rumeli

Rumeli is a historical and geographical term referring to the Balkan peninsula region of Southeastern Europe that was formerly part of the Ottoman Empire. The name "Rumeli" is derived from Turkish and means "Land of the Romans," referencing the historical presence of the Byzantine Empire, which was considered a continuation of the Roman Empire. In Ottoman administrative terms, Rumeli was a large province, or eyalet, that encompassed much of the Balkans, including territories that today are part of Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and even parts of Romania and Croatia.

The Ottoman conquest of the Balkans, beginning in the 14th century, gradually brought these lands under Ottoman rule. Rumeli was a crucial strategic and economic region for the empire, serving as a bridge between Anatolia and its European territories. The administration of Rumeli was significant, and its governors often held considerable power. Over centuries, the cultural and demographic landscape of Rumeli was shaped by Ottoman rule, with the introduction of Islam, Turkish language, and Ottoman architecture.

Following the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the Balkan Wars of the early 20th century, the territories historically considered Rumeli were divided among newly independent Balkan states. Today, the term "Rumeli" is primarily used in a historical or cultural context, referring to the legacy of Ottoman presence and influence in the Balkans. It can also be used to denote the European part of Turkey, across the Dardanelles strait, which was historically the administrative center of Ottoman Rumeli.