In the Ottoman society, the men of sword were the warrior or military class. They were considered to be the elite of the Ottoman society and were usually trained from a young age to be skilled in the use of various weapons and combat techniques. The men of sword were responsible for the defence of the Ottoman empire and for the maintenance of public order and security. They were also the main force behind the Ottoman conquests and expansion, and they played an important role in the political and administrative affairs of the empire. The men of sword included the Janissaries, the sipahis and the azabs, who were all professional soldiers, as well as the tribal warriors and irregular troops.