The Ottoman army was arguably the most colourful of all the military forces to take the field in the Napoleonic wars. This period was one of transition as the Ottoman empire struggled to come to terms with the upheavals caused by war to modernise her military forces in the face of threats from France, Britain and Russia. Covering the period between the reigns of Sultan Selim III and Sultan Mahmut II, this book details the series of military and naval reforms including the creation of the Nizam-i Cedit or "new army" and efforts to modernise traditional corps such as the Janissaries. It also looks at the role of foreign advisors, the impact of the French Revolution and the establishment of new military technical schools. This period was marked by a series of campaigns beginning with the defeat of the Mamluks in Egypt, followed by the joint Ottoman/British campaigns in Syria and Egypt which drove out the French. In the face of continuous military threats and despite attempts to reverse the reforms the Ottoman army continued the process of modernisation which saw the Empire through the 19th and into the 20th century.

Author Biography

David Nicolle was born in 1944, the son of the illustrator Pat Nicolle. He worked in the BBC Arabic service for a number of years, before going 'back to school', gaining an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and a doctorate from Edinburgh University. He later taught world and Islamic art and architectural history at Yarmuk University, Jordan. He has written many books and articles on medieval and Islamic warfare, and has been a prolific author of Osprey titles for many years. David lives and works in Leicestershire, UK.