Beylerbeylik (Safavid Persia)

In the Safavid Empire, a beylerbeylik was a large administrative entity. Each beylerbeylik was governed by a beylerbey ("bey of bey", that is, commander-in-chief). The term was also used in the Ottoman Empire.

In the 17th century the Safavid state was divided into thirteen beylerbeydoms. Lands under the personal ownership of the shah or the reigning dynasty in the Safavid state were not part of beylerbeyliks.

Beylerbeys, usually titled khans, possessed administrative power and headed the local troops. In the beginning of the 17th century the Safavi shahs attempted to limit the beylerbeys' power, but failed to achieve this.

See also

• Beylerbeylik