Albania
* Principality of Albania
* Serbian rule
* Principalities
* League of Lezhë
* Venetian Albania
* Albanian nobility
* Albanian cities during the Middle Ages

Early modern

* Principality of Mirdita
* Ottoman Albania
* Islamization of Albania
* Sanjak of Albania
* Sanjak of Scutari
* Sanjak of Dibra
* Scutari Vilayet
* Janina Vilayet
* Manastir Vilayet
* Kosovo Vilayet
* Pashaliks
* Massacre of the beys
* National Awakening
* Revolts of 1833-1839
* Revolt of 1843-1844
* Revolt of 1845
* Revolt of 1847
* League of Prizren
* League of Peja
* Revolt of 1910
* Malissori uprising
* Battle of Deçiq
* Revolt of 1912
* Albanian Vilayet
* Declaration of Independence

Late modern

* Independent Albania
* Provisional Government
* Congress of Trieste
* International Commission of Control
* Balkan Wars
* Principality
* Peasant Revolt
* World War I in Albania
* Republic of Central Albania
* Republic of Korçë
* Republic of Mirdita
* Italian protectorate (southern)
* Congress of Durrës
* Vlora War
* Congress of Lushnjë
* Italian protectorate
* June Revolution
* Principality (Regency)
* Albanian Republic
* Albanian Kingdom
* Albania under Italy
* German occupation of Albania
* World War II in Albania
* Second League of Prizren
* Liberation Day
* Socialist Albania

Contemporary

* Post-communism
* 1997 Albanian civil unrest
* Republic of Albania

Topics

* Art
* Constitution
* Economy
* Monarchs
* Military
* Names

Timeline

* v
* t
* e

* Vilayets of the Ottoman Empire

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Teaching Modern Southeast European History Archived 20 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Alternative Educational Materials, p. 26
2. ^ Europe by Éliseé Reclus, p. 152
3. ^ Bayly Winder, Richard (1969). Near Eastern round table, 1967-68. New York: Near East Center and the Center for International Studies, New York University. p. 110. Retrieved 29 September 2011. "In June 1867, thirteen new vilayets were formed: Bursa, Dardanelles, ... Ankara, Diyarbekir (Kurdistan), Sivas, Kastamonu, Thessaloniki (Salanik), Konya, and Yanina (Epirus and Thessaly), Prizren, and Ishkodra (Scutari of Albania)."
4. ^ Ćorović, Vladimir (1933). Istorija Jugoslavije (in Serbian). Beograd: Narodno Delo. Retrieved 27 April 2011. "Год. 1499. припојена је била Црна Гора скадарском санџакату. Али, год. 1514. одвојио је султан поново и поставио јој за управника, као санџак-бега, потурченог Станишу, односно Скендер-бега Црнојевића."
5. ^ Ćorović, Vladimir (1933). Istorija Jugoslavije (in Serbian). Beograd: Narodno Delo. Retrieved 27 April 2011. "1528... Црна Гора је потом поново припојена скадарском санџакату и остала је са извесним ... правима његов саставни део..."
6. ^ Gençoğlu, Mustafa (16 October 2017). "İŞKODRA VİLAYETİ'NİN İDARİ TAKSİMATI VE YAPISI (1867/1868-1908)". Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi. 13 (3) - via dergipark.ulakbim.gov.tr.
7. ^ a b c d e f g Gawrych 2006, p. 29.
8. ^ a b Gawrych 2006, p. 30.
9. ^ a b Gawrych 2006, pp. 31–32.
10. ^ Gawrych 2006, p. 33.
11. ^ a b c Gawrych 2006, pp. 33–34.
12. ^ Gawrych 2006, p. 28.
13. ^ Vickers, Miranda (1999). The Albanians: a modern history. I.B.Tauris. pp. 77, 78. ISBN 978-1-86064-541-9.
14. ^ "İşkodra Vilayeti - Tarih ve Medeniyet". 8 October 2009.
15. ^ Gawrych, George (2006). The Crescent and the Eagle: Ottoman rule, Islam and the Albanians, 1874–1913. London: IB Tauris. pp. 29, 217. ISBN 9781845112875.
16. ^ Folić, Milutin (1991), "Izveštaji ruskog konzula Ivana Stepanoviča Jastrebova iz Skadra o slovenskom življu i njihovim crkvama u Albaniji u drugoj polovini XIX veka", Stanovništvo slovenskog porijekla u Albaniji : zbornik radova sa međunarodnog naučnog skupa održanog u Cetinju 21, 22. i 23. juna 1990 (in Serbian), Titograd: Istorijski institut SR Crne Gore; Stručna knj., OCLC 29549273; Гласник Српског ученог друштва, књ. XL. стр. 182-183
17. ^ Teaching Modern Southeast European History Archived 2012-03-20 at the Wayback Machine. Alternative Educational Materials, p. 26
18. ^ Published on 21 December 1912 in the Belgian magazine Ons Volk Ontwaakt (Our Nation Awakes) - view the table of Vilajet Skutari: Skynet GodsdBalkan

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Scutari Vilayet at Wikimedia Commons

"Scutari" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 518–519.

* v
* t
* e

Administrative divisions of the Ottoman Empire

c. 1365 – 1867 (eyalets)

| Africa|

* Algiers
* Egypt
* Muhammad Ali dynasty
* Habesh
* Tripolitania
* Tunis

|

Anatolia|

* Adana
* Aidin
* Anatolia
* Ankara
* Childir
* Diyarbekir
* Dulkadir
* Erzurum
* Hüdavendigâr
* Karaman
* Kars
* Kastamonu
* Kurdistan
* Rum
* Trebizond
* Van

Europe|

* Adrianople
* Archipelago
* Bosnia
* Budin
* Crete
* Egir
* Herzegovina
* Kanije
* Kefe
* Morea
* Niš
* Podolia
* Rumelia
* Salonica
* Silistra
* Temeşvar
* Uyvar
* Varat
* Widdin
* Yanina

Levant|

* Aleppo
* Cyprus
* Damascus
* Jerusalem
* Sidon
* Mount Lebanon
* Tripoli

Arabia|

* Yemen
* Lahsa

Mesopotamia|

* Baghdad (Mamluk of Iraq)
* Mosul
* Basra
* Rakka
* Shahrizor

1867–1922 (vilayets and mutasarrıfates)

| Africa|

* Tripolitania

|

Anatolia|

* Adana
* Aidin
* Angora (Ankara)
* Archipelago
* Bitlis
* Constantinople (Istanbul)
* Diyarbekir
* Erzurum
* Hüdavendigâr
* Kastamonu
* Konya
* Mamuret-ul-Aziz
* Sivas
* Trebizond (Trabzon)
* Van

Europe|

* Adrianople (Edirne)
* Bosnia
* Constantinople
* Crete
* Danube
* Janina
* Kosovo
* Manastir
* Salonica
* Scutari

Levant|

* Aleppo
* Beirut
* Mount Lebanon
* Syria
* Jerusalem

Arabia|

* Hejaz
* Yemen

Mesopotamia|

* Baghdad
* Mosul
* Basra

Vassals and autonomies

| Vassals|

* Cossack Hetmanate
* Ottoman Ukraine
* Crimean Khanate
* Khanate of Kazan
* Principality of Moldavia
* Sharifate of Mecca
* Republic of Ragusa
* Serbian Despotate
* Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1672–1676)
* Duchy of Syrmia
* Principality of Transylvania
* Principality of Wallachia
* Principality of Romania
* Principality of Serbia
* Principality of Bulgaria
* Kingdom of Imereti
* Septinsular Republic

|

Autonomies|

* Cretan State
* Khedivate of Egypt
* Kurdish emirates
* Mamluk of Iraq
* Eastern Rumelia
* Principality of Samos

* v
* t
* e

Albanians under the Ottoman Empire

Background

History|

| Rebellion|

* Skanderbeg's rebellion
* Italian expedition
* Macedonian campaign
* Albanian revolts
* 1432 - 36
* 1481–1484
* 1566–1571
* 1596
* 1611
* 1843 - 44
* 1845
* 1847
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* Albanian–Venetian War
* Ali Pasha's Rebellion
* Ballaban's campaign
* Massacre of the Albanian Beys
* Mehmed II's campaign
* Morea revolt
* Mustafa Pasha's Rebellion
* Shkodra revolt of 1854

|

Battles|

* Albulena
* Ankara
* Deçiq
* Kosovo
* Lopate
* Lumë
* Martinići
* Meçad
* Mokra I
* Mokra II
* Murino
* Novšiće
* Ohrid
* Oranik I
* Oranik II
* Otonetë
* Polog
* Savra
* Torvioll
* Ulcinj
* Vaikal

Congregations|

* Dibër
* Dibra
* Dukagjin
* Elbasan
* Frashër
* Kuçi
* Lezhë
* Manastir I
* Manastir II
* Mat
* Peja
* Preveza
* Prizren

Sieges|

* Krujë
* 1450
* 1466 - 67
* 1467
* 1477 - 78
* Berat
* Shkodër
* 1474
* 1478 - 79
* 1912 - 13
* Svetigrad

Other events|

* Albanian Renaissance
* Armatoles
* Balkan Wars
* Massacres of Albanians in the Balkan Wars
* Declaration of Independence
* Janissary
* Bashi-Bazouk
* Devshirme
* Mësonjëtorja
* Nationalism
* Albania
* Kosovo
* North Macedonia
* Partition of Albania
* Piracy
* Principalities
* Dukagjini
* Kastrioti
* Muzaka
* Rum Millet
* Skanderbeg myth
* Spahiu
* Stratioti
* Vithkuqi script

Geography|

* Eyalets
* Ioannina
* Rumelia
* Pashaliks
* Berat
* Scutari
* Yanina
* Sanjaks
* Albania
* Avlona
* Delvina
* Dibra
* Elbasan
* Görice
* Ioannina
* Monastir
* Ohrid
* Scutari
* Vilayets
* Albania
* Janina
* Kosovo
* Manastir
* Scutari

Society|

| Culture|

* Besa
* Islamization
* Bektashism
* Kanun
* Nobility
* Tribes

|

People|

* 15th century
* 16th century
* 17th century
* 18th century
* 19th century
* 20th century
* Grand Viziers
* Ottoman - Albanian nobility
* Pashas

Communities|

* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Arbanasi
* Egypt
* Greece
* Arvanites
* Cham
* Souliotes
* Western Thrace
* Italy
* Arbëreshë
* Romania
* Syria
* Turkey
* Ukraine

* Category

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*[e]: Edit this template
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