Sipahi

Definition of "Sipahi"

A state official appointed by the Ottoman rulers on conquered lands for the administration of land. He was responsible for renting the state land on behalf of the ruler. He collected the rent and deposited into the public treasury. He could punish the tenants if they defaulted from cultivating the land and could cancel the contracts in certain cases. After 1858, the position of sipahi was abolished. This was replaced by the state appointed multazim and muhassil.