Sanjak of Üsküp
Starting from the end of the 10th century Skopje experienced a period of wars and political troubles.It served as Bulgarian capital from 972 to 992, and Samuel of Bulgaria ruled it from 976[1] until 1004 when its governor Roman surrendered it to Byzantine Emperor Basil the Bulgar Slayer in 1004 in exchange for the titles of patrician and strategos.[6] The next one was Isak-Beg who was sent to lead military actions in Serbia in spring of 1439, and was replaced by his son Isa-Beg Isaković in the position of sanjakbeg of the Sanjak of Skopje.[10] During the Great Turkish War, Austrian general Silvio Piccolomini burnt down Skopje in 1689.According to the Ottoman General Census of 1881/82-1893, the kaza (sub-district) of Usküp had a total population of 70.170, consisting of 40.256 Muslims, 22.497 Bulgarians, 6.655 Greeks, 724 Jews and 38 Latins.