Arsiyah

The Arsiyah were the Muslim guard of the Khazar rulers, a standing force of mercenaries said to have come from Khwarazm and stationed at the capital, Itil. The tenth-century historian al-Masudi describes them as several thousand mounted archers who served on condition that they would not be sent against fellow Muslims, and whose leader held the office of vizier. They formed the core of the Khazar army in the khaganate's later period.