Establishment of the Sidon Under Grand Vizier Köprülü Mehmed Pasha's Administrative Measures

In 1660, the Ottoman Empire, under the leadership of the Köprülü viziers, initiated significant reforms aimed at re-establishing centralized authority over its distant provinces. One of the pivotal measures taken by Grand Vizier Köprülü Mehmed Pasha was the establishment of the Sidon Eyalet. This new administrative division effectively separated the Safad Sanjak from the rest of Palestine, which continued to be governed as part of the Damascus Eyalet. The creation of the Sidon Eyalet was a strategic move designed to diminish the power of the ambitious governors in Damascus and to exert tighter control over the rebellious emirs of Mount Lebanon. This reorganization not only aimed to streamline governance but also to stabilize the region during a time of unrest and fragmentation within the empire. The establishment of the Sidon Eyalet marked a significant step in the Ottoman efforts to reinforce their authority and maintain order in their territories during the mid-17th century.