Sanjak of Smederevo

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Sanjak of Smederevo (Pashaluk of Belgrade) in 1791
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Sanjak of Smederevo (Pashaluk of Belgrade) in 1791

The Sanjak of Smederevo (Serbian: Smederevski sandžak or Смедеревски санџак, Turkish: Semendire Sancağı), also known as the Pashaluk of Belgrade, was an Ottoman administrative unit (sanjak), that existed between 15th and the outset of the 19th century. It was located in the territory of present day Central Serbia, Serbia.

The Sanjak of Smederevo was formed after the fall of the Serbian Despotate in 1459, and its administrative seat was Smederevo. After Ottoman Empire conquered Belgrade in 1521, the administrative seat of the Sanjak was moved to this city.

The Sanjak had been occupied by the Habsburg Monarchy from 17181739 but, with the Treaty of Belgrade, the area was ceded to the Ottoman Empire. Belgrade had been the center of the region under Austrian rule but was neglected under the Ottomans and Smederevo (Semendire) was the administrative center. Nevertheless, Belgrade eventually became the seat of a pasha with the title of vizier and the Sanjak began to be referred to as the Pashaluk of Belgrade, although it was still called the Sanjak of Smederevo in official documents.

From 1789 to 1791, Belgrade was again under Austrian rule and, at the beginning of the 19th century, the First Serbian Uprising started in the Sanjak. The Serb rebels, led by Karađorđe, managed to expel the Ottomans from the Sanjak for a significant time, which eventually led to the creation of modern Serbia.

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