Seymen
Seimen (tur. seymen, Persian segban - "Dog sitter") is today a kind of tradition in Anatolia, in which there are men wearing costumes of bandits.
History
Seymen was a rank in the Seljuk military, introduced at the time of the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. After their triumph, they became protectors of Turkish tribes who had started to settle all around Anatolia. They were the police force in Konya for a time, but after the Mongol Invasion, Seymens were disbanded. However, the Ottomans reintroduced Seymens in the 13th century. In the Ottoman society, the Seymen tradition continued to exist as a paramilitary youth organization. They were known for their unique uniforms and arms.
During the Turkish Independence War, Seymens took up arms once again and fought against the invading forces. Ankara, the stronghold of Seymens, ultimately became the capital of the new Turkish republic.
The traditional Seymen dance, also associated with the province of Ankara, is known as Misket.
Other uses
Seymen is also a Turkish personal name, as well as a toponym.