The rayah or reaya was a member of the tax-paying lower class of Ottoman society, in contrast to the askeri (military) and kul (slaves, including Janissaries). Ottoman subjects were initially divided into roughly two taxable classes, the military class (askeri) and working class (rayah).
The rayah or reaya was a member of the tax-paying lower class of Ottoman society, in contrast to the askeri (military) and kul (slaves, including Janissaries). Ottoman subjects were initially divided into roughly two taxable classes, the military class (askeri) and working class (rayah).
Source: Wikipedia "Rayah" · CC BY-SA 4.0
Share this article: X · Bluesky