Sipahi Cavalry

Timeline

1. c. 1320–1360Northwestern Anatolia · Ottoman EmpireThe Ottoman principality inherited the Turkish cavalry traditions of the Seljuk and Byzantine frontiers, centered on light cavalry raiding and mounted archery tactics, laying the military-cultural foundation for the later timar sipahi system.
2. 1362–1370Thrace · Ottoman EmpireAfter conquering Thrace, Murad I granted land to cavalry officers (sipahis) in the form of timar fiefs; grantees were required to render service as "fief cavalry" (cülbent) proportional to their income, forming the Ottoman feudal cavalry system.
3. 1371–1380Kosovo Plain · KosovoIn the 1370s sipahi cavalry served as the main force in battles such as Maritsa and Kosovo, using flanking encirclement and pursuit tactics in coordination with Janissary infantry assaults to conquer large territories of Serbia and Bulgaria.