Dervendjis

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about
Ottoman military auxiliary constabulary units. For other uses, see Derbent (disambiguation)
.
Derbendcis
Allegiance
auxiliary force
Roleconstabulary
Part oftabl of 30 men
Equipmentlight weapon and fire guns
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Derbendcis or Derbentler were the most important and largest

Ottoman military auxiliary constabulary units usually responsible for guarding important roads, bridges, fords or mountain passes.[1][2]
Usually, the population of an entire village near some important pass would be assigned with derbendci status in exchange for tax exemptions.

Etymology

The name is derived from a Persian word Dar-band meaning "pass", "gateway" or "closer of the door".[3][4]

History

The Ottomans had common practice to exempt some of their tax-paying subjects (

kadı to receive derbendci status in exchange for providing security, constructing or maintaining roads and bridges.[8] Newly settled population of such villages was not exempt from paying avariz taxes.[9]

Their duty was to patrol the territory they were assigned to (derbend), similar to immobile gendarmerie.[10] Since the end of the 18th century derbedcis were organized within Derbendat Ministry (Turkish: Derbendat Başbuğluğu) that appointed derbend aghas (Turkish: derbendat başbuğ) whose post lasted one year.[11]

Derbendci status was compulsory and hereditary. If some individual or group would escape from their duty, the Ottomans would forcefully return them. They were organized into simple structures of 30 men (tabl) whose members performed rotational duties. Initially they carried only light weapons and later also fire guns. Significant part of this units were Christians who were, because of their derbendci duty, allowed to ride horses and carry weapon,

decline of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 17th century.[14]

References

  1. ^ Ursinus 2012, p. 41.
  2. ^ Uyar & Erickson 2009, p. 62.
  3. ISBN 978-90-804409-4-4
    .
  4. ^ Jackson, A.B. Wiliams (1911). From Constantinople to the Home of Omar Khayyam. p. 61.
  5. ISBN 978-3-447-05278-8
    .
  6. ^ Ursinus 2012, p. 40+.
  7. ISBN 978-0-86078-179-0
    . According to this document, the derbendci were equally exempt from all avarız-ı divaniye and tekâlif-i örfiye, a privilege customarily enjoyed by pass guards throughout the Empire); the exemption also covered service as oarsmen...
  8. ISBN 978-0-7391-2835-0
    .
  9. ^ MacKay, Camilla Martha (1999). The Road Networks and Postal Service of the Eastern Roman and Byzantine Empires (First-Fifteenth Centuries AD): Social Effects on the Provincial Population (PhD). University of Michigan. p. 164.
  10. ISBN 978-91-7916-047-0
    .
  11. ISBN 9789757522195
    .
  12. ISBN 978-3-643-10851-7
    .
  13. ISBN 9780197135815
    .
  14. ^ Uyar & Erickson 2009, pp. 62–63.

Sources

Further reading

  • Cengiz Orhonlu, Osmanlı İmparatorluğunda Derbend Teşkilatı (İstanbul: Eren Yayınları, 1990)
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