Skip to main content
beylik

beylik

9.9
A small state in the past in the area of Turkey ruled by a local leader
  • noun
  • /ˈbeɪlɪk/
translation icon : beylik
  • Each beylik was governed independently by its own local ruler.

Examples

  • Several beyliks competed for power after the decline of the Seljuk Sultanate.

  • The beylik was established in the 14th century.

  • The Ottoman Empire began as a small beylik in northwestern Anatolia.

  • Many beylikler flourished during the Ottoman Empire.

  • The historical territory of the beylik was governed by a powerful local ruler known as a bey.

  • During the Ottoman Empire, many regions were organized into beyliks, each led by a bey.

  • In the past, a beylik could function independently while still paying tribute to the central empire.

Synonyms

sheikdom
vsbeylik
1 8.6

A country or region where a sheik rules

is the same type but tied to Ottoman Turkish historical rule
khanate
vsbeylik
1 9.9

A territory ruled by a khan in Central Asia

is the same sort of territory but in Ottoman Turkish history
sheikhdom
vsbeylik
1 9.3

A country or area with a Muslim leader called a sheikh

is the same type but specific to Ottoman Turkish historical rulers
sultanate
vsbeylik
1 7.0

A country ruled by a sultan

is a smaller principality within Ottoman Turkish historical settings
vilayet
vsbeylik
  • Archaic
9.9

A province in the Ottoman Empire that an official runs

is a ruled principality rather than a centralized administrative province

Surface Forms

beylik singular
beylikler plural

Etymology

The word beylik comes from Turkish: bey meaning 'chief' or 'lord' and the ending -lik meaning 'place of' or 'state of'. So a beylik is literally the 'chief's place', like a small 'kingdom' or territory ruled by a local leader.