seyfiye

Ottoman institution

Also known as: askeriye

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July 13, 2026

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The seyfiye was one of the four main functional institutions within the Ottoman ruling class, responsible for the military affairs of the empire. This institution encompassed the military and was tasked with expanding and defending the empire, as well as maintaining order and security within its territories. The seyfiye was distinct from the imperial (mülkiye), administrative (kalemiye), and religious (ilmiye) institutions. During the classical period of the Ottoman Empire, the seyfiye played a crucial role in the state's expansion and governance. The sipahi cavalry, historically important, gradually became less significant compared to the Janissaries and artillery corps by the mid-16th century, indicating an evolution within the military institution.12

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Ottoman Empire
Classical Ottoman society and administration
…Ottoman system; the military (seyfiye or askeriye) institution, which was responsible for expanding and defending the empire and keeping order and security within the sultan’s dominions; the administrative, or scribal (kalemiye), institution, organized as the imperial treasury (hazine-i amire), which was in charge of collecting and spending the imperial…
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…Ottoman system; the military (seyfiye or askeriye) institution, which was responsible for expanding and defending the empire and keeping order and security within the sultan’s dominions; the administrative, or scribal (kalemiye), institution, organized as the imperial treasury (hazine-i amire), which was in charge of collecting and spending the imperial…
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