| Military ranks of Egypt | ||
|---|---|---|
| Turco-Egyptian ranks (until 1958) |
Modern Egyptian ranks |
Western equivalents |
| Officers | ||
| Mushir مشير |
General of the army/ field marshal | |
| Sirdar سردار |
Fariq awwal فريق أول |
General |
| Fariq فريق |
Lieutenant general | |
| Liwa لواء |
Major general | |
| Amiralay أمير آلاي |
Amid عميد |
Brigadier |
| Qaimaqam قائم مقام |
Aqid عقيد |
Colonel |
| Bimbashi بكباشي |
Muqaddam مقدم |
Lieutenant colonel |
| Sagh صاغ |
Raid رائد |
Major |
| Yuzbashi يوزباشي |
Naqib نقيب |
Captain |
| Mulazim awwal ملازم أول |
First lieutenant | |
| Mulazim thani ملازم ثاني |
Mulazim ملازم |
Second lieutenant |
| Non-commissioned officers | ||
| Shawish شاويش |
Raqib رقيب |
Sergeant |
| Ombashi أونباشي |
Arif عريف |
Corporal |
| Soldiers | ||
| Askari عسكري |
Jundi جندي |
Private |
Binbashi or Bimbashi (from Turkish language: Binbaşı, "chief of a thousand") is a major in the Turkish 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 (Serbian Cyrillic language: Бимбаша ) in 1804-1817.
Since the restructuring of the modern Turkish Army in 1934, Binbaşı means Major; 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 (Senior Captain), which ranked above Yüzbaşı (Captain) and below Binbaşı. "Sağ Kolağası" (Senior Captain [or Major] of the Right Flank) was a higher rank than "Sol Kolağası" (Senior Captain [or Major] of the Left Flank.) Sağ (sagh) means "right" in Turkish, while sol means "left."
When the rank Kolağası 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.) Until 1934, it was the duty of a Binbaşı to command a battalion (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.[citation needed]
See also[]
References[]
- Dictionary.com, Binbashi entry
- Dunn, John P. "Khedive Ismail's Army" Routledge Press, 2005, p. 156
The original article can be found at Binbashi and the edit history here.