Timar

Timar

Timar is a term used in the Ottoman Empire to refer to a system of land tenure. It was a form of tax farming, where the state granted individuals or groups the right to collect taxes from a specific area in exchange for a portion of the revenue. The term "timar" itself means "income" or "revenue" in Turkish.

History

The timar system was first introduced in the 14th century during the reign of Sultan Orhan I. It was a response to the need for a more efficient way to collect taxes and maintain control over the vast territories of the empire. The system was based on the principle of rewarding military service with land grants.

Under the timar system, the state would grant a timar holder, known as a "timariot," the right to collect taxes from a specific area. In return, the timariot was expected to provide military service to the empire. The size of the timar granted to an individual was determined by their rank and military capabilities.

Structure

The timar system was hierarchical in nature. At the top of the hierarchy were the sultans, who held the ultimate authority over the distribution of timars. Below them were the provincial governors, known as "beylerbeys," who were responsible for overseeing the timar holders in their respective regions.

The timar holders themselves were divided into two categories: sipahis and zaims. Sipahis were the elite cavalry soldiers who were granted larger timars and were expected to provide military service on horseback. Zaims, on the other hand, were infantry soldiers who were granted smaller timars and were responsible for providing foot soldiers.

Function

The timar system served multiple purposes within the Ottoman Empire. Firstly, it provided a means of rewarding military service and incentivizing loyalty to the state. The timariots were expected to maintain a certain level of military readiness and were called upon to serve in times of war.

Secondly, the timar system helped to ensure the collection of taxes and maintain control over the empire's territories. The timariots acted as tax collectors, responsible for collecting revenue from the land they were granted. This helped to centralize the administration of the empire and ensure a steady flow of income.

Decline

Over time, the timar system began to decline. The increasing centralization of power in the Ottoman Empire led to a decrease in the autonomy of the timariots. The sultans started to appoint their own officials to collect taxes, bypassing the timariots and diminishing their role.

Furthermore, changes in warfare and the rise of professional armies made the traditional cavalry-based military system less effective. The timariots were no longer as crucial to the empire's defense, and their military obligations became less significant.

By the 17th century, the timar system had largely been replaced by the "iqta" system, which was based on the assignment of revenue rights rather than land grants. This marked the end of the timar system and the transition to a more centralized and bureaucratic administration.

See also

• Ottoman Empire
• Tax farming
• Iqta system

External links

• Britannica - Timar
• JSTOR - The Timar System