Mutasarrif

1895 map showing the Hüdavendigâr Eyalet, divided into Sanjaks, showing the separate Mutasarrifate of Biga and the Mutasarrifate of Izmit

Mutasarrif, mutesarrif, mutasarriff, or mutesarriff (Ottoman Turkish: متصرّف, romanized: mutasarrıf, lit. 'plenipotentiary') was the title used in the Ottoman Empire and places like post-Ottoman Iraq for the governor of an administrative district in place of the usual sanjakbey.[1][2] The Ottoman rank of mutasarrif was established as part of a 1864 reform, and its holder was appointed directly by the Sultan.[3]

The administrative district under his authority, the mutasarrifate (mutasarriflık),[clarification needed] was officially called a sanjak (سنجاق) in Turkish or liwa (لواء) in Arabic and Persian.[2][4] A mutasarrif was subordinate to a wali or governor-general of a province, while being of superior rank to a kaymakam.[2][5]

  1. ^ Mutesarrif. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Mutesarrif". Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon (in German) (6th ed.). 1905–1909. Retrieved 11 February 2022 – via de-academic.com.
  3. ^ Krikorian, Mesrob K. (2018). Armenians in the Service of the Ottoman Empire: 1860-1908. Routledge. p. 24. ISBN 978-1351031288. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  4. ^ Meyers (1905–1909), Liwâ.
  5. ^ Meyers (1905–1909), Kaimakam.