Israel". Selanik was a sanjak centre in Rumeli Eyaleti till 1864. It was centre of Selanik Vilayeti , which consisted sanjaks of Selanik, Serez and Drama between 1864-1912. From 1870, driven by economic growth, the city's population exploded by 70%, reaching 135,000 in 1917. During the First Balkan War , the