Binbashi
A binbashi, alternatively bimbashi, (from Turkish: Binbaşı, "chief of a thousand", "chiliarch") is a major in the Turkish army, of which term originated in the Ottoman army. The title was also used for a major in the Khedivial Egyptian army as Bimbashi (1805–1953). It was also used by the Serbian revolutionaries as Bimbaša (Serbian Cyrillic: Бимбаша) in 1804–1817.
| Military ranks of the Ottoman Empire | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ottoman ranks |
Western equivalents | |
| Officers | ||
| Müşir مشير |
Field marshal | |
| Birinci Ferik (Serdar) فريق أول |
General | |
| Ferik فريق |
Lieutenant general | |
| Mirliva أمير لواء |
Major general | |
| Miralay أمير آلاي |
Brigadier | |
| Kaymakam قائم مقام |
Colonel | |
| Binbaşı بكباشي |
Lieutenant colonel | |
| Kolağası (Sağ Kolağası / Sol Kolağası) قول أغاسي |
Major | |
| Yüzbaşı يوزباشي |
Captain | |
| Mülâzım-ı Evvel ملازم أول |
First lieutenant | |
| Mülâzım-ı Sani ملازم ثاني |
Second lieutenant | |
| Non-commissioned officers | ||
| Çavuş شاويش |
Sergeant | |
| Onbaşı أونباشي |
Corporal | |
| Soldiers | ||
| Nefer نفر |
Private | |
| Military ranks of Egypt | ||
|---|---|---|
| Turco-Egyptian ranks (until 1958) |
Modern Egyptian ranks |
Western equivalents |
| Officers | ||
| Mushir مشير |
General of the army/ Field Marshal | |
| Sirdar سردار |
Fariq awwal فريق أول |
Colonel General |
| Fariq فريق |
Lieutenant General | |
| Liwa لواء |
Major General | |
| Amiralay أمير آلاي |
Amid عميد |
Brigadier |
| Qaimaqam قائم مقام |
Aqid عقيد |
Colonel |
| Bimbashi بكباشي |
Muqaddam مقدم |
Lieutenant Colonel |
| Sagh صاغ |
Raid رائد |
Major |
| Yuzbashi يوزباشي |
Naqib نقيب |
Captain |
| Mulazim awwal ملازم أول |
First Lieutenant | |
| Mulazim thani ملازم ثاني |
Mulazim ملازم |
Second Lieutenant |
| Non-commissioned officers | ||
| Shawish شاويش |
Raqib رقيب |
Sergeant |
| Ombashi أومباشي |
Arif عريف |
Corporal |
| Soldiers | ||
| Askari عسكري |
Jundi جندي |
Private |
Since the restructuring of the modern Turkish Army in 1934, Binbaşı means major; but in the Ottoman Army (and in the pre-1934 Turkish Army, during the early years of the Turkish Republic) the more correct equivalent of the Western rank "major" was Kolağası (senior captain), which ranked above Yüzbaşı (captain) and below Binbaşı.
When the rank Kolağası was removed from the Turkish Army in 1934, the rank Binbaşı was relegated to major (before 1934, the rank Binbaşı was also considered an equivalent of lieutenant colonel.) Until 1934, it was the duty of a Binbaşı to command a battalion (tabur) in the Ottoman (and pre-1934 Turkish) armies; but since 1934, it is the duty of a Yarbay (lieutenant colonel) to command a battalion.
The collar mark (later shoulder mark) and cap of a Binbaşı had two stripes and one star during the early years of the Turkish Republic.
See also
- Military of the Ottoman Empire
- Turkish Army
References
- Dictionary.com, Binbashi entry
- Dunn, John P. "Khedive Ismail's Army" Routledge Press, 2005, p. 156