Yerliyya
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| Yerli | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 17th–19th century |
| Allegiance |  Ottoman Empire |
| Type | Auxiliary |
| Part of | Janissaries |
Yerliye or Yerli (Turkish: yerliler, Arabic: Yerliyya, from Turkish: yerlü, meaning "local") was a term used in the Ottoman Empire, initially, in the 17th century for local services such as building bridges, while since the mid-17th century it came to be applied to the Janissaries corps.[1] In the 18th century, the local provincial military recruits were also called yerli kulu.[2] Another name for local Janissaries (Turkish: yerli yeniçeri) was Yamaks,[3] auxiliaries, many of whom carried out the Janissary military duties.[4]
In the Middle East, there was a formal distinction between Yerli Janissaries (local militia) and the Imperial Janissaries (kapıkulu, of the central government).[5] These two Janissary groups conflicted in Syria.[6]