This was the title given to Artillery men at the time of the Janissaries. They were called this since the days when they fired bombs and shells from huge howitzers. Their leader was called Khoumbaradji Bashi (Chief Bombardier). A Khoumbara was a round, iron covered shell filled with gunpowder and shrapnel. It was either thrown by hand or fired by a mortar. People called it a koumbara. The School of Artillery was called Khoubara-Khane and was built at Toptashi at Scutari. Later, another school was opened at Halidji Oghlou under the same name. Artillery Officers wore a green uniform. Many of them possessed fiefs and so did military service for he Empire in return for this.
