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Baciyan-i Rum

Bacıyân-ı Rûm (literally Sisters of Rûm) was an alleged female militia organization in the late Anatolian Beylik era.

Origins

The term bâciyân-ı Rûm was first time mentioned in the 15th century by Aşıkpaşazade, alongside other groups called gāziyân-ı Rûm (Ghazis of Rum), ahîyân-ı Rûm (Akhis of Rum) and abdalân-ı Rûm (Abdals of Rum). Another record appears in Bertrandon de la Broquière's travelogue. La Broquière mentioned that the Beylik of Dulkadir had a Turkoman militia consisting of women.

It is disputed if such an organisation actually existed, and if it had any military character. Some modern historians argue that, in Aşıkpaşazade's history, the word "bâciyân" (sisters) was a misspelling of another word. Franz Taeschner took this view, suggesting it might have ben hajiyân-ı Rûm (pilgrims of Rum) or bahşiyân-ı Rûm (clerks of Rum). Zeki Velidi Togan also supported this view. However, Mehmet Fuat Köprülü argued that such an organisation might have existed - female initiates into Sufi orders (such as the Bektashi) were given the title of "bacı" ("sister"), just as male initiates were given the title of "akhi (brother).

See also

References