# Military ranks of the Ottoman Empire

The military ranks of the Ottoman Empire may be visually identified by the military insignia used during the Military of the Ottoman Empire.

## Army ranks
### Classic Army

* Aghas were commanders of the different branches of the military services, like "azap agha", "besli agha", "janissary agha", for the commanders of azaps, beslis, and janissaries, respectively. This designation was given to commanders of smaller military units, too, for instance the "bölük agha", and the "ocak agha", the commanders of a "bölük" (company) and an "ocak" (troops) respectively.
* Boluk-bashi was a commander of a "bölük", equivalent with the rank of captain.
* Chorbaji (Turkish for "soup server") was a commander of an orta (regiment), approximately corresponding to the rank of colonel (Turkish: Albay) today. In seafaring, the term was in use for the boss of a ship's crew, a role similar to that of boatswain.

### Modern Army

Military personnel in the Ottoman Empire were assigned different duties according to their capabilities in order to administer the Armed Forces and particularly to be successful in battle. They were given various ranks so that they could conduct relations with each other and be fully aware of their duties. The issue of what sort of duties should be allocated to which unit or to which military institution used to be determined by the ranking within the Armed Forces. In Islamic countries, certain 'degrees', instead of ranks, were given in accordance with the categorization of government duties. In the course of time, these 'degrees' had taken on certain characteristics. In the Ottoman Empire, besides the ranks that were awarded after passing through certain stages of promotion, there was also the rank of "Pasha" that was given directly by the Ottoman Sultan. This rank, which continued until the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, was also given to civilian administrators who were approved of and found suitable. After the establishment of the Republic, the Sultanate was abolished, and the title became synonymous with the General rank, restricted to the Armed Forces only. Paymaster of a regiment - Captain of the Right Wing (Alay Emini - Sağ Kolağası): The rank of the Captain of the Right Wing was very high. The rank of the Adjutant and Paymaster of a regiment was also high but such individuals were not from the military class and they dealt with clerical duties and equipment needed by the regiment. Captain of the Wing - The Captain of the Left Wing- (Kolağası - Sol Kolağası): Captain of the Wing or the Captain of the Left Wing was the senior Captain. If he was educated in the regiment, he was called "Ağa" but if he was the son of a pasha, he was called "Bey".

#### Officers

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers |
| Ottoman Army (1827-1856) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ottoman Army (1827-1856) | مشير Müşîr | مشير Müşîr | فريق Ferik | فريق Ferik | فريق Ferik | فريق Ferik | ميرلواء Mirliva | ميرلواء Mirliva | ميرالاي Miralay | ميرالاي Miralay | قايمقام Kaymakam | قايمقام Kaymakam | بن باشي Binbaşı | بن باشي Binbaşı | كول اغاسي Kolağası | كول اغاسي Kolağası | يوزباشي Yüzbaşı | يوزباشي Yüzbaşı | ملاظم Mülâzım | ملاظم Mülâzım | ملاظم Mülâzım | ملاظم Mülâzım |
| Ottoman Army (1856-1876) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ottoman Army (1856-1876) | مشير Müşîr | مشير Müşîr | فريق Ferik | فريق Ferik | فريق Ferik | فريق Ferik | ميرلواء Mirliva | ميرلواء Mirliva | ميرالاي Miralay | ميرالاي Miralay | قايمقام Kaymakam | قايمقام Kaymakam | بن باشي Binbaşı | بن باشي Binbaşı | كول اغاسي Kolağası | كول اغاسي Kolağası | يوزباشي Yüzbaşı | يوزباشي Yüzbaşı | ملاظم اول Mülâzım-ı evvel | ملاظم اول Mülâzım-ı evvel | ملاظم ثاني Mülâzım-ı sânî | ملاظم ثاني Mülâzım-ı sânî |
| Ottoman Army (1876-1909) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ottoman Army (1876-1909) | مشير Müşîr | مشير Müşîr | فريق Ferik | فريق Ferik | فريق Ferik | فريق Ferik | ميرلواء Mirliva | ميرلواء Mirliva | ميرالاي Miralay | ميرالاي Miralay | قايمقام Kaymakam | قايمقام Kaymakam | بن باشي Binbaşı | بن باشي Binbaşı | كول اغاسي Kolağası | كول اغاسي Kolağası | يوزباشي Yüzbaşı | يوزباشي Yüzbaşı | ملاظم اول Mülâzım-ı evvel | ملاظم اول Mülâzım-ı evvel | ملاظم ثاني Mülâzım-ı sânî | ملاظم ثاني Mülâzım-ı sânî |
| Ottoman Army (1909–1922) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ottoman Army (1909–1922) | مشير Müşîr | مشير Müşîr | فريق اول Ferik-i evvel | فريق اول Ferik-i evvel | فريق Ferik | فريق Ferik | ميرلواء Mirliva | ميرلواء Mirliva | ميرالاي Miralay | ميرالاي Miralay | قايمقام Kaymakam | قايمقام Kaymakam | بن باشي Binbaşı | بن باشي Binbaşı | كول اغاسي Kolağası | كول اغاسي Kolağası | يوزباشي Yüzbaşı | يوزباشي Yüzbaşı | ملاظم اول Mülâzım-ı evvel | ملاظم اول Mülâzım-ı evvel | ملاظم ثاني Mülâzım-ı sânî | ملاظم ثاني Mülâzım-ı sânî |

#### Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Non-commissioned officer | Non-commissioned officer | Non-commissioned officer | Non-commissioned officer | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |
| Ottoman Army (1827-1856) | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| Ottoman Army (1827-1856) | ㅤ | ㅤ | چاووش Çavuş | سنققدار Sancaktar | اون باشي Onbaşı | نفر Nefer |
| Ottoman Army (1856-1876) | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| Ottoman Army (1856-1876) | ㅤ | باش چاووش Başçavuş | چاووش Çavuş | بلوك اميني Bölük emini | اون باشي Onbaşı | نفر Nefer |
| Ottoman Army (1876-1911) | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| Ottoman Army (1876-1911) | ㅤ | باش چاووش Başçavuş | چاووش Çavuş | بلوک امینی Bölük emini | اون باشی Onbaşı | نفر Nefer |
| Ottoman Army (1911–1916) | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| Ottoman Army (1911–1916) | تاکم باشی Takım başı (Machine Guns) | باش چاووش Başçavuş (Artillery) | باش چاووش معینی Başçavuş muavini (Cavalry) | چاووش Çavuş (Infantry) | اون باشی Onbaşı (Infantry) | نفر Nefer |
| Ottoman Army (1916–1922) | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| Ottoman Army (1916–1922) | تاکم باشی Takım başı (Machine Guns) | باش چاوش Başçavuş (Artillery) | باش چاوش معینی Başçavuş muavini (Cavalry) | چاوش Çavuş (Infantry) | اون باشی Onbaşı (Infantry) | نفر Nefer |

## Navy ranks
### Officers

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers |
| Ottoman Navy (1827-1856) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ottoman Navy (1827-1856) | قَبْطَان پَاشَا Kaptan paşa | قَبْطَان پَاشَا Kaptan paşa | بَحْرِيَّة فَرِيقِی Bâhriye feriki | بَحْرِيَّة فَرِيقِی Bâhriye feriki | بَحْرِيَّة فَرِيقِی Bâhriye feriki | بَحْرِيَّة فَرِيقِی Bâhriye feriki | بَحْرِيَّة مِيرلِيوَاسِی Bâhriye mirlivası | بَحْرِيَّة مِيرلِيوَاسِی Bâhriye mirlivası | اُچْ آمْبَارْلِی سُوَارِيسِی Üç ambarlı süvarisi | اُچْ آمْبَارْلِی سُوَارِيسِی Üç ambarlı süvarisi | مِيرَلاَی Miralay | مِيرَلاَی Miralay | قَايْمَقَام Kaymakam | قَايْمَقَام Kaymakam | بِينبَاشِی Binbaşı | بِينبَاشِی Binbaşı | قُول آغَاسِی Kolağası | يُوزبَاشِی Yüzbaşı | يُوزبَاشِی Yüzbaşı | مُلَازِم Mülâzım | مُلَازِم Mülâzım |
| Ottoman Navy (1856-1861) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ottoman Navy (1856-1861) | رَئِيس پَاشَا Reis paşa | رَئِيس پَاشَا Reis paşa | فَرِيق پَاشَا Ferik paşa | فَرِيق پَاشَا Ferik paşa | فَرِيق پَاشَا Ferik paşa | فَرِيق پَاشَا Ferik paşa | لِوَاء پَاشَا Liva paşa | لِوَاء پَاشَا Liva paşa | اُچْ آمْبَارْلِی سُوَارِيسِی Üç ambarlı süvarisi | اُچْ آمْبَارْلِی سُوَارِيسِی Üç ambarlı süvarisi | مِيرَلاَی Miralay | مِيرَلاَی Miralay | قَايْمَقَام Kaymakam | قَايْمَقَام Kaymakam | بِينبَاشِی Binbaşı | بِينبَاشِی Binbaşı | بُويْرُلْتُلُو قَبْطَان Buyrultulu kaptan | بُويْرُلْتُلُو قَبْطَان Buyrultulu kaptan | بُويْرُلْتُلُو قَبْطَان Buyrultulu kaptan | بُويْرُلْتُلُو قَبْطَان Buyrultulu kaptan | بُويْرُلْتُلُو قَبْطَان Buyrultulu kaptan | بُويْرُلْتُلُو قَبْطَان Buyrultulu kaptan | بُويْرُلْتُلُو قَبْطَان Buyrultulu kaptan |
| Ottoman Navy (1861-1876) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ottoman Navy (1861-1876) | رَئِيس پَاشَا Reis paşa | رَئِيس پَاشَا Reis paşa | فَرِيق پَاشَا Ferik paşa | فَرِيق پَاشَا Ferik paşa | فَرِيق پَاشَا Ferik paşa | فَرِيق پَاشَا Ferik paşa | لِوَاء پَاشَا Liva paşa | لِوَاء پَاشَا Liva paşa | اُچْ آمْبَارْلِی سُوَارِيسِی Üç ambarlı süvarisi | اُچْ آمْبَارْلِی سُوَارِيسِی Üç ambarlı süvarisi | مِيرَلاَی Miralay | مِيرَلاَی Miralay | قَايْمَقَام Kaymakam | قَايْمَقَام Kaymakam | بِينبَاشِی Binbaşı | بِينبَاشِی Binbaşı | بُويْرُلْتُلُو قَبْطَان Buyrultulu kaptan | بُويْرُلْتُلُو قَبْطَان Buyrultulu kaptan | مُلَازِم Mülâzım | مُلَازِم Mülâzım | مُلَازِم Mülâzım |
| Ottoman Navy (1876-1909) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ottoman Navy (1876-1909) | مُشِير Müşîr | مُشِير Müşîr | فَرِيق Ferik | فَرِيق Ferik | فَرِيق Ferik | فَرِيق Ferik | مِيرلِيوَا Mirliva | مِيرلِيوَا Mirliva | | | مِيرَلاَی Miralay | مِيرَلاَی Miralay | قَايْمَقَام Kaymakam | قَايْمَقَام Kaymakam | بِينَباشِی Binbaşı | بِينَباشِی Binbaşı | كُولْ أُول Kolevvel | كُولْ صَانِی Kolsânî | يُوزبَاشِی Yüzbaşı | يُوزبَاشِی Yüzbaşı | مُلَازِمِ اوَّل Mülâzım-ı evvel | مُلَازِمِ ثَانِی Mülâzım-ı sânî |
| Ottoman Navy (1909–1922) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ottoman Navy (1909–1922) | مُشِير أَمِيرَال Müşîr amiral | مُشِير أَمِيرَال Müşîr amiral | أَمِيرَال Amiral | أَمِيرَال Amiral | فِيس أَمِيرَال Vice amiral | فِيس أَمِيرَال Vice amiral | لِوَاء أَمِيرَال Liva amiral | | | قُومُودُور Komodor | قَلْيُون قَبْطَانِی Kalyon kaptanı | قَلْيُون قَبْطَانِی Kalyon kaptanı | فِرْقَاطَيْن قَبْطَانِی Fırkateyn kaptanı | فِرْقَاطَيْن قَبْطَانِی Fırkateyn kaptanı | قُورْوِيت قَبْطَانِی Korvet kaptanı | قُورْوِيت قَبْطَانِی Korvet kaptanı | بِيرِينْجِی صِنِفْ يُوزبَاشِی Birinci sınıf yüzbaşı | يُوزبَاشِی Yüzbaşı | مُلَازِمِ اوَّل Mülâzım-ı evvel | مُلَازِمِ اوَّل Mülâzım-ı evvel | مُلَازِمِ ثَانِی Mülâzım-ı sânî | مُهَنْدِس Mühendis | مُهَنْدِس Mühendis |

### Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Senior non-commissioned officer | Senior non-commissioned officer | Senior non-commissioned officer | Senior non-commissioned officer | Non-commissioned officer | Non-commissioned officer | Non-commissioned officer | Enlisted | Enlisted |
| Ottoman Navy (1827-1856) | | | | | | | | | No insignia |
| Ottoman Navy (1827-1856) | | | | | | | چاووش Çavuş | اُونباشی Onbaşı | نَفَر Nefer |
| Ottoman Navy (1856-1876) | | | | | | | | | No insignia |
| Ottoman Navy (1856-1876) | | | | | باش چاووش Başçavuş | چاووش Çavuş | بُولُوك اَمينی Bölük emini | اُونباشی Onbaşı | نَفَر Nefer |
| Ottoman Navy (1876-1914) | | | | | | | | | No insignia |
| Ottoman Navy (1876-1914) | سِرْگِدِيكْلِی Sergedikli | گِدِيكْلِی اَوَّل Gedikli evvel | گِدِيكْلِی ثَانِی Gedikli sânî | گِدِيكْلِی ثَالِث Gedikli sâlis | باش چاووش Başçavuş | چاووش Çavuş | بُولُوك اَمِينی Bölük emini | اُونباشی Onbaşı | نَفَر Nefer |
| Ottoman Navy (1914–1922) | | | | | | | | | No insignia |
| Ottoman Navy (1914–1922) | بِيرِينْجِی صِنِفْ گِدِيكْلِی Birinci sınıf gedikli | اِيكِينْجِی صِنِفْ گِدِيكْلِی İkinci sınıf gedikli | اُچُونْجِی صِنِفْ گِدِيكْلِی Üçüncü sınıf gedikli | گِدِيكْلِی نَامْزَدِی Gedikli namzedi | بَاش چاووش Başçavuş | بَاش چاووش Başçavuş | چاووش Çavuş | اُونباشی Onbaşı | نَفَر Nefer |