# Azeb > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Azeb > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Azeb.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azeb > Source revision: 1336775396 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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literally ''unmarried'', meaning ''bachelor''), also known as '''Asappes''' or '''Asappi''', were irregular soldiers, originally made up of unmarried youths.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](/source/Rayah) and served in various roles in the early [Ottoman army](/source/Ottoman_army).{{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](/source/Infobase_Publishing) |isbn=978-1-4381-1025-7 |page=616}}{{Cite book|last=Stein|first=Mark L.|title=Guarding the Ottoman Frontiers|publisher=Tauris Academic Stuides|year=2007|isbn=|location=|pages=75–78}}{{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}} The word azeb either often indicates a [light infantry](/source/light_infantry) soldier which was called ''yaya'' azeb or a [marine](/source/Marines) soldier which was called ''bahriye'' (navy) and ''deniz'' (sea) azeb. The term was used in the sense of "pirate" or "buccaneer" in [Byzantine](/source/Greek_language), [Latin](/source/Latin), and [Italian](/source/Italian_language) sources from the 14th to 16th centuries.{{Cite web|title=Azeb |url=https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/azeb--asker|access-date=2021-01-08|website=TDV İslam Ansiklopedisi|language=tr}} 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](/source/Anatolian_beyliks) that became independent from the [Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate](/source/Sultanate_of_Rum). 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](/source/Ayd%C4%B1nids). 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 century.|name=|group=}} century azebs garrisoned in strongholds were called ''kale'' (fortress) azebs. Azebs in fortresses had duties such as building [bridge](/source/bridge)s, working as [sapper](/source/sapper)s and doing the job of [armorers](/source/Armourer), especially after conscription of devshirme armorers stopped.{{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}} They usually comprised most of the garrison in smaller forts and [palankas](/source/Palanka_(fortification)).{{Sfn|Hegyi|2018|p=134–137}} In the [Ottoman Empire](/source/Ottoman_Empire) the main role of azebs were fighting as infantry [archers](/source/Archery) on front [lines](/source/Line_(formation)) before the [cannon](/source/cannon)s and [janissaries](/source/Janissary), 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](/source/quiver) under his left arm.]] Azebs were recruited in accordance with the ''[kanunnames](/source/Ottoman_law)'' (law code) of the [Suleiman I](/source/Suleiman_the_Magnificent). [Kadıs](/source/Kadi_(Ottoman_Empire)) 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 [Anatolia](/source/Anatolia)n Turks, and, then [Rumelia](/source/Rumelia). Azebs garrisoned in forts were regularly paid.{{Sfn|Nicolle|1983|p=32}} 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](/source/war_scythe)) and ''harba'' as well as ''balta'' ([bardiche](/source/bardiche)). In addition to pole arms they were armed with a variety of [maces](/source/Mace_(bludgeon)), [bows](/source/Bow_and_arrow), [sabers](/source/Sabre), and to a rarer extent [crossbow](/source/crossbow)s. Later on guns were adopted instead. Azebs also wore red ''börks'', a felt hat like the ones worn by janissaries but in different colours. ==See also== * [Akinji](/source/Akinji), irregular military scouts of Ottoman Empire * [Janissary](/source/Janissary), elite infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops * [Seymen](/source/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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Azeb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azeb) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azeb?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.