Levend

The Ottomans, who relied on the same manpower pool (eventually along with Muslim Anatolian Turks), borrowed the name.

[1] Gradually, as the Ottoman navy became more professional, the undisciplined levends started to be replaced by regular troops.

Like the mercenaries and condottieri of Western Europe, the levend formed true "free companies"; their employer was either the Ottoman central government, which was increasingly pressed for fresh troops to match the growing strength of its various neighbours, and to offset the decline of its once-formidable kapikulu soldiery, or various provincial magnates and governors.

At the turn of the 18th century, the Ottoman authorities tried to counter the activities of roving levend bands by offering them employment in the new military corps of deli and gönüllü.

[1] Even when they formed part of a governor's retinue, however, they had a reputation for criminal behaviour and licentiousness, as records from the Ottoman provinces and the tales of Western travellers show.