The standing army or the Kapu Kula consisted of three categories: the Janissaries, the Household Cavalry (Suvarileri) and the artillery engineer corps. These were the only regularly paid units of the Porte and they formed the backbone of the Ottoman Army around which the various irregular forces were grouped.

Terminology regarding the Ottoman units is at best confusing. The term Spahis or Sipahis or Sipahi relate to many differing units. The term means "soldier", but in relation to the Ottoman Army, it refers to a cavalry man, armored or not, part of the regular army or the feudal host or the provincial guards. I will try not to use this term except as regarding the definition of a particular unit.

The Household Cavalry was formed by six units. The four senior were known as Boluks and consisted of four regiments, two each of Olufeci, "paid men" and Gureba or "foreigners", they were recruited outside the Turkish ethnic group proper and were probably Arabs, Persian or Mamalukes.

One regiment of each was designated the "right" regiment and one the "left" regiment as they formed for battle on the Sultan's left and right respectively. In the early 16th Century, these regiments were each of 500 men, though the Olufecis were required to bring along several armed retainers as support. These could raise the total from 1500 to 2000 for the Olufecis regiments.

The other two units were the Spahis, who formed on the Sultan's right and the Silahdar or 'sword bearers' that formed on his left and were the earliest Sultan's Guard unit. These were the elite of the Ottoman Empire. They were formed as the Grand Vizieral Bodyguard and were composed from the wealthiest and most important families of the Empire. Each was required to bring along four to six retainers for war. While the Spahis numbered 3,500 and the Silahdar 2,500, the total with retainers, of the Household Cavalry topped 30,000.

Each trooper was equipped as he saw fit. Each was armored, usually wearing his robes over the chain mail, with swords. lances, shields, pistols, javelins, bows, etc. as his weapons. Some, notably the Persians and Mainalukes, used barded horses, the barding being of mail or leather, while others were of cloth.

The flags of the Spahis were pennant shaped and were red, those of the Silahdars were yellow, each with two silver crescents. The square Olufeci flags were red and yellow and yellow and white striped. The Gureba flags were green and white horizontal stripes.

Two other units of note were the Muleferrika, also known as the 'Noble Guard', who, along with their retainers formed the Sultan's inner guard whenever he ventured out on campaign. This body of troops varied from 100 to 300 strong, plus retainers. They were the sons of the Empire's outlying territories and served as hostages for their families loyalty. The Sultan's other bodyguard unit was the Mulazims, Spahis Oglans (Spahis Children), formed in the early 15th Century, who were a 300 man picked force from the Spahis of the Porte who acted as ADC's to the Sultan on campaign.

The regular infantry of the Ottoman Empire consisted of the Corps of Janissaries, initially recruited through a blood tax (devsirme) on Christian inhabitants of the Empire, though by the 1680's they were increasingly Turkish in composition. The Corps of Janissaries, or Ocka, was divided into three divisions. Each division was subdivided into Ortas, which varied in size from 100 to 3,000 men. Boys destined for the Janissary Ocka were subjected to seven years of training during which they were known as 'Acemi Oglans', or pages.

The entire Ocka was commanded by the Aga of Janissaries, the first division, the Cema'at of 101 Ortas, usually was commanded by the Aga, the second division, the Boluk, was 61 Ortas strong and was commanded by the Kul Kahyasi. The third division was the Segmeni of 34 Ortas and was commanded by the Segman Basi. These high commanders of the Janissaries were distinguished by three large white plumes and three smaller black plumes set fan-wise in their hats. Each Orta carried its own flag with either a religious or heraldic devise on it.

The dominant color of the Janissary uniform was dark blue, plain, with dark blue trousers and yellow stockings. The hat or zarcola was white with a silver or brass band and frontal plate. Officers or special ortas would wear precious stones on the nasal piece and add long heron or bird of paradise feather plumes.

Janissary weapons included the musket in the 18th Century. For close action, they would sling their firearm and rely on the sword and shield. Though they were regularly drilled, they tended not to fight like Westerners. They lacked the lower command levels required for disciplined fire. Janissaries preferred to defend behind high earthworks or ring their wagons into a laager formation.

Garrison Janissaries were added to the corps in the l7th Century. Sources differ as to whether they belonged to the central government Orka or were raised by the local provincial governors in imitation of the Orka Janissaries. Ortas 60 through 63 were known as the Solaks, Tbrkish for 'archers', and they formed the Sultan's personal bodyguard. Those who were to walk on the Sultan's left side were left-handed.

The other standing army units were the corps of artillery (the Topdjis) and the engineers (Laganci) and armorers (Cebeci).

Ottoman artillery was heavy and almost immobile once placed. They lacked any uniform caliber or sizing and relied on solid wooden wheels. There are some accounts of Ottoman siege guns being cast on-site using portable smelters and forges.

More Ottoman Turk Army of the 17th to Early 19th Century

Introduction
The Standing Army
Feudal Hosts
Provincial Armies
Tribute States Armies and Freebooters
Battle Tactics