The Province of Temeşvar was a first-level administrative unit (eyalet) of the Ottoman Empire. It existed from 1552 to 1716. Provincial administration was centered in Temeşvar (today's Timișoara) from 1552 to 1659, and again from 1693 to 1716. During the 1659-1693 interval, its second capital was Yanova (today's Ineu), and within that period, it was also known as the Province of Yanova. The province was located in the Banat region of Central Europe. Besides Banat, it also included southern parts of the Crișana region, north of the Mureș River. Its territory is now divided between Hungary, Romania, and Serbia.

Names

The name of the province in Ottoman Turkish was Eyâlet-i Temeşvar or Eyâlet-i Tımışvar (in Modern Turkish: Temeşvar Eyaleti or Tamışvar Eyaleti), in Hungarian was Temesvári vilajet, in Romanian was Eialetul Timișoarei or Pașalâcul Timișoara, in Serbian was Темишварски ејалет or Temišvarski ejalet. The province was named after its administrative seat, Temeşvar. The Turkish name Temeşvar is given after the Hungarian one, Temesvár meaning "Castle on the Temes" (River).

History

Upon the initial dissolution of the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom in the summer of 1551, much of its territories, including the Temes County and the surrounding regions, were integrated into the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary, thus provoking the reaction of the Ottoman Empire, that invaded the region in the autumn of the same year, taking several cities, but not being able to conquer Temeşvar. The Eyalet of Temeşvar was formed in 1552, when the Hungarian castle of Temesvár defended by the troop of István Losonczy was finally captured by the Ottoman troops led by Kara Ahmed Pasha on July 26, 1552. The Eyalet was led by a vali (governor) or beylerbey (sometimes with position of pasha or vizir), whose residence was at the former Hunyadi Castle in Temeşvar (1552-1659 and 1693-1716), and also in Yanova (1659-1693). It existed until 1716, when its territory was conquered by the Habsburg monarchy during the Austro-Turkish War (1716–1718). In 1718, the Habsburgs formed a new province in this region, named the Banat of Temeswar.

Administrative divisions

Upon creation in 1552, the Eyalet of Temeşvar was divided into these sanjaks: By the end of the 16th century new sanjaks were created: During the 17th century additional sanjaks were created: Sanjaks of Güle, Yanova and Fenlak, and northern parts of the Çanad and Lipva sanjaks were transferred to Habsburg Monarchy after signing of the Treaty of Karlowitz (1699).

Governors

Sources