Arpalik (barley money)

Arpalik, literally "barley money", was an Ottoman term for an allowance paid to the principal civil, military and religious officers of the state. It does not appear in the historical sources before the sixteenth century. At first it was an indemnity for fodder, paid to those who maintained cavalry or looked after horses. The first beneficiaries were the Agha of the Janissaries, the Aghas of the imperial stable and of the boltik, the principal army and palace officers. ¹

The benefit was later extended to religious officials, such as the shaykh al-islam, the kadi 'l-'asker and the tutor of the sovereign, and to viziers and others who already held ziamet grants. It also reached officials of the central and provincial administration and officers who had distinguished themselves, and the khans of Crimea were among the beneficiaries. The maximum amounts were 70,000 aspers for religious officials, 58,000 for the Agha of the Janissaries, and 19,999 for palace officials. ¹

The arpalik took the form of grants of fiefs of varying importance, and some holders farmed its revenues. Its haphazard distribution caused serious disturbances in the military, economic and social organisation of the state. From the eighteenth century onwards only the principal religious authorities could benefit from it. ¹

The arpalik disappeared at the time of the Tanzimat. A fund for retirement pensions was then created, and after the proclamation of the Constitution an indemnity for unemployment was instituted. ¹