{{Distinguish|Vilayet}} {{For|other administrative divisions in Muslim countries using variants of the word|wilayah}} [[Image:Safavid Iran in 1660.svg|thumb|300px|Map of Safavid Iran and its divisions in 1660]] A '''velayat''' (also spelled '''vilayat'''; {{langx|fa|ولایت}}) was a type of administrative division within Safavid Iran, which functioned as a semi-autonomous province.{{sfn|Matthee|2011|pp=141, 258}}

The velayats were situated in the frontier of the country, mainly in its mountainous areas. In order of ranking, the five velayats were: Arabestan, Lorestan, Georgia, Kurdistan, and Bakhtiyari lands.{{sfn|Matthee|2011|p=143}}

A velayat was governed by a ''vali'' ("viceroy", "governor"), who was nearly an independent governor. The ''valis'' generally belonged to prominent local families, and were officially chosen by the shah as a compromise of regional autonomy. Nevertheless, they ruled in a hereditary manner.{{sfn|Matthee|2011|pp=143–144. For the meaning of ''vali'', see p. 258}}{{sfn|Matthee|2015|p=443}} In rare occasions a ''vali'' was appointed to a velayat he had no connection to. This could possibly cause issues, such as in the 1680s Kurdistan, where the locals chased out a non-Kurdish ''vali'' chosen by Shah Soleyman ({{reign|1666|1694}}).{{sfn|Matthee|2011|p=144}}

A family member of the ''vali'' (often a son) was kept as a hostage in Isfahan to ensure continued loyalty. The ''valis'' officially showed their fealty to the shah and minted coins in his name. The ''valis'' enjoyed rights that an ordinary governor did not have, which included: absolute supervision over the administration of their region, having their own budgets and militia, and handling their own vassal relations. The shah seldom involved himself in these matters.{{sfn|Matthee|2011|p=144}}

The tributes that the ''valis'' had to pay to the shah varied based on the situation. The demands were typically small, such as in the late Safavid era, where Lorestan provided twenty Arabian horses, 200 mules and a number of riches. During wartime, however, the requirement put on Lorestan increased to 12,000 cavalrymen and 12,000 foot-soldiers.{{sfn|Matthee|2011|p=144}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== Sources == * {{cite book | title = Persia in Crisis: Safavid Decline and the Fall of Isfahan | year = 2011 | publisher = I.B.Tauris | location = | editor-last = | editor-first = | last = Matthee | first = Rudi | authorlink = Rudi Matthee | isbn = 978-0857731814 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=fFaw4od7nfUC }} * {{cite journal |last1=Matthee |first1=Rudi |title=Relations between the Center and the Periphery in Safavid Iran: The Western Borderlands v. the Eastern Frontier Zone |journal=The Historian |date=2015 |volume=77 |issue=3 |pages=431–463 |doi=10.1111/hisn.12068|s2cid=143393018 }}

== Further reading == * {{cite book|last1=Floor|first1=Willem|authorlink=Willem Floor|title=Titles and Emoluments in Safavid Iran: A Third Manual of Safavid Administration, by Mirza Naqi Nasiri|date=2008|publisher=Mage Publishers|location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=978-1933823232}} * {{cite book |chapter=The Evolution of the Safavid Policy towards Eastern Georgia |first=George |last=Sanikidze |title=Safavid Persia in the Age of Empires: The Idea of Iran |volume=10 |editor-first=Charles |editor-last=Melville |publisher=I.B. Tauris |pages = 375–404 |year=2021 }}

Category:Government of Safavid Iran