Miralay

Miralay or Mîr-i alay (Gendarmerie: Alaybeyi) was a military rank of the Ottoman Army and Navy. The modern Turkish equivalent is Albay, meaning colonel. Miralay is a compound word composed of Mir (commander) and Alay (regiment). Miralay was equal to colonel in the Ottoman Army and the pre-1935 Turkish Army. The rank was junior to Mirliva (Brigadier General) and senior to Kaymakam (Lieutenant Colonel). The collar mark (later shoulder mark) and cap (until 1933) of a Miralay featured two stripes and three stars during the early years of the Turkish Republic. The rank of miralay was abolished on November 26, 1934, in accordance with Article 3 of Law No. 2590 on the Abolition of Nicknames and Titles. With Decree No. 2295, issued on April 9, 1935, the equivalent of the miralay rank was designated as albay.