Mutasarrif, mutesarrif, mutasarriff, or mutesarriff (Ottoman Turkish: متصرّف, romanized: mutasarrıf, lit.
[1][2] The Ottoman rank of mutasarrif was established as part of a 1864 reform, and its holder was appointed directly by the Sultan.
[3] The administrative district under his authority, the mutasarrifate (mutasarriflık),[clarification needed] was officially called a sanjak (سنجاق) in Turkish or liwa (لواء) in Arabic and Persian.
[2][5] Ottoman Turkish mutasarrıf is derived from the Arabic mutaṣarrif, meaning provincial governor.
[8] "This small political unit was governed by a non-Lebanese Ottoman Christian subject and given the protection of European powers.