Istanbul Vilayet
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Vilayet of Istanbul (Turkish:ولایت استنبول, latn. Vilâyet-i İstanbul, Greek: Επαρχία Κωνσταντινούπολης, Constantinople) or colloquially Vilayet of Konstantiniye is a second-level administrative division (vilayet) of the Anatolian Republic. It is the only standalone vilayet in Payitaht Eyalet (Capital State). It was established with the Vilayet law in 1867. It is the only transcontinental Vilayet.
The Vilayet boasts the capital city and hence is one of the most populous ones. The areas of Fenâr and TBD, have majority Greek population.
The Sanjaks of this province are:
- Sanjak of Istanbul: Fatih, Eyüb, Kartal, Adalar.
- Sanjak of Pera (Beyoğlu): Galata, Yeniköy.
- Sanjak of Üsküdar: Beykoz.
- Sanjak of Izmit: Izmit, Iznik, Adapazarı, Karamürsel, Kandıra, Geyve, Yalova.
- Sanjak of Büyükçekmece: Çatalca.
Broadly speaking, and more officially, the Vilayet is divided into Şark Kıtası (Istanbul East) and Garb Kıtası (Istanbul West).
- The headquarters of the Payitaht Janadarma or Payitaht Zaptıye (French: Gendarmie de Capital) is in Galata, Pera sanjak and is colloquially called Galata Jandarma.
- When the Sanjak of Izmit, joined Istanbul Vilayet, fearing Greek domination, the local Turk population moved into Kastamonu Vilayet and Bursa Vilayet
- The East and West regions are split by the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
- The Vilayet is famous for its architecture dating back to Byzantine Era and even beyond, having been the heartland of the Roman Empire.
- The Sanjak of Pera remains one of the most Europeanised regions in the Anatolian Republic, being home to several European embassies and fashionhouses.
- Fenâr (from which the Phanariotes emerged) remains one of the main sites of functioning of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
2024 Census
| Millet | 1914 Census | 1914 Percentages | 2024 Census | 2024 Percentages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turk | 560,434 | 61.6% | 2,259,656 | 54.2% |
| Greek | 205,375 | 22.6% | 1,090,789 | 26.2% |
| Armenian | 82,880 | 9.1% | 457,002 | 11.0% |
| Jew | 52,126 | 5.7% | 299,792 | 7.2% |
| Others | 9,163 | 1.0% | 41,637 | 1.0% |
| Total | 909,978 | 100% | 4,149,876 | 100% |