On the Flyssa, the Iflissen, and Janissary Recruitment in Ottoman Algiers

[Tatyana Dianova]

Very interesting article Emanuel, thank you!

[Zifir]

Hi Emanuel,
This is a very interesting subject. Did Colombe also supply the whole register with his article, or did he just give the numbers? I would be very interested to find out how much was their daily pay.

Best,

[Emanuel]

Hi Zifir,

Colombe did not include the records, but Shuval summarized them. I understand Deny (1920) did reproduce the actual records in his publication. I'll check.


Shuval shows the pay given for all ranks in saima at the beginning of the 18th century and in riyal at the end of the century.

1 saima = 50 aspres or akçe in Turkish
1 riyal = 232 aspres/akçe

yoldach (simple soldier) - 425 saima - 86 riyal
vekil khardj (corporal/sergent-major/cook) - 919 saima - 210 riyal
odabachi (lieutenant) - 646 saima - 325 riyal
bolukbachi (captain) - 2298 saima - 305 riyal
yayabachi (aga bachi/ commander) - 3377 saima - 325 riyal
agha - 5766 saima - 850 riyal

Not clear how often the pay was given out. Venture de Paradis explained this but I don't have the book at the moment. There is one mention that this was for two months. The actual purchasing power is not explained either. How much was 1 saima or riyal worth to a soldier at the time? How much was 1 akçe worth in Istanbul at the time?
Were these values subject to inflation? Can we compare 1 saima to 1 riyal?


Emanuel

[Zifir]

Thanks a lot Emanuel.
These were probably yearly pays. Although akçe was still the basic unit for calculations at that time, 1 akçe had no purchasing power at all. To give an idea, 240 gr. loaf of bread was 6 akçes in 1811 in Istanbul while 1 kg meat was 240 akçes in 1812 etc.

For the original flyssa topic, attached is a sketch of an Ottoman marine which was done probably at the end of the 18th century. I don't know the source of this sketch but the interesting part is the weapon he was carrying. Would it be too wrong to categorize it as a flyssa? Algerian influence on dress (weapons?) was especially powerful on marines and some janissaries at that time.

[Martin Lubojacky]

Hello Emanuel,
Not being "expert" in thi field I would just like to point out, that some time ago I brought very nice qama dagger from Tripolis in Libya. I allso saw some people with specific Caucasian physiognomy. When speaking with friends about this I was told that garrison force of coastal cities (especially Misurata) was consisting of Ottoman soldiers

[Martin Lubojacky]

sorry - I will continue:
...from Ottoman soldiers recruitet in Caucasus.
Regards,
Martin

[Emanuel]

Thought I'd update this thread with maps of the Iflissen commune and the locations of Ighil Bousouil, Isukane, and Taourirt At Zouaou, the three main villages of the At Zouaou Iflissen group.

Emanuel