Sipahi
| Sipahi | |
|---|---|
| Spahiç (Balkans) | |
 Turkish sipahis (right) chasing down Qizilbash cavalry (left) during the Battle of Torches | |
| Active | 15th–19th centuries |
| Country | Ottoman Empire |
| Allegiance | Ottoman Empire |
| Branch | Heavy cavalry |
| Equipment | Kilij, shamshir, mace, war hammer, shield, lance, lasso, bow and arrow |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |  |
| Identification symbol |  |
The sipahi (Ottoman Turkish: سپاهی, , Turkish pronunciation: [sipaːhi]) were professional cavalrymen of the Ottoman Empire. Sipahi units included the land grant–holding (timar) provincial timarli sipahi, which constituted most of the army, and the salaried regular kapikulu sipahi, or palace troops. However, the irregular light cavalry akıncı ("raiders") were not considered to be sipahi. The sipahi formed their own distinctive social classes and were rivals to the Janissaries, the elite infantry corps of the sultan.
The sipahi held a state-owned land tenure known as timar in exchange for tax collection, security, and active military service.