The Ottoman Empire Yerlikulu Troops During the Khotyn Campaign of 1621: An Attempt at Assessing Their Numbers

Abstract

The Khotyn Battle of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth-Ottoman War of 1620–1621 became one of the largest military engagements in the first half of the 17th century. In the relatively confined space around the modern city of Khotyn, through a series of battles, over two hundred thousand warriors of the Ottoman Empire and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth decided who would dominate Eastern Europe.

In domestic and foreign historiography, there is no comprehensive assessment of the numerical strength of the yerlikulu provincial cavalry as the most numerous component of the Ottoman army. This is largely explained by the absence of documentary sources that would record their numbers and the use of contradictory information from narrative sources.

Existing scholarly estimates differ dramatically from 40,000 to 111,000 warriors, reflecting methodological shortcomings in approaches. Most historians rely exclusively on unreliable narrative sources, including spy reports, diaries, prisoner testimonies, memoirs, and chronicles, which often contradict each other and lack statistical precision.

This study proposes a quantitative methodology based on systematic analysis of Ottoman risale (treatises) since 1609 and 1631 combined with statistical data on the timar-feudal system. The proposed calculation algorithm consists of two stages: establishing the list of participating eyalets that deployed their yerlikulu troops and calculating the maximum mobilization potential of each province using coefficients developed by British historian R. Murphey. Statistical and quantitative methodology offers more objective foundations for determining the strength of Ottoman military formations relative to narrative sources.

Research by Hungarian scholars G. David and P. Fodor confirms stable maintenance of approximately 40,000 land grants throughout the 17th century, while Turkish historians O. Kurmuş and O. Pullukçuoğlu Yapucu demonstrate the financial viability of the timar-feudal system during 1470–1670. Application of Murphey’s coefficient (30% non-participation) accounts for sick soldiers, draft evaders, impoverished timar holders, and garrison requirements.

Ottoman chronicles by Abdulkadir Topchular (artillery corps scribe and campaign participant) and Mustafa Naima record the participation of 16 eyalets in the Khotyn campaign of 1621. Critical examination of Ali Ayna’s 1609 risale reveals significant discrepancies between manuscript and printed versions, with the original manuscript providing a more reliable statistical basis. Comparative analysis includes Koci Bey’s 1631 risale and an archival document from the Topkapı Sarayı Kütüphanesi Arşivi analyzed by R. Murphey.

Quantitative calculations demonstrate the mobilization capacity of yerlikulu troops at the level of 73 200–75 000 warriors. The obtained results refute established historiographical assumptions regarding the decline of the timar-feudal system in the Ottoman Empire of the early 17th century, demonstrating its sustained high mobilization capabilities.