Nablus Sanjak

The Nablus Sanjak (Turkish: Nablus Sancağı) was an administrative area that existed throughout Ottoman rule in the Levant (1517-1917). It was administratively part of the Damascus Eyalet until 1864 when it became part of Syria Vilayet and then the Beirut Vilayet in 1888.

Sanjak of Nablus
Sanjak of the Ottoman Empire Under Damascus Eyalet (1549–1856) Under Sidon Eyalet (1856–1864) Under Syria Vilayet (1864–1888) Under Beirut Vilayet (1888–1918)
1549–1918
Nablus Sanjak, 1914
Capital	Nablus
History
• Established	1549
• Sykes–Picot Agreement	16 May 1916
• Battle of Nablus	19–25 September 1918
• Disestablished	1918
Succeeded by Occupied Enemy Territory Administration
Today part of	Palestine  Israel

History

Early Ottoman rule

Palestine with the Hauran and the adjacent districts, William Hughes 1843

In the 1596- daftar, the Sanjak of Nablus contained the following subdivisions and villages/town:

Nahiya Jabal Sami

• Tayasir,[1] 'Aqqaba,[1] Tammun,[1] Tubas,[1] Sir,[1] Talluza,[1] Fandaqumiya,[1] Jaba,[1] Burqa,[1] Zawata,[1] Ijnisinya,[2] Rama,[2] Ajjah,[2] Attil,[2] Kafr Rumman,[2] Shufa,[2] Beit Lid,[2] Saffarin,[2] Yasid[2] Kufeir,[3] Baqa al-Gharbiyye,[3] Ramin,[3] Zemer,[3] Anabta,[3] Bal'a,[3] Qabatiya,[3] Al-Judeida,[3] Arraba,[4] Yabad,[4] Kufeirit,[4] Burqin,[4] Asira ash-Shamaliya,[4] Kafr Qud,[4] Mirka,[4] Siris,[4] Meithalun,[4] Kafr al-Labad,[4] Sanur,[4] Sebastia,[5] Nisf Jubeil,[5] Qusin,[5] Silat ad-Dhahr,[5] Raba,[5] Salhab,[5] Al-Attara,[5] Bizziriya,[5] Fahma,[6] Beit Imrin,[6] Seida,[6] Zawiya[6]

Nahiya Jabal Qubal

• Salim,[6] Beit Dajan,[6] Awarta,[6] Einabus,[6] Urif,[6] Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya,[7] Madama,[7] Iskaka,[7] Aqraba,[7] Zeita Jamma'in,[7] Kifl Hares,[7] Marda,[7] Mas-ha,[7] Haris,[7] Qabalan,[7] Zawiya,[8] Burin,[8] Al-Lubban al-Gharbi,[8] Al-Mughayyir,[8] Salfit,[8] Huwara,[8] Beit Iba,[8] Kafr Thulth,[8] Qarawat Bani Hassan,[8] Jamma'in,[9] Qira,[9] Kafr Qaddum,[9] Khirbet Qeis,[9] Majdal Bani Fadil,[9] Talfit,[9] Duma,[9] Fara'ata,[9] Jit,[9] Bruqin,[10] Beita,[10] Hableh,[10] Balata al-Balad,[10] Farkha,[10] Rafat,[10] Odala,[10] Yasuf,[10] Sarra,[10] Tell,[10] Asira al-Qibliya,[10] Kafr Qallil,[11] Qusra,[11] Jurish,[11] Yanun,[11] Azmut,[11] Osarin,[11] Sarta,[11] Yatma,[12] Al-Muzayri'a,[12] Ammuriya,[12] Immatain,[12] Rantis,[12] Askar (camp),[12] Beit Wazan,[12] Deir Istiya,[12] Jalud,[13] Biddya,[13] Majdal Yaba,[13] As-Sawiya[13]

Nahiya Qaqun

• Kafr Rai,[13] Zeita,[13] Tulkarm,[13] Iktaba,[13] Dhinnaba,[14] Zemer,[14] Qaqun[14]

Nahiya Bani Sa'b

• Al-Funduq,[15] Jinsafut,[15] Hajjah,[15] Kafr Sur,[15] Al-Jammasin al-Gharbi,[15] Jarisha,[15] Baqat al-Hatab,[15] Falamya,[15] Far'un,[15] Qalansawe,[15] Qalqilyah,[16] Jaljulia,[16] Kafr Saba,[16] Kafr Zibad,[16] Kur,[16] Sir,[16] Jayyous,[16] Kafr Abbush,[16] Kafr Laqif,[16] Islah,[17] Tayibe,[17] Fardisya,[17] Al-Ras,[17] Al-Jammasin al-Sharqi[17]

Later Ottoman rule

In the 19th century, it consisted of nearly 113 towns and villages, in addition to the city of Nablus. From the 17th to the early 20th century it maintained its autonomy of Ottoman rule, mostly due to the mountainous terrain and Nablus's strategic location between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. The rulers of the district composed of several Arab families, some originating from northern Syrian cities, some from Balqa and others were indigenous to Nablus. The primary noble families were the Tuqan, Jarrar, Abd al-Hadi, Jayyusi, Nimr, Rayyan, Qasim, At'ut, al-Hajj Muhammad, Ghazi and Jaradat. Sanjaq Nablus comprised five nahiyas ("subsdistricts"): Jamma'in East (21 villages), Jamma'in West (25 villages), Mashariq Nablus (20 villages), Wadi al-Sha'ir (23 villages) and Sha'rawiyya (24 villages). Jamma'in East was headed by the Qasim clan, Jamma'in West by the Rayyan, Wadi al-Sha'ir by the Sayf and al-Ahfa clans, Mashariq Nablus by the Hajj Muhammad clan and Sha'rawiyya by the Abd al-Hadi clan. The Tuqan, Nimr and Abd al-Hadi families controlled Nablus.[18]

The District of Nablus was economically active in growing olives which they used to produce olive oil, olive wood baskets and Nabulsi soap. Cotton was also a major cash crop. Most economic activity was based in Nablus, however the surrounding towns and villages supplied the crude product. The ruling families completely controlled all production soap and olive oil and the exporting of cotton, while the peasantry served as the farmers, laborers and were forced to pay taxes to the families. In return, the ruling families protected the villages and met municipal needs.[18]

During the British Mandate, the Nablus District consisted of all of the present-day Nablus Governorate, southern portions of the Qalqilya Governorate, the entire Tubas Governorate, northern portions of the Salfit Governorate and the northern Jericho Governorate.

References

1. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 125
2. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 126
3. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 127
4. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 128
5. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 129
6. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 130
7. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 131
8. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 132
9. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 133
10. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 134
11. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 135
12. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 136
13. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 137
14. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 138
15. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 139
16. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 140
17. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 141
18. Doumani, Beshara. (1995). Rediscovering Palestine, Merchants and Peasants in Jabal Nablus, 1700-1900 University of California Press, entire book.

Bibliography

• Doumani, B. (1995). Rediscovering Palestine: Merchants and Peasants in Jabal Nablus. University of California Press.
• Hütteroth, Wolf-Dieter; Abdulfattah, Kamal (1977). Historical Geography of Palestine, Transjordan and Southern Syria in the Late 16th Century. Erlanger Geographische Arbeiten, Sonderband 5. Erlangen, Germany: Vorstand der Fränkischen Geographischen Gesellschaft. ISBN 3-920405-41-2.