derbendci

alternative derbendcis

1. pluralplural onlyThe guards charged with maintaining and defending a derbend in exchange for tax relief.

   The derbendci, inadequate in number, could not cope with the new situation.

   1998, Tom Scott, The Peasantries of Europe, →ISBN, page 306

   4 more examples

   The derbendci, some two thousand families of Rumelia, acted as guards of mountain passes, bridges, and other strategic locations in exchange for tax relief and represent a transition from real fighters to auxiliary forces.

   1993, Peter F. Sugar, Southeastern Europe Under Ottoman Rule, 1354-1804, →ISBN, page 39

   In other areas self-rule resulted from the fact that certain occupational groups, such as miners, tar extractors, horse breeders, derbendci (guardians of mountain passes), saline workers or producers of gunpowder, had been exempted from certain taxes, and subsequently these 'privileges' were associated with their settlements as well.

   2006, Suraiya Faroqhi, The Cambridge History of Turkey, →ISBN, page 161

   These exemptions were similar to those granted to the derbendci, men who guarded roads and mountain passes.

   2007, Mark L. Stein, Guarding the Frontier: Ottoman Border Forts and Garrisons, →ISBN, page 90

   Entire villages were often charged with the derbendci duty and consequently exempted from certain taxes.

   2012, Michael Ursinus, Grievance Administration (Sikayet) in an Ottoman Province, →ISBN, page 41