A ''binbashi'', alternatively ''bimbashi'', (from tr, Binbaşı, "chief of a thousand", " chiliarch") is a major in the

Turkish Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and mi ...

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'' ( sr-cyr, Бимбаша) in 1804–1817. Since the restructuring of the modern Turkish Army in 1934, ''Binbaşı'' means

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

; 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 ''Kolağası'' (also written as ''Kol Ağası'', ''Kol Aghasi'') was a military rank of the Ottoman Army. It corresponds to a Senior Captain (modern Turkish: ''Kıdemli Yüzbaşı'') or an Adjutant Major. Erik Jan Zürcher, ''The Unionist Factor ...

'' (

senior captain Senior captain is a rank which is used in some countries' armed forces, navies, merchant marines, civil aviation and in the airline industry. Army In some armies of the world, the senior captain is a rank between a regular captain and a majo ...

), which ranked above ''Yüzbaşı'' (

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

) and below ''Binbaşı''. When the rank ''

'' 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 Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

.) Until 1934, it was the duty of a Binbaşı to command a

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions are ...

(''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.

References

* Dictionary.com
Binbashi entry
* Dunn, John P. "Khedive Ismail's Army" Routledge Press, 2005
p. 156
Military ranks of Turkey Turkish words and phrases Military ranks of the Ottoman Empire {{mil-rank-stub tr:Binbaşı

See also

References