Silahtar Guard

Silahtars ("weapon masters") were chosen from the best warriors in the Ottoman Empire. Any Ottoman soldier who committed a significant deed on the battlefield could be promoted to the Silahtar division. More commonly, infantry soldiers had to enlist as serdengecti (giver of his head) and survive suicide missions in order to join the Silahtar division. If a janissary ever became a silahtar, former comrade janissaries despised him and considered him to be a traitor, but because the position and wealth of a silahtar was so attractive, janissaries and other soldiers still enlisted for suicide missions.

For the Ottomans, military service is not a burden, but an honour and one that men should readily embrace. The greatest honour is reserved for the Silahtar Guard, who are charged with protecting the sultan himself. If needed these troops will lay down their lives for him; such sacrifice demands an iron resolve, and the Silahtar are not easily shaken in battle.

Tags: [Sil]Rank_Name

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