Yemen Vilayet
Substate | Defunct
1872 CE to 1918 CE
Yemen Vilayet is a first-level administrative division (vilayet) of the Ottoman Empire.
At the beginning of the 20th century it reportedly has an area of 200,000 square kilometers (77,200 sq mi).
The population for the vilayet is given by the 1885 Ottoman census as 2,500,000.
Broadly speaking, the vilayet is bounded by the 20th parallel north to the north, the Aden protectorate to the south, the Red Sea to the west and the 45th meridian east to the east.
The southern border is demarcated by the Anglo-Turkish Boundary Commission of 1902–1905, while the limit of the eastern border is left vague.
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The Ottomans are concerned about the British expansion from India to the Red Sea and Arabia.
They return to the Tihama in 1849 after an absence of two centuries.
Rivalries and disturbances had continued among the Zaydi imams, between them and their deputies, with the ulema, with the heads of tribes, as well as with those who belong to other sects.
Some citizens of Sana'a are desperate to return law and order to Yemen and ask the Ottoman Pasha in Tihama to pacify the country.
Yemeni merchants know that the return of the Ottomans will improve their trade, for the Ottomans will become their customers.
An Ottoman expedition force tries to capture Sana'a, but is defeated and has to evacuate the highlands.
They return to the Tihama in 1849 after an absence of two centuries.
Rivalries and disturbances had continued among the Zaydi imams, between them and their deputies, with the ulema, with the heads of tribes, as well as with those who belong to other sects.
Some citizens of Sana'a are desperate to return law and order to Yemen and ask the Ottoman Pasha in Tihama to pacify the country.
Yemeni merchants know that the return of the Ottomans will improve their trade, for the Ottomans will become their customers.
An Ottoman expedition force tries to capture Sana'a, but is defeated and has to evacuate the highlands.
Yemen had been known as the Yemen Eyalet since the Ottoman conquest in 1517.
After the Tanzimat reforms in the Ottoman Empire, Yemen Vilayet is established from most of the former Eyalet in 1872.
In the 1830s, aided by the collapse of the Zaidi Imamate due to internal division and the adoption of modern weaponry after the Crimean War, the Ottomans had moved into northern Yemen.
Starting in 1872, after the Sana'a region is firmly under control, Ahmed Muhtar Pasha sets about restructuring the administration of the Yemen vilayet, dividing it into four sanjaks, with San'a' city serving as capital of the vilayet.
Asir becomes a sanjak of Yemen in 1872.
Ottoman control is largely confined to cities, and the Zaidi imam's rule over Upper Yemen is formally recognized.
After the Tanzimat reforms in the Ottoman Empire, Yemen Vilayet is established from most of the former Eyalet in 1872.
In the 1830s, aided by the collapse of the Zaidi Imamate due to internal division and the adoption of modern weaponry after the Crimean War, the Ottomans had moved into northern Yemen.
Starting in 1872, after the Sana'a region is firmly under control, Ahmed Muhtar Pasha sets about restructuring the administration of the Yemen vilayet, dividing it into four sanjaks, with San'a' city serving as capital of the vilayet.
Asir becomes a sanjak of Yemen in 1872.
Ottoman control is largely confined to cities, and the Zaidi imam's rule over Upper Yemen is formally recognized.
The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 strengthens the Ottoman decision to remain in Yemen.
In 1872, military forces are dispatched from Constantinople and move beyond the Ottoman stronghold in the lowlands (Tihama) to conquer Sana'a.
By 1873, the Ottomans succeed in conquering the northern highlands.
Sana'a becomes the administrative capital of Yemen Vilayet.
In 1872, military forces are dispatched from Constantinople and move beyond the Ottoman stronghold in the lowlands (Tihama) to conquer Sana'a.
By 1873, the Ottomans succeed in conquering the northern highlands.
Sana'a becomes the administrative capital of Yemen Vilayet.
The Ottomans learn from their previous experience and work on the disempowerment of local lords in the highland regions.
They even attempt to secularize the Yemeni society, while Yemenite Jews come to perceive themselves in Yemeni nationalist terms.
The Ottomans appease the tribes by forgiving their rebellious chiefs and appointing them to administrative posts.
They introduce a series of reforms to enhance the country's economic welfare.
However, corruption is widespread in the Ottoman administration in Yemen.
This is because only the worst of the officials are appointed because those who can avoid serving in Yemen do so.
The Ottomans had reasserted control over the highlands for a temporary duration.
The so-called Tanzimat reforms are considered heretic by the Zaydi tribes.
In 1876, the Hashid and Bakil tribes rebel against the Ottomans; the Turks have to appease them with gifts to end the uprising.
They even attempt to secularize the Yemeni society, while Yemenite Jews come to perceive themselves in Yemeni nationalist terms.
The Ottomans appease the tribes by forgiving their rebellious chiefs and appointing them to administrative posts.
They introduce a series of reforms to enhance the country's economic welfare.
However, corruption is widespread in the Ottoman administration in Yemen.
This is because only the worst of the officials are appointed because those who can avoid serving in Yemen do so.
The Ottomans had reasserted control over the highlands for a temporary duration.
The so-called Tanzimat reforms are considered heretic by the Zaydi tribes.
In 1876, the Hashid and Bakil tribes rebel against the Ottomans; the Turks have to appease them with gifts to end the uprising.