müstahfiz

It meant "guarding, protecting". They were Turkish fortress soldiers in the infantry, the most important ones after yanichars and gönüllüs (they were often identified with yanichars). Their soldiers' pay was 6-8 akche a day. The elite group of müstahfiz-s was the core of Turkish border defence. Usually smaller müstahfiz units protected bridges, gunpowder mills, weapon warehouses, which demanded special protection.

FP