Subdivisions of the Ottoman Empire
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This article details the subdivisions of the Ottoman Empire.
Provinces
The Ottoman Empire was divided into provinces (vilayets, beylerbeyilik eyalets or pashaluks). As time progressed the number of provinces would vary from thirty-six to a little over twenty, until many of the provinces were lost during World War I. At the height of its power, the Empire had 29 provinces. The Provinces of Rumili and Anadolu were under the direct rule of the sultan in Istanbul. The remaining 27 provinces were controlled by governors-general (beylerbeyis or vadi).
As well as the provinces there were three tributary states (Khanate of Crimea, Wallachia, and Moldavia) and Transylvania, a principality under the suzerainty of the Porte.
After 1861 there also existed the autonomous Lebanon Province, which had been created as a homeland for the Maronite Christians under European pressure.
Subprovinces
A pashaluk consisted of several sanjaks, and a sanjak in turn could be composed of several captaincies.
See also
See the article on state organisation of the Ottoman Empire for further information on the structure of power in the provinces.de:Vilayet et:Vilajett fr:Wilaya hu:Vilajet nl:Vilayet