MUTESSARIFAT Meaning and
Definition
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Mutessarifat is an Arabic word that refers to a governmental administrative division used in the Ottoman Empire. Historically, it originated from the Arabic word "mutasarrif," which means an official appointed by the central authority.
In the context of the Ottoman Empire, mutessarifats were subdivisions of larger provinces or sanjaks and were governed by mutessarifs. These officials had the responsibility of administering and overseeing the affairs of the assigned mutessarifat. The mutessarifats were generally characterized by their relatively smaller size and were often located in strategic regions or areas with specific needs.
The mutessarifats had their own administrative, judicial, and financial systems, which were under the direct supervision of the mutessarif. Their authority included maintaining law and order, collecting taxes, managing public services, overseeing infrastructure development, and resolving local disputes. They acted as intermediaries between the central government and the local population, ensuring the implementation of policies and regulations.
The position of mutessarif was often held by experienced civil servants or military officers, as it required both administrative skills and the ability to maintain control and stability in the region. They were accountable to the central government and had to report regularly on the state of affairs in their respective mutessarifats.
The mutessarifat system ceased to exist after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, as the empire dissolved and new states emerged in its place. However, the term still holds historical significance and is often used to refer to the administrative divisions of the Ottoman period in modern discussions and research.
Common Misspellings for MUTESSARIFAT
- nutessarifat
- kutessarifat
- jutessarifat
- mytessarifat
- mhtessarifat
- mjtessarifat
- mitessarifat
- m8tessarifat
- m7tessarifat
- muressarifat
- mufessarifat
- mugessarifat
- muyessarifat
- mu6essarifat
- mu5essarifat
- mutwssarifat
- mutsssarifat
- mutdssarifat
- mutrssarifat
- mut4ssarifat
Etymology of MUTESSARIFAT
The word "Mutessarifat" is derived from the Arabic term "mutasarrif" (متصرّف), which means "governor" or "district commissioner" in English. In the Ottoman Empire, the title of "mutasarrif" referred to the governor or administrator of a district or province called "Mutessarifat". The term is composed of the root words "tassaruf" (تصرف), meaning "managing" or "administering", and the prefix "mu-" (م), denoting the doer of the action. Over time, the term "Mutessarifat" came to represent the administrative divisions or territories governed by a "mutasarrif" in the Ottoman Empire.
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