In the 15th Century there were various kinds of infantry recruited, like many Spahis, on a feudal basis, but by the mid-16th Century these ‘Ascaris’ only accompanied the army as pioneers, though the ‘Musellems’ had a short period serving as marines. ‘Azabs’ (bachelors) seem to have been more like the irregular cavalry, volunteers serving for loot, and to have been employed during most of the period. Such troops would be irregulars in basically civilian dress, and their chief weapon was the composite bow, though spears, javelins, scimitars and shields were also used, and, toward the end of the 16th Century at least, irregulars would appear to have carried firearms, especially if raised in European provinces.
This was also true of the mercenary troops who began to be raised in the 17th Century to supplement the over-stretched and declining regular forces. They included ‘Gonullas’ (Frontier volunteers), Mustafiz (Fortress guards) and ‘Sarijas’ (‘Yellow’ — possibly from the colour of their flags though there is at least one description of light troops in all-yellow dress). Some of the ‘Sarija’ were musket-armed and guarded the baggage train.
Such mercenaries included light cavalry as well as infantry, and were not highly trained or disciplined, and probably not uniformed, though I have no details of their dress (one of the illustrations may give an idea of it).
‘laylars’ were a group of religious fanatics, apparently some thousands strong and distinct from the Dervishes, some of whom also fought. They were armed with scimitar and shield, wore gilt helmets and tunics of skins, decorated with characters in silver. They were used at the siege of Malta as a kind of ‘suicide squad’.
World History
