Military ranks of the Ottoman Empire

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The military ranks of the Ottoman Empire may be visually identified by the military insignia used during the Military of the Ottoman Empire.

## Army ranks

[edit]

### Classic Army

[edit]

* Aghas were commanders of the different branches of the military services, like "azap agha", "besli agha", "janissary agha", for the commanders of azaps, beslis, and janissaries, respectively. This designation was given to commanders of smaller military units, too, for instance the "bölük agha", and the "ocak agha", the commanders of a "bölük" (company) and an "ocak" (troops) respectively.
* Boluk-bashi was a commander of a "bölük", equivalent with the rank of captain.
* Chorbaji (Turkish for "soup server") was a commander of an orta (regiment), approximately corresponding to the rank of colonel (Turkish: Albay) today. In seafaring, the term was in use for the boss of a ship's crew, a role similar to that of boatswain.

### Modern Army

[edit]

Military personnel in the Ottoman Empire were assigned different duties according to their capabilities in order to administer the Armed Forces and particularly to be successful in battle. They were given various ranks so that they could conduct relations with each other and be fully aware of their duties. The issue of what sort of duties should be allocated to which unit or to which military institution used to be determined by the ranking within the Armed Forces. In Islamic countries, certain 'degrees', instead of ranks, were given in accordance with the categorization of government duties. In the course of time, these 'degrees' had taken on certain characteristics. In the Ottoman Empire, besides the ranks that were awarded after passing through certain stages of promotion, there was also the rank of "Pasha" that was given directly by the Ottoman Sultan. This rank, which continued until the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, was also given to civilian administrators who were approved of and found suitable. After the establishment of the Republic, the Sultanate was abolished, and the title became synonymous with the General rank, restricted to the Armed Forces only. Paymaster of a regiment - Captain of the Right Wing (Alay Emini - Sağ Kolağası): The rank of the Captain of the Right Wing was very high. The rank of the Adjutant and Paymaster of a regiment was also high but such individuals were not from the military class and they dealt with clerical duties and equipment needed by the regiment. Captain of the Wing - The Captain of the Left Wing- (Kolağası - Sol Kolağası): Captain of the Wing or the Captain of the Left Wing was the senior Captain. If he was educated in the regiment, he was called "Ağa" but if he was the son of a pasha, he was called "Bey".

#### Officers

[edit]

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers

|
|
|

Ottoman Army
(1827-1856)[1][a] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
مشير
Müşîr | فريق
Ferîk | ميرلواء
Mirliva | ميرالاي
Miralay | قايمقام
Kaymakam | بن باشي
Binbaşı | كول اغاسي
Kolağası | يوزباشي
Yüzbaşı | ملاظم
Mülâzım
Ottoman Army
(1856-1876)[1][b] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
مشير
Müşîr | فريق
Ferîk | ميرلواء
Mirliva | ميرالاي
Miralay | قايمقام
Kaymakam | بن باشي
Binbaşı | كول اغاسي
Kolağası | يوزباشي
Yüzbaşı | ملاظم اول
Mülâzım-ı evvel | ملاظم ثاني
Mülâzım-ı sânî
Ottoman Army
(1876-1909)[1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
مشير
Müşîr | فريق
Ferîk | ميرلواء
Mirliva | ميرالاي
Miralay | قايمقام
Kaymakam | بن باشي
Binbaşı | كول اغاسي
Kolağası | يوزباشي
Yüzbaşı | ملاظم اول
Mülâzım-ı evvel | ملاظم ثاني
Mülâzım-ı sânî
Ottoman Army
(1909–1922)[1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
مشير
Müşîr | فريق اول
Ferîk-i evvel | فريق
Ferîk | ميرلواء
Mirliva | ميرالاي
Miralay | قايمقام
Kaymakam | بن باشي
Binbaşı | كول اغاسي
Kolağası[c] | يوزباشي
Yüzbaşı | ملاظم اول
Mülâzım-ı evvel | ملاظم ثاني
Mülâzım-ı sânî

#### Other ranks

[edit]

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group  | Non-commissioned officer  | Enlisted

|
|

Ottoman Army
(1827-1856)[1][a] |  |  |  |  | No insignia
| چاووش
Çavuş | سنققدار
Sancaktar |  | اون باشي
Onbaşı | نفر
Nefer
Ottoman Army
(1856-1876)[1][d] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
| باش چاووش
Başçavuş |  | چاووش
Çavuş |  | بلوك اميني
Bölük emini | اون باشي
Onbaşı | نفر
Nefer
Ottoman Army
(1876-1911)[1][d] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
| باش چاووش
Başçavuş |  | چاووش
Çavuş |  | بلوک امینی
Bölük emini | اون باشی
Onbaşı | نفر
Nefer
Ottoman Army
(1911–1916)[1] |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
تاکم باشی
Takımbaşı[e][f]
(Machine Guns)  | باش چاووش
Başçavuş
(Artillery)  | باش چاووش معینی
Başçavuş muavini[f]
(Cavalry)  | چاووش
Çavuş
(Infantry)  |  | اون باشی
Onbaşı
(Infantry)  | نفر
Nefer
Ottoman Army
(1916–1922)[1] |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
تاکم باشی
Takımbaşı[f]
(Machine guns)  | باش چاوش
Başçavuş
(Artillery)  | باش چاوش معینی
Başçavuş muavini[f]
(Cavalry)  | چاوش
Çavuş
(Infantry)  |  | اون باشی
Onbaşı
(Infantry)  | نفر
Nefer

## Navy ranks

[edit]

### Officers

[edit]

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers

|
|
|

Ottoman Navy
(1827-1856)[1][a] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
قَبْطَان پَاشَا
Kaptan paşa | بَحْرِيَّة فَرِيقِی
Bâhriye ferîki | بَحْرِيَّة مِيرلِيوَاسِی
Bâhriye mirlivası | اُچْ آمْبَارْلِی سُوَارِيسِی
Üç ambarlı süvarisi | مِيرَلاَی
Miralay | قَايْمَقَام
Kaymakam | بِينبَاشِی
Binbaşı | قُول آغَاسِی
Kolağası | يُوزبَاشِی
Yüzbaşı | مُلَازِم
Mülâzım
Ottoman Navy
(1856-1861)[1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
رَئِيس پَاشَا
Reis paşa | فَرِيق پَاشَا
Ferîk paşa | لِوَاء پَاشَا
Liva paşa | اُچْ آمْبَارْلِی سُوَارِيسِی
Üç ambarlı süvarisi | مِيرَلاَی
Miralay | قَايْمَقَام
Kaymakam | بِينبَاشِی
Binbaşı |  | بُويْرُلْتُلُو قَبْطَان
Buyrultulu kaptan
Ottoman Navy
(1861-1876)[1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
رَئِيس پَاشَا
Reis paşa | فَرِيق پَاشَا
Ferîk paşa | لِوَاء پَاشَا
Liva paşa | اُچْ آمْبَارْلِی سُوَارِيسِی
Üç ambarlı süvarisi | مِيرَلاَی
Miralay | قَايْمَقَام
Kaymakam | بِينبَاشِی
Binbaşı |  | بُويْرُلْتُلُو قَبْطَان
Buyrultulu kaptan | مُلَازِم
Mülâzım
Ottoman Navy
(1876-1909)[1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
مُشِير
Müşîr | فَرِيق
Ferîk | مِيرلِيوَا
Mirliva | مِيرَلاَی
Miralay | قَايْمَقَام
Kaymakam | بِينَباشِی
Binbaşı | كُولْ أُول
Kolevvel | كُولْ صَانِی
Kolsânî | يُوزبَاشِی
Yüzbaşı | مُلَازِمِ اوَّل
Mülâzım-ı evvel | مُلَازِمِ ثَانِی
Mülâzım-ı sânî
Ottoman Navy
(1909–1922)[1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
مُشِير أَمِيرَال
Müşîr amiral | أَمِيرَال
Amiral | فِيس أَمِيرَال
Vice amiral | لِوَاء أَمِيرَال
Liva amiral | قُومُودُور
Komodor | قَلْيُون قَبْطَانِی
Kalyon kaptanı | فِرْقَاطَيْن قَبْطَانِی
Fırkateyn kaptanı | قُورْوِيت قَبْطَانِی
Korvet kaptanı | بِيرِينْجِی صِنِفْ يُوزبَاشِی
Birinci sınıf yüzbaşı | يُوزبَاشِی
Yüzbaşı | مُلَازِمِ اوَّل
Mülâzım-ı evvel | مُلَازِمِ ثَانِی
Mülâzım-ı sânî | مُهَنْدِس
Mühendis[a]

### Other ranks

[edit]

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group  | Senior non-commissioned officer  | Non-commissioned officer  | Enlisted

|
|
|

Ottoman Navy
(1827-1856)[1][a] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
|  |  |  |  | چاووش
Çavuş |  | اُونباشی
Onbaşı | نَفَر
Nefer
Ottoman Navy
(1856-1876)[1][d] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
|  |  | باش چاووش
Başçavuş | چاووش
Çavuş | بُولُوك اَمينی
Bölük emini | اُونباشی
Onbaşı | نَفَر
Nefer
Ottoman Navy
(1876-1914)[1][d] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
سِرْگِدِيكْلِی
Sergedikli | گِدِيكْلِی اَوَّل
Gedikli evvel | گِدِيكْلِی ثَانِی
Gedikli sânî | گِدِيكْلِی ثَالِث
Gedikli sâlis |  | باش چاووش
Başçavuş | چاووش
Çavuş | بُولُوك اَمِينی
Bölük emini | اُونباشی
Onbaşı | نَفَر
Nefer
Ottoman Navy
(1914–1922)[1][d] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
بِيرِينْجِی صِنِفْ گِدِيكْلِی
Birinci sınıf gedikli | اِيكِينْجِی صِنِفْ گِدِيكْلِی
İkinci sınıf gedikli | اُچُونْجِی صِنِفْ گِدِيكْلِی
Üçüncü sınıf gedikli | گِدِيكْلِی نَامْزَدِی
Gedikli namzedi | بَاش چاووش
Başçavuş | چاووش
Çavuş |  | اُونباشی
Onbaşı | نَفَر
Nefer

## See also

[edit]

Military ranks of Turkey

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Worn on the collar.
2. ^ Insignia kept until 1909 for the following: Imperial Entourage, Aides-de-Camp of His Majesty the Sultan, Imperial Guard Units, the Gendarmerie, the Dragoon Regiment, the Fire Brigade Regiment, the Rifle Company and the 1. Army.
3. ^ Rank discontinued in 1910.
4. ^ a b c d e Only worn on the left sleeve.
5. ^ Introduced in 1916.
6. ^ a b c d Not present in the Gendarmerie.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Geçer 2022.

### Bibliography

[edit]

* Geçer, Kadir (2022). Osmanlı İmparatorluğu Askerî Kıyafetleri 1826-1922 [Ottoman Empire Military Clothing 1826-1922] (in Turkish). Hisart Culture Publications. ISBN 9786050699814.

## External links

[edit]

* "Geçmi̇şten Günümüze, Bahri̇ye Üni̇forma Ve Rütbeleri̇ - Türker Geçer". YouTube (in Turkish). Çamli̇mani Akademi̇. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2025.

* v
* t
* e

Military ranks and insignia by country

* List of comparative military ranks

Africa|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* DR Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

States with
limited recognition|

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

Former|

* People's Republic of Angola
* Biafra
* Bophuthatswana
* Ciskei
* Kingdom of Egypt
* Ethiopian Empire
* Katanga
* People's Republic of Mozambique
* Rhodesia
* South West Africa
* Transkei
* Venda
* Zaire

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Apartheid States in Southern Africa

Americas|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentina
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Canada
* Chile
* Colombia
* Cuba
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States
* Officers:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Enlisted:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Other:
* Marine Corps
* Space Force
* Warrant officer
* Opposing forces
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Former|

* Canada (pre-Unification)
* Confederate States of America
* Union
* Army
* Navy
* Costa Rica
* Republic of Cuba
* Empire of Brazil
* Panama
* Republic of Texas
* Army
* Navy
* United States Army enlisted
* World War I
* World War II

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Asia|

* Afghanistan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* PR of China
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Rocket Force
* Armed Police
* India
* Army
* Air Force
* Navy
* Coast Guard
* Border Roads Organisation
* Paramilitary forces
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Korea
* North
* South
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Marines
* Civil Armed Forces
* Maritime Security Agency
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan (Republic of China)

Former|

* Artsakh
* China
* Empire
* Republic (1912–1949)
* Dutch East Indies
* East Turkestan (Second Republic)
* People's Republic of Kampuchea
* Imperial Iran
* Imperial Japan
* Army
* Navy
* Korea
* Empire
* Liberation Army
* Kingdom of Laos
* Manchukuo
* Mengjiang
* Mongolian People's Republic
* Vietnam
* State
* South
* South Yemen
* Tibet
* Tuva

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Europe|

* Albania
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Home Guard
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Army
* Navy
* Gendarmerie
* Air and Space Force
* Foresters
* Germany
* Georgia
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Land Forces
* Coast Guard
* Ireland
* Italy
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Carabinieri
* Finance Guard
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* North Macedonia
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Cossacks
* Between 1994 and 2010
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* Officers:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Other:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Vatican

States with
limited recognition|

* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* Transnistria

Former|

* Albania
* Kingdom
* People's Socialist Republic
* Austria–Hungary
* Army
* Navy
* Bulgaria
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Independent State of Croatia
* Czechoslovakia
* German Empire
* Weimar Republic
* Nazi Germany
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* East Germany
* Kingdom of Greece
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* France
* Napoleonic Grand Army
* Hungary
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Italy
* Kingdom
* Social Republic
* Ottoman Empire
* Polish People's Republic
* Republika Srpska
* Romania
* Kingdom
* Socialist Republic
* Russian Empire
* White Movement
* Slovakia (First Republic)
* Soviet Union
* 1918–35
* 1935–40
* 1940–43
* 1943–55
* 1955–91
* Spain
* 2nd Republic
* State
* Yugoslavia
* Kingdom
* Socialist Federal Republic
* Federal Republic

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Oceania|

* Australia
* Fiji
* New Zealand
* Papua New Guinea
* Tonga
* Vanuatu

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Language|

| Anglophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

|

Arabophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Francophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Gendarmerie
* Officers
* Enlisted

Hispanophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Lusophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Military police
* Officers
* Enlisted

Post-Soviet states|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Commonwealth of Nations|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

European Union|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

NATO|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air Force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Comparative ranks of

* Star ranking
* WWI
* Officers
* WWII
* Officers
* Women's services
* Marine forces
* Space forces
* Gendarmeries
* UK and US

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