| Conventional Long Name: | Cotabato |
| Common Name: | Cotabato |
| Nation: | Philippines |
| Status Text: | Province of the Philippines |
| P1: | Moro Province |
| Flag P1: | Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg |
| S1: | CotabatoNorth Cotabato |
| Flag S1: | Flag of the Philippines (1936–1985, 1986–1998).svg |
| S2: | South Cotabato |
| Flag S2: | Flag of the Philippines (1936–1985, 1986–1998).svg |
| S3: | Maguindanao |
| Flag S3: | Flag of the Philippines (1936–1985, 1986–1998).svg |
| S4: | Sultan Kudarat |
| Flag S4: | Flag of the Philippines (1936–1985, 1986–1998).svg |
| Image Map Caption: | Location of the historical province of Cotabato. |
| Title Leader: | Governor |
| Date Start: | July 23 |
| Year Start: | 1914 |
| Date End: | November 22 |
| Year End: | 1973 |
| Stat Area1: | 24916 |
| Today: | Cotabato Maguindanao del Norte Maguindanao del Sur Sarangani South Cotabato Sultan Kudarat |
Cotabato, also known as the Province of Cotabato (Maguindanaon: Kutawatu, كوتوات), was a historical province of the Philippines established in 1914 that existed until its dissolution in 1973. The province's capital from 1920 to 1967 was Cotabato City (of the same name) while Pagalungan became its capital from 1967 to 1973.
Originally a district of the former Moro Province, on September 1, 1914, the defunct Department of Mindanao and Sulu provided with autonomous government through Act No. 2408 enacted on July 23, 1914, converted the district into a province along with other former Moro Province districts: Davao, Lanao, Sulu, Zamboanga, and its former sub-province Bukidnon. Davao, Lanao and Zamboanga were then later split and partitioned into different current provinces while Sulu and Bukidnon remain what it is today.
The province was one of the largest provinces of the Philippines, with an area of 2296791ha.[1] It was dissolved on 1973, comprising what are now the provinces of Cotabato (North), South Cotabato, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani.
Upon its separation from the Department of Mindanao and Sulu, Cotabato comprised the municipalities of Cotabato (the provincial capital), Dulawan, and Midsayap, and the following municipal districts:[2]
On June 18, 1966, South Cotabato was separated from the province through Republic Act No. 4849.[3] That very same day, the provincial capital was moved from Cotabato City to Pagalungan.[4]
On November 22, 1973, the remaining territories of the Province of Cotabato was divided into North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat through Presidential Decree No. 341.[5]
On March 7, 1984, North Cotabato was renamed to simply "Cotabato" through Batas Pambansa Blg. 660.[6]
On March 16, 1992, the province of Sarangani was formed out of South Cotabato.[7]