Târîh-i Askerî-i Osmânî

The first part of Ahmed Cevad Pasha’s three-volume work Târîh-i Askerî-i Osmânî, which we have endeavored to present to readers in a manner faithful to the original manuscript, focuses primarily on the Janissary organization. This section provides a detailed account of the military structure in question, covering the period from the founding of the Janissaries to its abolition in 1826. The first volume covers the establishment of the Janissaries, their divisions, officer corps, barracks, councils, laws, weapons and uniforms, customs and ceremonies, the uprisings they instigated, and the reasons for the organization’s dissolution.

The second volume, written in the author’s own hand, focuses on the military reforms of the reigns of Selim III and Mahmud II. The Nizâm-ı Cedîd and Asâkir-i Mansûre-i Muhammediye armies are the main topics of this section. The final volume, which is a manuscript, explains the post-Tanzimat military reforms that marked a turning point for the Ottoman Empire. In particular, this volume describes the transition to the “multi-army system,” which serves as a reference for today’s military structure. It covers the military reforms carried out during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid, the formation of multiple armies, the integration of the Redif into the new system, the nationwide census and conscription activities, the weapons and uniforms used by military personnel, military decorations and medals, and the status and comparison of the Ottoman armed forces with allied armies during the Crimean War are among the key topics covered.