mutasarrifate

Mutasarrifate refers to a type of administrative division in the Ottoman Empire governed by a mutasarrıf, a governor with elevated authority over a district or province. The title mutasarrıf comes from the Ottoman administrative tradition and designated a ruler who held powers beyond those of ordinary provincial governors, often under special constitutional arrangements and with external guarantors in sensitive regions. The term is most closely associated with the Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate, the best-known example of this system.

The Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate (Arabic: Mutasarrifiyya Jabal Lubnan) was established in 1861 in the aftermath of the civil conflict between Druce and Maronite communities. It created a semi-autonomous province within the Ottoman state, ruled by a mutasarrıf appointed by the sultan. The governor’s authority covered civil administration, security, and finances, and the arrangement included guarantees for local rights and religious communities. European powers, notably France and Britain, acted as guarantors of the constitution and the safety of residents, providing a check on central authority and external influence on governance.

The Mutasarrifate endured through the late Ottoman period, shaping Lebanese political culture by emphasizing local autonomy and a balance among communities. After World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Mutasarrifate was dissolved; its territory subsequently became part of the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon, ultimately contributing to the creation of the modern state of Lebanon. The mutasarrıf concept remained a reference point for regional administration in later reforms.