Asappes

The Asappes, or Asappi, were an order of soldiers in the Ottoman Army, whom they exposed to the first shock of their enemies. This tactic was used to fatigue the enemies and blunt their swords, allowing the Sipahis and Janissaries to push forward and easily conquer the enemy.

The Assapes were held of so little value, that they frequently served as bridges for the cavalry to pass over in poor roads, and as fascines to fill up the ditches in besieged areas. They traveled on foot, and were not paid, except for what they could plunder from the enemy.

The word is derived from the Turkish "Saph", which signifies rank, file, order; whence they formed "Asphaph", to range in battle.

References

*1728 [http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/HistSciTech/HistSciTech-idx?type=turn&entity=HistSciTech000900240192&isize=L]