Cedid

Cedid is an Ottoman Turkish term meaning "new." It is most closely associated with the Nizam-ı Cedid, a reform program and army instituted by Sultan Selim III in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The name reflects the regime’s aim to create a modern, centralized state and military structure that could stand alongside European powers of the era.

Etymology and usage

Cedid derives from the Persian/Arabic word for new (jadid) and was adapted into Ottoman Turkish as Cedid. In the phrase Nizam-ı Cedid, it denotes a "new order" or "new arrangement." The term has been used historically to label reformist efforts that sought modernization and centralization, though the most prominent and lasting usage refers to Selim III’s military and administrative program.

Historical context and aims

By the 1780s and 1790s, the Ottoman Empire faced military and technological pressure from European powers. Selim III launched the Nizam-ı Cedid to create a European-style regular army, with standardized drill, training, and organization separate from the traditional Janissaries. The reforms also extended to some civil administration and logistics, aiming to strengthen central authority and improve state performance.

Organization and impact

The Nizam-ı Cedid army included Western-style infantry and artillery units and was trained with foreign assistance. It was intended to be a core force loyal to the sultan and capable of rapid mobilization. However, the project faced intense resistance from the Janissaries and conservative factions within the empire, who viewed the reforms as a threat to their established privileges.

Decline and legacy

The resistance culminated in the Auspicious Incident of 1807, when the Janissaries attacked reformists and the palace, leading to Selim III’s dethronement and the near cessation of the Nizam-ı Cedid program. The era nonetheless laid groundwork for later modernization under Mahmud II and the Tanzimat reforms, influencing the long-term trajectory of Ottoman state-building and military development.