By Suleiman the Magnificent’s reign the regular artillery or ’Topdjis’ were 2,000 strong, and there were also 3,000 ‘Top-Arabacis’ or drivers who conducted the vast ox-teams (a train of 40 guns in 1643 had
4,000 oxen) which normally drew Turkish guns. The ‘Cecebis’ (Armourers) 1,500 strong, not only maintained the artillery but guarded transport an’d stores on campaign. The first and last of these were recruited like the Janissaries (though renegade European ‘experts’ were also employed) and may well have been uniformed. There were also two feudally-organised bodies, the ‘Hum-baracis’ (Mortar-gunners) and the ’Lagimcis’ (Pioneers). The latter had English and Dutch officers in the 1640s.
Turkish guns were mainly bronze, and to begin with huge stone-throwers were favoured. During the 16th Century smalier guns firing cast-iron balls, and European style field carriages, came into use, but Turkish artillery seems to have remained generally heavy and slow-moving. At the late 15th Century siege of Rhodes the Turks had 33 guns mainly firing stone balls, and 12 bronze mortars firing explosive shell: the heavier cannon averaged only two rounds a day, the mortars about five. At Malta (1564) their 80 or so guns again included 12 mortars (quite likely the same 12!) and ranged up to ten 80 pounders and one 160 pounder, while the armourers on this occasion also provided specialised siege-equipment such as incendiary sticky-bombs.
World History
