Miralay


Miralay or Mîr-i alay 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 and Alay.
Miralay was a Senior Colonel rank in the Ottoman Army and the pre-1934 Turkish Army It was junior to the rank Mirliva and senior to the rank Kaymakam. The collar mark and cap of a Miralay had two stripes and three stars during the early years of the Turkish Republic.
The Ottoman Army and pre-1934 Turkish Army had three general ranks, while the current Turkish Army has four general ranks, with the inclusion of Brigadier General as the fourth and most junior general rank.
The rank of Miralay was abolished with Act No. 2590 of 26 November 1934 on the Abolition of Titles and Appellations such as Efendi, Bey or Pasha.