Azeb

{{short description|Irregular soldiers, made up of unmarried youths}} thumb|An archer of the Turkish Galleys - Azab{{Military of the Ottoman Empire sidebar}}

'''Azebs''', '''azabs''', or '''azaps''' ({{langx|ota|عزب}}, from Arabic, literally ''unmarried'', meaning ''bachelor''), also known as '''Asappes''' or '''Asappi''', were irregular soldiers, originally made up of unmarried youths. They were conscripted among reayas and served in various roles in the early Ottoman army.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Gábor |last1=Áoston |first2=Bruce Alan |last2=Masters |title=Encyclopedia of the Ottoman Empire |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QjzYdCxumFcC&pg=PA616 |date=21 May 2010 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=978-1-4381-1025-7 |page=616}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Stein|first=Mark L.|title=Guarding the Ottoman Frontiers|publisher=Tauris Academic Stuides|year=2007|isbn=|location=|pages=75–78}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Káldy-Nagy|first=Gyula|date=1977|title=The First Centuries of the Ottoman Military Organization|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23682672|journal=Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae|volume=31|issue=2|pages=147–183|jstor=23682672 |issn=0001-6446}}</ref> The word azeb either often indicates a light infantry soldier which was called ''yaya'' azeb or a marine soldier which was called ''bahriye'' (navy) and ''deniz'' (sea) azeb.<ref name=":0" /> The term was used in the sense of "pirate" or "buccaneer" in Byzantine, Latin, and Italian sources from the 14th to 16th centuries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Azeb |url=https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/azeb--asker|access-date=2021-01-08|website=TDV İslam Ansiklopedisi|language=tr}}</ref> left|thumb|370x370px|An azeb holding a gun with his left hand and carrying a sabre with his right hand

== History == Azebs were originally an auxiliary infantry unit harkening back to Anatolian beyliks that became independent from the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate. In the maritime beyliks, they also served as naval units.{{Sfn|Hegyi|2018|p=134–137}} For instance, in the 13th century, sources address existence of troops called azebs in the Beylik of Aydın.<ref name=":0" />

According to Stein (2007), by the 14th{{Efn|Other sources state that ''kale'' azebs emerged in the 15th{{Sfn|Hegyi|2018|p=134–137}} or 16th<ref name=":1" /> century.|name=|group=}} century azebs garrisoned in strongholds were called ''kale'' (fortress) azebs. Azebs in fortresses had duties such as building bridges, working as sappers and doing the job of armorers, especially after conscription of devshirme armorers stopped.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Akto|first=Deniz Armağan|date=|title=Ottoman Fortresses and Garrisons in the Hungary and Eastern Frontiers (1578-1664)|url=https://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12623701/index.pdf#|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122011624/https://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12623701/index.pdf |archive-date=2021-01-22 |access-date=17 January 2020|website=|page=55}}</ref> They usually comprised most of the garrison in smaller forts and palankas.<ref name=":0" />{{Sfn|Hegyi|2018|p=134–137}}

In the Ottoman Empire the main role of azebs were fighting as infantry archers on front lines before the cannons and janissaries,<ref name=":0" /> After azebs slowed down the initial enemy charge, they would withdraw to left and right, and let the Ottoman cannons and janissaries fire at them.{{Sfn|Nicolle|1983|p=13}}

== Recruitment == [[File:Azap.jpeg|thumb|An azeb carrying a saber, which is attached to his belt, and a bow around his neck along with a quiver under his left arm.]] Azebs were recruited in accordance with the ''kanunnames'' (law code) of the Suleiman I. Kadıs oversaw draft of the azebs at a local level, called ''sancak''. One man was levied from every 20-30 households whilst others supported him financially. The azebs were initially only recruited from Anatolian Turks, and, then Rumelia. Azebs garrisoned in forts were regularly paid.{{Sfn|Nicolle|1983|p=32}}<ref name=":0" /> In the late 16th century all Muslim men could enlist.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

== Organization == Their official name—as generally appeared in pay lists—was ''rüesa ve azeban''. The word ''reis'' (in plural ''rüesa'') referred to head or captain of a ship in maritime or chief of a medium-sized unit consisting of ''kale'' azebs. ''Kale'' azebs were divided into ''ağalıks'' which were commanded by ''ağas'' and their aides ''kethüdas.'' These were subdivided into ''cemaats'' or ''riayets'' (a company consisting of 3 or 4 squads) which were led by ''reises''.''{{Sfn|Hegyi|2018|p=134-137}}''

== Equipment == As volunteers the azebs had a wide range of weaponry. These include pole arms, such as the ''tirpan'' (war scythe) and ''harba'' as well as ''balta'' (bardiche). In addition to pole arms they were armed with a variety of maces, bows, sabers, and to a rarer extent crossbows. Later on guns were adopted instead. Azebs also wore red ''börks'', a felt hat like the ones worn by janissaries but in different colours.<ref name=":0" />

==See also== * Akinji, irregular military scouts of Ottoman Empire * Janissary, elite infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops * Seymen, a rank in the Seljuk military

==Footnotes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==

* {{Cite book|last=Nicolle|first=David|title=Armies of the Ottoman Turks 1300-1774|publisher=Osprey Publishing|year=1983|isbn=|location=|pages=|trans-title=}} * {{Cite book|last=Hegyi|first=Klára|title=The Ottoman Military Organization in Hungary: Fortresses, Fortress Garrisons and Finances|publisher=|year=2018|isbn=978-3-87997-467-2|location=|pages=}}

Category:Military units and formations of the Ottoman Empire Category:Infantry units and formations Category:Irregular units and formations