title: Ottoman Iraq
text: # Ottoman Iraq
  
  Ottoman Iraq (Arabic: العراق العثماني) refers to the period of the history of Iraq when the region was ruled by the Ottoman Empire (1534–1920; with an interlude from 1704 to 1831 of autonomy under the Mamluk dynasty of Iraq). Before reforms (1534–1704), Iraq was divided into four Eyalets (provinces):
  
  * Baghdad Eyalet
  * Shahrizor Eyalet
  * Basra Eyalet
  * Mosul Eyalet
  
  Ottoman Iraq was later (1831–1920) divided into the three vilayets (provinces):
  
  * Mosul Vilayet
  * Baghdad Vilayet
  * Basra Vilayet
  
  During World War I, an invasion of the region was undertaken by British Empire forces and was known as the Mesopotamian campaign. Fighting commenced with the Battle of Basra in 1914 and continued for the duration of the war. The most notable action was the siege of Kut, which resulted in the surrender of the British and British Indian Army garrison of the town in April 1916, after a siege of 147 days.
  
  ## Contemporary maps, showing eyalets (pre Tanzimat reforms)
  
  * 1696 (Jaillot), showing eyalets
  * 1730 (Ottens)
  * 1740 (Seutter), showing eyalets
  * 1771 (Bonne)
  * 1794 (d'Anville)
  * 1801 (Cary)
  * 1803, from Cedid Atlas
  * 1813 (Pinkerton), showing eyalets
  * 1827 (Finley)
  * 1835, showing eyalets (Bradford)
  * 1849 (Mitchell), showing eyalets
  
  ## Contemporary maps, showing vilayets (post Tanzimat reforms)
  
  * 1855, showing sanjaks
  * 1873
  * 1893
  * 1900 (Stanford), showing vilayets
  