This book describes and illustrates the armies of the embattled Ottoman Turkish Empire involved in 19th-century wars during the Empire’s long spiral of decline.
During the so called ‘long 19th century’, between the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 and the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the difficulties faced by the Ottoman Turkish Empire were a recurrent factor in international geopolitics. Against a background of Russian–Ottoman rivalry, France and Britain supported the Empire during the Crimean War (1854–56), but not in the Russo–Turkish War (1877–78).
Portraying the uniforms, arms and appearance of Ottoman troops during this period, this book traces the history of the Ottoman Empire throughout this period, when no fewer than ten wars of regional insurgency and foreign expansion against the Empire were fought in territories in south-eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Using rare photos and illustrations from Turkish, Balkan and other sources, author, Gabriele Esposito details the history of the multi-ethnic Ottoman armies periodic attempts to modernize which enabled them to win some victories at a tactical level. But the Empire – ‘the sick man of Europe’ – lacked a coherent strategy or sufficient resources, and failed attempts to crush regional uprisings and to defend borders, saw the steady loss of territories. Due to misgovernment and economic failure, unrest finally boiled over in 1908–09, reducing the sultan’s court to a largely ceremonial role, and installing a military government by the ‘Young Turks’ led by the general Enver Pasha.
This book is a vivid description of the organization, operations, uniforms and equipment of one of the most active and varied armies of the ‘long 19th century’ and paints a detailed picture of the Ottoman Empire's struggle to maintain control of its territories.
By:
Gabriele Esposito
Illustrated by:
Giuseppe Rava
Imprint: Osprey
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: 551
Dimensions:
Height: 248mm,
Width: 184mm,
Spine: 25mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781472855374
ISBN 10: 147285537X
Series: Men-at-Arms
Pages: 48
Publication Date: 28 November 2023
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
INTRODUCTION – The 18th-century army – The ‘New Army’, 1794–1807 – The Empire during the Napoleonic Wars CHRONOLOGY, 1815–1914 REFORMS UNDER MAHMUD II, 1826–39 – Disbandment of the Janissaries – Rebirth of the New Army – Reconstruction and reserves, 1829–36 THE TANZIMAT, 1840–53 – Military regions and army corps – Conscription THE CRIMEAN WAR, 1853–56 – Ottoman campaigns – Bashi-bazouks under European command – The Anglo–Turkish Contingent – Polish volunteers THE RUSSO–TURKISH WAR, 1877–78 – Summary – Military Service Law, 1869 – The Ottoman Army, 1877 – Second-line reserves and auxiliaries THE LATE OTTOMAN ARMY – Military Service Law, 1879 – Hamidye irregulars, 1890s – Further 1890s reforms THE ‘YOUNG TURKS’ REVOLUTION – The army in 1909–14 ARMIES OF VASSAL STATES – Egyptian army, 1815–82 – Tunisian army, 1830–81 – Serbian army, 1808–76 – Montenegrin army, 1830–76 – Moldavian army, 1830–59 – Wallachian army, 1830–59 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY PLATE COMMENTARIES INDEX
GABRIELE ESPOSITO is a professor of modern history, a freelance researcher and an author of military history books, specializing in uniformology. His interests range from ancient civilizations to modern postcolonial conflicts including 19th-century Italian, Spanish and Latin American wars. His books and essays have been published by Pen & Sword, Winged Hussar and Libreria Editrice Goriziana and he contributes to a variety of specialist military-history journals. He has written various titles for Osprey including MAA 499 Armies of the War of the Triple Alliance 1864-70 and MAA 541 Armies of the War of the Grand Alliance 1688-97.
