Mostly this title was used for civil governors of individual towns, who managed tax collection and maintained public order.
[2] The Ottoman Empire abolished the position of mütesellim in 1842.
This position was often connected with conflicts between various parties who saw it as possibility to increase their personal wealth.
[2] In the period between 1842 and 1864 local military governors assisted by local administration were in charge for tax collection and control of the population instead of mütesellims.
[2] After 1864 and the creation of the vilayet system, the office of mütesellim was replaced with new position of mutasarrıf.