396 chapter 9
state (bir devletin saha-yı dairesinde mevcud efrad-ı nas) should be divided into
four classes under the administration of a ruler so that the body of the state
(beden-i devlet) remains well-ordered, just as the four elements maintain the
health of the human body (Ş152–153).
Moreover, a disciplined army benefits the treasury and prevents unneces-
sary expenditure, since its soldiers see to their duties night and day instead of
looking for ways to profit privately. With a well-ordered army, it is clear who
belongs to the military and who does not, and thus every person carries out
his own duty. This way, no class interferes with the duties of any other (bir
sınıf aher sınıfın zimmetiyle); for instance, soldiers are not forced to be cultiva-
tors and the latter are not obliged to fight (sipah ra ’iyyet ile ve re’aya cenk ile
cebr-u-kerh olunmayub; Ş154). Furthermore, the number of soldiers must be
known at all times; soldiers and civilians should not be confused with each
other, and soldiers ought to wear special uniforms that should be prohibit-
ed to non-soldiers, as the intermingling of soldiers and civilians has caused
much trouble, both in war and in peace.
The practicalities of this “new order” are discussed in detail in most of these
treatises. In the description of France in the Risâla feva ’idü’l-mülûk, Louis XIV’s
army is the main topic: its numbers, its superiority to the Austrian (8a), its divi-
sion into infantry, cavalry, and dragoons, the structure of the officers and their
divisions, the willingness of the soldiers and officers to fight in order to gain
honor (10a), the perfectness of their manoeuvres (11a-b), their uniforms and
ways of promotion (12b and 25a–26a, 28a-b), and their training, etc. The French
army is regularly inspected so the king has absolute knowledge and control of it
at any given time; furthermore, military salaries are provided through a strictly
regulated system and procedure. Soldiers and officers are prohibited from acts
of sale (18b) and from any kind of oppression of the peasants (20b–21a); they
train regularly via military exercises and virtual battles (27a). A large part of
the text is also reserved for praising the French fleet (22a–24b) as well as to
Vauban’s system of fortresses (35b–36a). Similarly, Müteferrika gives a detailed
description of what he calls “military order” or nizam-ı asker, which in fact de-
scribes European eighteenth-century warfare. Using numerous French words
(soldat, grenadier, dragon, and so forth), which presumably he introduced into
Ottoman vocabulary, he examines: the division of the armies into regiments
under a strict hierarchy of officers; the use of uniforms for each regiment; the
presence of rifle units in each infantry and cavalry body; the proper officer
hierarchy and the importance of staff officers, as well as of regular training; the
use of passwords; and, finally, the use of two lines of battle, fighting with strict
discipline and in collaboration (Ş171–186).