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Azebs,azabs, orazaps (Ottoman Turkish:عزب, from Arabic, literallyunmarried, meaningbachelor), also known asAsappes orAsappi, were irregular soldiers, originally made up of unmarried youths. They were conscripted amongreayas and served in various roles in the earlyOttoman army.[1][2][3] The word azeb either often indicates alight infantry soldier which was calledyaya azeb or amarine soldier which was calledbahriye (navy) anddeniz (sea) azeb.[2] The term was used in the sense of "pirate" or "buccaneer" inByzantine,Latin, andItalian sources from the 14th to 16th centuries.[4]
Azebs were originally an auxiliary infantry unit harkening back toAnatolian beyliks that became independent from theAnatolian Seljuk Sultanate. In the maritime beyliks, they also served as naval units.[5] For instance, in the 13th century, sources address existence of troops called azebs in theBeylik of Aydın.[2]
According to Stein (2007), by the 14th[a] century azebs garrisoned in strongholds were calledkale (fortress) azebs. Azebs in fortresses had duties such as buildingbridges, working assappers and doing the job ofarmorers, especially after conscription of devshirme armorers stopped.[6] They usually comprised most of the garrison in smaller forts andpalankas.[2][5]
In theOttoman Empire the main role of Azaps were fighting as infantryarchers on frontlines before thecannons andJanissaries,[2] 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.[7]
Azebs were recruited in accordance with thekanunnames (law code) of theSuleiman I.Kadıs oversaw draft of the azebs at a local level, calledsancak. One man was levied from every 20-30 households whilst others supported him financially. The azaps were initially only recruited fromAnatolian Turks, and, thenRumelia. Azebs garrisoned in forts were regularly paid.[8][2] In the late 16th century all Muslim men could enlist.[citation needed]
Their official name -as generally appeared in pay lists- wasrüesa ve azeban. The wordreis (in pluralrüesa) referred to head or captain of a ship in maritime or chief of a medium-sized unit consisting ofkale azebs.Kale azebs were divided intoağalıks which were commanded byağas and their aideskethüdas. These were subdivided intocemaats orriayets (a company consisting of 3 or 4 squads) which were led byreises.[9]
As volunteers the azaps had a wide range of weaponry. These include pole arms, such as thetirpan (war scythe) andharba as well asbalta (bardiche). In addition to pole arms they were armed with a variety ofmaces,bows,sabers, and to a rarer extentcrossbows. Later on guns were adopted instead. Azebs also wore redbörks, a felt hat like the ones worn by janissaries but in different colours.[2]