MEHTERHANA I MEHTERI – PRILOG HISTORIJI OSMANSKE VOJNE ORGANIZACIJE (S POSEBNIM OSVRTOM NA BOSNU)
MEHTERHANE AND MEHTERS – A CONTRIBUTION. TO THE HISTORY OF OTTOMAN MILITARY ORGANIZATION . (WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON BOSNIA)

Summary/Abstract: Within the Ottoman military organization there existed, modelled on earlier Eastern states, the institution of the State mehterhane (Mehterhane-Amire). It was created by the merging of two distinct organizations: Çadır (Hayme) mehterleri and Tabl ve alem mehterleri. In this paper the focus is on the latter. Tabl ve alem mehterleri represented a kind of an Ottoman military music school which had a manifold role and importance. It provided many military musicians and music ensembles (mehter) throughout the Ottoman state. They were present in most towns and fortresses under Ottoman government and were a symbol of Ottoman rule. Beside the many duties and forms of activities which they undertook, and the artistic character of the music they produced, we also opted to focus on their role in military campaigns and wars. As part of the military strategy they encouraged soldiers to action, kept them awake on guard, and filled the enemy ranks with fear. The presence of mentherhane and mehters was recorded on the territory of Bosnia from the first half of the 15th century until this institution was abolished in 1826. We based our paper on available published sources and literature.

• Details
• Contents