Çorbaci
Encyclopedia
Çorbacı was a military rank
of the corps of Janissaries in the Ottoman Empire
, used for the commander of an orta (regiment
), i.e., approximately corresponding to the rank of colonel
. The word is pronounced tʃoɾbaˈdʒɯ in Turkish
and literally means "soup server", derived from çorba
, "soup".
However, this word could be connected to an old Turkic word korbashi (head of the unit/campfire). This title was widespread in Turkistan
(Central Asia) up until 1940s, where Korbashis lead local rebel groups called Basmachi (raiders) against the Soviet regime.
In seafaring, the term was in use for the boss of a ship's crew, a role similar to that of boatswain
.
In several predominantly Christian areas of the Ottoman Empire
, such as the current Republic of Macedonia
and Bulgaria
, as well as many parts of Eastern Anatolia, the term çorbacı (Macedonian
: чорбаџија, čorbadžija; Bulgarian
: чорбаджия, chorbadzhiya Western Armenian: չորպաճի "ch'orbaji") was also as used as a title for (Christian) members of the rural elite, heads of villages and other rural communities and rich peasants. The Ottomans employed them in various administrative positions, such as that of tax collector
and in courts of law. Since the 19th century in independent Bulgaria, the term largely fell out of use as the Ottoman system was abandoned.
The word is still in use in vernacular Turkish
and Bulgarian
with the meaning of "boss". It is also a common family name
among Albanians
, Bulgarians
, Turks
or Ukrainians
(e.g. a vice-governor of Odessa
is named Ivan Chorbadzhi - Иван Чорбаджи).
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of the corps of Janissaries in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, used for the commander of an orta (regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
), i.e., approximately corresponding to the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. The word is pronounced tʃoɾbaˈdʒɯ in Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
and literally means "soup server", derived from çorba
Çorba
Chorba , ciorbă , shurpa , shorpo , or sorpa is one of various kinds of soup or stew found in national cuisines across Middle East...
, "soup".
However, this word could be connected to an old Turkic word korbashi (head of the unit/campfire). This title was widespread in Turkistan
Türkistan
*Türkistan is the local name for Turkestan, a region of Central Asia.*Türkistan, Kazakhstan is a historic city and place of pilgrimage in southern Kazakhstan...
(Central Asia) up until 1940s, where Korbashis lead local rebel groups called Basmachi (raiders) against the Soviet regime.
In seafaring, the term was in use for the boss of a ship's crew, a role similar to that of boatswain
Boatswain
A boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...
.
In several predominantly Christian areas of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, such as the current Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
and Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, as well as many parts of Eastern Anatolia, the term çorbacı (Macedonian
Macedonian language
Macedonian is a South Slavic language spoken as a first language by approximately 2–3 million people principally in the region of Macedonia but also in the Macedonian diaspora...
: чорбаџија, čorbadžija; Bulgarian
Bulgarian language
Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group.Bulgarian, along with the closely related Macedonian language, demonstrates several linguistic characteristics that set it apart from all other Slavic languages such as the elimination of case declension, the...
: чорбаджия, chorbadzhiya Western Armenian: չորպաճի "ch'orbaji") was also as used as a title for (Christian) members of the rural elite, heads of villages and other rural communities and rich peasants. The Ottomans employed them in various administrative positions, such as that of tax collector
Tax collector
A tax collector is a person who collects unpaid taxes from other people or corporations. Tax collectors are often portrayed in fiction as being evil, and in the modern world share a somewhat similar stereotype to that of lawyers....
and in courts of law. Since the 19th century in independent Bulgaria, the term largely fell out of use as the Ottoman system was abandoned.
The word is still in use in vernacular Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
and Bulgarian
Bulgarian language
Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group.Bulgarian, along with the closely related Macedonian language, demonstrates several linguistic characteristics that set it apart from all other Slavic languages such as the elimination of case declension, the...
with the meaning of "boss". It is also a common family name
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
among Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
, Bulgarians
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
, Turks
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
or Ukrainians
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
(e.g. a vice-governor of Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
is named Ivan Chorbadzhi - Иван Чорбаджи).