Ottoman Turkish Army and Navy Ranks

This reference list provides the military ranks used by the Ottoman Army and Navy during the First World War. It includes officer and enlisted grades, with transliterated Ottoman titles and English renderings. Where no exact modern equivalent exists, the literal historical form has been retained.

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Ottoman (Turkish) Military Ranks (1914–1918)

The Ottoman military rank system of the First World War preserved many titles dating back to earlier imperial practice, distinct from both modern Turkish and NATO structures. In the Army, general officers included Müşir (field marshal), Ferik (lieutenant general), and Liva or Mirliva (major general/division commander). Senior field officers included Miralay (colonel), Kaymakam(lieutenant colonel), and Binbaşı (major), while Kolağası functioned as a transitional grade between major and captain. Junior officers were Yüzbaşı (captain), Mülazım-ı evvel (first lieutenant), and Mülazım-ı sani (second lieutenant). Enlisted ranks ranged from Başçavuş (sergeant major) to Çavuş, Onbaşı, and Nefer/Er (private). In the Navy, the ceremonial Kapudan-ı Derya was largely obsolete by 1914, with Amiral, Ferik, and Liva serving as flag officers. Sea captains and commanders corresponded to Miralay, Binbaşı, and Yüzbaşı in naval usage. Naval enlisted grades emphasized the Gedikli system for career petty officers, from Başgedikli down to Gedikli Çavuş, Onbaşı, and Erat/Nefer. Aviation units operated within the Army and Navy but used the same ranks as their parent branches. This structure underscores the uniquely Ottoman blend of historical tradition and adaptation to early twentieth-century warfare.

Army Officer Ranks

Army Enlisted Ranks

Navy Officer Ranks

Navy Enlisted Ranks

Note: Ottoman officer ranks (Müşir, Ferik, Liva, Miralay, Kaymakam, Binbaşı, Kolağası, Yüzbaşı, Mülazım) were distinct to the Ottoman system. Many were replaced or renamed after 1924 in the Republic of Turkey. Enlisted naval ranks often used the term 'Gedikli' for career petty officers. This table avoids modern NATO terms such as Orgeneral, Koramiral, Tuğamiral, which were introduced in 1934.
Abbreviation Note: Ottoman military ranks during the First World War were typically written out in full in official documents (in Ottoman Turkish script). Standardized abbreviations such as Bçvş (Başçavuş), Çvş (Çavuş), Onb. (Onbaşı) only came into use after the language and military reforms of the Republic of Turkey in 1924–1934. For historical accuracy, no abbreviations are included in this list.