Spahić

The term Spahić (plural: Spahije; Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian: Spahija/Спахија) refers to a class of Ottoman feudal cavalry soldiers. The term is derived from the Persian word sepāhī, meaning soldier.

Spahije were not a standing army, but rather landholders granted timars (land grants) or ziyamets (larger land grants) by the Ottoman Sultan. In return for these land grants, they were obligated to provide military service and support to the Ottoman army during times of war. The size of their landholding determined the number of armed retainers they were required to bring to battle.

Spahije were a significant component of the Ottoman military, particularly during the early centuries of the Empire's expansion. They provided the bulk of the Ottoman cavalry, supplementing the Sultan's standing army. As the Ottoman Empire modernized its military in later centuries, the importance of the Spahije declined, eventually being replaced by more professional, centrally controlled military units.

The term "Spahić" can also, in a broader historical context, refer to a landholder or noble in the Balkan regions who held similar feudal obligations, even after the decline of direct Ottoman rule. The families of Spahije often retained social and political influence in these areas.