---
title: Vilayet-i Selase (Dictionary)
slug: vilayet-i-selase-dictionary
url: /detay/vilayet-i-selase-dictionary
type: dictionary
language: English
entity:
  primary: Vilayet-i Selase (Dictionary)
  type: dictionary
  disambiguation: Vilayet-i Selase: Ottoman Empire's "Three Provinces" (Selanik, Manastır, Kosova).  Dictionary definition & historical context.
  categories:
    - name: General Knowledge
      slug: genel-kultur
      url: /kategori/genel-kultur
  tags:
    - code-el
    - sözlük
author: Mehmet Salih Çoban
created_at: 2025-01-04T11:52:51.516721+03:00
updated_at: 2025-04-17T13:10:41.330553+03:00
---

# Vilayet-i Selase (Dictionary)

<!-- CONTEXT: Article Content for "Vilayet-i Selase (Dictionary)" -->

## Article Content

### **Definition**

*noun*

**Vilayet-i Selase** means "Three Provinces." However, it does not refer to any random three provinces. For the Ottoman Empire, the region referred to as "[Macedonia](/en/detay/makedonya-2/llms.txt)" by Europeans was known as **Vilayet-i Selase**, encompassing the three Balkan provinces of **Selanik (Thessaloniki)**, **Manastır (Bitola)**, and **Kosova (Kosovo)**.

### **Etymology**

- **Vilayet:** (ﻭﻻﻳﺖ) From Arabic *vilāyet*, meaning a province or administrative region governed by a vali (governor).

- **Selase:** (ﺛﻠﺜﻪ – ﺛﻼﺛﻪ) From Arabic *selāse*, meaning "three."

The combination of these terms forms *Vilayet-i Selase*, translating to "Three Provinces."

### **Usage**

- **Ottoman Administrative System:** Used to describe the administrative and military structure in the Balkans.

- **History and Geography:** Significant in understanding the Ottoman Empire's governance and control over the Balkan region, especially during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

### **Example Sentence**

While the Balkan states were seeking opportunities to acquire new territories, the Ottoman Empire was in a defensive position to keep the **Vilayet-i Selase** under its sovereignty.

<!-- CONTEXT: Academic Sources and References for "Vilayet-i Selase (Dictionary)" -->

## Academic Sources and References

1. Çoban, Mehmet Salih. 1904-1905 Rus-Japon Savaşında Osmanlı Kamuoyu. Yayınlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi. (İstanbul Üniversitesi: Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Yakınçağ Tarihi.) 2022.Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Cumhurbaşkanlığı Devlet Arşivleri Başkanlığı Osmanlı Arşivi. Haritalar. No: 251. (BOA, HRT.h, 251.)