Salma Nepheri (Military Policeman

The Military Police controlled the behavior of the Janissaries in the city.

Haseki Agha (Lieutenant of the Bostandji-Bashi)

These were high-ranking officials of the Imperial Palace. They wore turbans around their heads and broadcloth belts around their waists. They carried out secret tasks, as directed by the Emperor. Some of them were promoted to Grand Vizier.

Noebetchi (Sentry)

He was a member of the Guards of the Janissary Corps.

From left to right (Military Policemen, Lieutenant of the Bostandji-Bashi- center, Sentry on the right)

Choukhadar (Chief Lackey)

This was the title given to high officials of the Imperial Palace who rendered particular service to the Sultan. Later on, the title was given to those who also served other Imperial Officers. The title was spelt Choukadar but was pronounced Choukhadar in Turkish. They came after the Sword-bearer in rank.

Divan Chavoushou (Member of the Corps of Heralds and Messengers)

These were mounted Imperial Officers entrusted with the task of calling up people who would take part in meetings of the Imperial Chancery of State. They also called people who were making claims at the Chancery of State.

Yasakchi (Guard for Ambassador or Consul)

These were troops who guarded . foreign Ambassadors. From 1839 onwards they were called Kavas.

From left to right (Two Bash Choukhadar, Zuluflu Baltadji, Baltadji, Muezzin)



Baltadji (Halberdier attached to the Sultan's Palace)

The Corps of Baltadjis was created in the time of Sultan Amurath the Second. Their job was to cut down trees which were obstacles in the way of the army and, later, to pitch and strike tents while on campaign.

Zuluflu Baltadji - Palace Guard

They worked under the command of the Sword-bearer of the Sultan. One of their jobs was to extinguish fires in the Harem and they also delivered letters between the Sultan and the Swordbearer. They carried an axe and a hook and cleaned the Hall of Audience and the large hall where the Grand Vizier held court. They also carried the corpses of the Palace.

Muezzin (The man who calls Muslims to pray)

A deep-voiced man entrusted with reciting ezan (i.e. calling Muslims to prayer) in the Sultan's private apartments.

From left to right (Touloumbadji, Ousta, Kaliondjou, Chirak Esnaph)

Touloumbadji (Fire Fighter)

These were responsible for extinguishing fires. The name means "man who carries a hand pump," since they originally put out fires by using hand fire pumps. The Chief Fireman was called Reis or Agha. Below the Second in Charge were the Phenerdji, Boroudjou, Khortoumdjou and so on. The Phenerdji (the lamp lighter) was the leader while the Boroudjou (pipe carrier) actually discharged the water onto the fire. Oushaks were servants who carried the hand pumps while the Khortoumdjou held the water container. When they had finished their work they were given a sheep or some other animal by the landowner of the house where the fire had been. The Phenerdji always took charge of the road, warning people to be careful, to avoid the fire, and so on.

Ousta (Cook)

These were the minor officers of the Janissary Corps. Their job was to take charge of the cooking. Each battalion Ousta had a different uniform.

Kaliondjou (Sailor)

This was a sailor who worked on large sailing war ships. They wore a short braided waistcoat called a fermene and an Arabian cloak. A big knife was held by a cummerbund around their waist. Their turban was called a makdem.

Chirak Esnaph (Apprentice)

This was a novice Janissary tradesman.

From left to right (Djebkhane Karakoulloukchousou, Djebkhane Chorbadjisi, Bostandji, Shatir)

Topchou-Bashi (Master-General of Artillery)

He was the head of the Artillery Corps and was also known as Sertopee.

Binbashi (Major)

These were the commanders of Battalions of soldiers called Asakir-ee Mansoure-ee Mohammediyye, founded in the reign of Mahmoud the Second.

Kecheli-Nefer

These were Janissaries who wore their hats on one side of their head – for this reason they were originally called Kedj-Kulakh or Eghri-Kulakh. Later this was changed to Kecheli-Kulakh.

Nizam-i Djedid Binbashi (Major of Nizam-i Djedid)

These were officers of a military corps, founded to be totally separate from the Janissaries, the Nizam-i Djedid. The Corps was founded by Sultan Selim the Third.

From left to right (Commander in Chief of the Janissaries, Sailing Captain, Shaykhul Islam, )

Yenicheri Aghasi (Commander-in-Chief of the Janissaries)

He was the leader of the Janissary Corps, responsible for everything to do with the Corps, on a par with today's Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He lived in the Palace known as Agha Kapousou and took part in the meetings of the Divan (Council of State). He was the msot important of all the Aghas and wore a special robe when coming to Divan. At times he took the place of the Vizier and then he entered the presence of the Sultan by bowing and kissing the skirt of his coat twice. He helped the Sultan to dismount from his horse and was responsible for law and order within the city of Istanbul. He was also in charge of putting out fires. The Commander-in-Chief was paid daily fees of 500 akches, plus an annual salary of 90,000 akches. Promotion for the Commander-in-Chief was to be made Governor General or Grand Vizier but if he was demoted he was made Sandjak-Bey (Governor General of a Sandjak or subdivision of a province). Once every three years, the Commander-in-Chief was given a horse from the stable of the Sultan. The post was dissolved with the rest of the Janissary Corps in 1826.

Reis Effendi (Sailing Captain)

This was the old title used for captains of sailing vessels. From the 17th century onwards the title Captain was used instead of Reis.

From left to right (Djebkhane Karakoulloukchousou, Djebkhane Chorbadjisi, Bostandji, Shatir)

Djebkhane Karakoulloukchousou (Orderly to Colonel of Supplies and Ammunition)

He was one of the soldiers who dealt with amunition and was entrusted with the task of protecting the powder magazine.

Djebkhane Chorbadjisi (Colonel of Supplies and Ammunition)

This was a Janissary officer who was responsible for amunition

Bostandji (Member of the Imperial Guard)

The Bostandji was an official of the Imperial Palace who carried out his duties either at vineyards and gardens or on the Sultan's boat. There were two groups – the Bostandjis of the private gardens of the Emperor, and the Bostandjis of the vegetable gardens of the Emperor. The first group looked after the gardens around the Imperial Palace and the latter group were responsible for the kitchen gardens. Their commander was called the Commander of the Imperial Guards -Bostanji Pasha- and he had jurisdiction over the shores and waters of the Bosphorus. He also had control of and sterred the Sultan's boat.

From left to right (Swari Topchou Neferi, Payade Topchou Yuzbashi, Swari Topchou Neferi)

Swari Topchou Neferi (Soldier of Cavalry Artillery)

He was armed with guns and rode on horses.

Payade Topchou Yuzbashi (Captain of Foot Artillery)

Of Captain's rank – he was the commander of troops armed with guns – an important element of combat units.

From left to right (Bash Kara-Koulloukchou, 2 Kara Kouloulchou, Orta Sakasi)

Bash Kara-Koulloukchou (Chief Orderly of Janissary Officers)

These were the head orderlies of the Janissary Officers in the Companies and Battalions. Their rank was the equivalent of Junior Sergeant and they were the Orderlies of the Colonel of Janissaries and Military Policemen.

Kara Koulloukchou (Sergeants)

Junior sergeants of the Janissary Corps who were Orderlies of the Chorbadjis (Colonel) and Military Policemen. They were chosen from the Adjemi-Oghlans (conscript boys chosen and brought up to join the Janissaries) and employed to provide room service. The new recruits were paid two golden coins called duzen-akchesi. Their duties were to clean the rooms, to clean the shoes of fellow Janissaries and their guests, to wash up dishes, chop wood, shopping, etc. Some orderlies carried out the tasks of bodyguard and horse-keeper to the Colonel of the Janissaries.

Orta Sakasi (Water-carrier for the Janissary Corps)

They provided water for the Janissary Corps. Orta meant Battalion and Sakka, the origin of Sakasi, meant water-carrier. In the reign of Sultan Mahmoud the Second, when reforms were being made, the name of the water carriers was changed to Sebildji which means "man who distributes water free of charge." There was a water carrier in the Imperial Palace, their leader being called Saka Bashi (Chief Water Carrier).

From left to right (Choukhadar, Silakhtar Agha, Peik, Solak)

Peik (Messenger)

Originally, messengers or postal runners, the Peiks later became an important part in a pompous ceremony at official processions. They always took up their place at the Sultan's right hand side. They were fast athletic runners and could travel great distances without rest. It took them, for example, two days to get from Edirne to Istanbul on foot. They carried a khanjar - dagger in their girdles, a hatchet in their right hands and a handkerchief full of sugar in their left.One of their tasks was to inform the Sultan when the pilgrims had returned from Mecca. The post was abolished in 1828.

Solak (Guardsmen)

The Janissary Corps had been divided into a number of squadrons and sections and these were named Orta. There were 190 Ortas and, of these, the 60th, 61st, 62nd and 63rd were termed Solak (the Orta of Guardsmen in attendance on the Sultan at processions). Their leader was the Chief Guardsman. On processions and when crossing a bridge or going through a narrow canyon, the Chief Guardsman held the bridle of the Sultan's horse in case it should shy. The Guardsmen wore conical hats, loose robes and light, thin boots. Each wore a belt with a long sword and carried a gun in his hands. The post was annulled in 1828.

From left to right (Choukhadar, Silakhtar Agha, Peik, Solak)

Bashchavoush (Officer of the Janissary Corps)

These were the senior of all the officers in the Janissary Corps. They were sometimes referred to as the Chief Sergeant and were also the Commander of the Fifth Squadron. The Bashchavoush would cover for the Kethudas (or Kahia Bey) in his absence but should not be confused witht the Chavoush Bashis (the Chief of the Sultan's Bodyguard) even though they did, later, become Chief Sergeants in the Janissary Corps.

Orta Chavoushou (Sergeant of the Janissaries)

These Sergeants were under the command of the Chief Sergeant and were responsible for relaying commands to the other ranks. They were sometimes called Middle Sergeants - there were three ranks of sergeants: Minor, Middle and Chief Sergeants.

Kapidjibashi (Head of the Palace Doorkeepers)

This man was the senior doorkeeper in the Palace. When foreign ambassadors came, it was the duty of the Kapidjibashi to lead them into the presence of the Sultan. There were four Head Doorkeepers in the Palace and their superior was a General. In later years their numbers increased.

Koul Kethudas (General of the Boulouk Janissaries)

He was assistant to the Commander-in-Chief of the Janissary Corps. Originally he was lower in rank than the Chief of Sekbans but, in later years, they were demoted below the Koul Kethudas. Administration of the Corps was his particular responsibility – promotions, appointments and dismissals being executed by him. The post disappeared when the Janissary Corps was abolished in 1826.

From left to right (Khoumbaradjis)

Khoumbaradjis (Bombardiers)

This was the title given to Artillery men at the time of the Janissaries. They were called this since the days when they fired bombs and shells from huge howitzers. Their leader was called Khoumbaradji Bashi (Chief Bombardier). A Khoumbara was a round, iron covered shell filled with gunpowder and shrapnel. It was either thrown by hand or fired by a mortar. People called it a koumbara. The School of Artillery was called Khoubara-Khane and was built at Toptashi at Scutari. Later, another school was opened at Halidji Oghlou under the same name. Artillery Officers wore a green uniform. Many of them possessed fiefs and so did military service for he Empire in return for this.

From left to right (Kalpakli, Shoubara-Neferi, Nizam Djedid Neferi, Shoubara-Neferi)

Kalpakli (Soldier)

This was a soldier in the Nizam-i Djedid, wearing a fur hat called a kalpak.

Shoubara-Neferi (Soldier)

A soldier of the Nizam-i Djedid, established by Sultan Selim the Third, wearing a round, padded cap, was called Shoubara-Neferi. Janissary Cavalrymen also used to wear the fur, padded cap, as did Irregular Cavalrymen after the Janissaries had been disbanded.

Nizam-i Djedid Neferi (Soldier)

This was a soldier of the new military Corps inaugerated by Selim the Third.