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|---|---|---|
| Sipahi - Akinci - Timariot - Janissary - Nizam-ı Cedid |
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| Navy - Air Force | ||
| Conflicts: | Europe - Russian - Serbian - Near East - Sieges and Landings | |
| See also: | Reform - Naval treaties - Kaptan Pashas | |
The Janissaries (derived from Ottoman Turkish ينيچرى (yeniçeri), meaning "new soldier") comprised infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops and bodyguard. The military of the Ottoman Empire was divided in three organizational structures the Army Navy and Air Force The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish Sipahi ( Ottoman Turkish: ota سپاهی also transliterated as Spahi, Sepahi, and Spakh; traditionally rendered as Spahia Akıncı (akıncı literally "raider" plural akıncılar) were irregular Light cavalry of the Ottoman empire's military. A timariot (or timar holder timarlı in Turkish) was an irregular Cavalryman that served the Ottoman Sultan The Nizam-ı Cedid (from Arabic َAl-Niẓām Al-Jadīd via Persian Nizām-e Jadīd - "New Order" was a series of reforms carried See also History of the Turkish Navy The Ottoman Navy was established in the early 14th century The Ottoman Air Force was founded in June 1909 making it one of the first combat aviation organizations in the world The wars of the Ottoman Empire in Europe are also sometimes referred to as the Ottoman Wars or as Turkish Wars, particularly in older European The Russo-Turkish wars were a series of wars fought between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire during the 16th 17th 18th 19th and 20th centuries The Serbian-Turkish wars were a series of armed conflicts and wars fought between the Serbia and the Ottoman Empire. The following is an List of Ottoman sieges and landings from the 14th century to World War I. When Selim III came to the throne in 1789 an ambitious effort of military reform was launched geared towards securing the Ottoman Empire. There were 21 naval collaboration treaties of the Ottoman Empire Below is the list of Ottoman Kaptan Pashas between 1401 and 1867. Ottoman Turkish (Osmanlıca or tr ''Osmanlı Türkçesi'' Ottoman Turkish ota-Latn ''lisân-ı Osmânî'' is the variety of the Turkish language that was used as the The Infantry is the oldest and most numerous of the Combat Arms in the Armed forces, and consists The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish Sultan (سلطان is an Islamic title with several historical meanings A bodyguard (or "close protection officer" is a type of Security guard or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous wealthy or politically The force originated in the 14th century; it was abolished by Sultan Mahmud II in 1826 with the Auspicious Incident. Mahmud II ( Ottoman Turkish: محمود ثاني Mahmud-ı sānī) ( July 20, 1785 July 1, 1839 The Auspicious Incident (or Event) (in Turkish Vaka-i Hayriye; in Balkans known as Vaka-i Şerriye Unfortunate Incident was the forced disbandment
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Origin of the Janissaries
Sultan Murad I of the fledgling Ottoman Empire founded the units around 1365. Murad I (nick-named Hüdavendigâr - from Khodāvandgār - "the God-like One" (I The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish It was initially formed of Dhimmi (non-Muslims, originally exempted from the military service), especially Christian youths and prisoners of war, reminiscent of Mamelukes. A dhimmi ( ذمي, collectively أهل الذمة, ahl al-dhimma, the people of the dhimma or pact of protection Ottoman Turkish A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Sultan Murad may have also used futuwa groups as a model. Futuwa (Arabic فتوة sometimes translated as "courage" "chivalry" or "manliness" is a name of Sufi Islamic virtue that has some similarities
Such Janissaries became the first Ottoman standing army, replacing forces that mostly comprised tribal ghazis, whose loyalty and morale could not always be trusted. A standing army is an Army composed of full time career Soldiers who 'stand over' in other words who do not disband during times of peace Ghazw or Ghazah (plural ghazawāt) (غزو was originally an Arabic term referring to the battles in which the Islamic prophet Muhammad personally
As corps other than the infantry were added, the totality of the Ottoman standing army corps was called Kapıkulu, however the term Janissary, which formally refers to one of the Kapıkulu corps is often used interchangeably (albeit incorrectly) for all of the Ottoman Kapıkulu Corps. The military of the Ottoman Empire was divided in three organizational structures the Army Navy and Air Force
Significance of the Janissaries
The Janissary corps were significant in a number of ways. The Janissaries wore uniforms, were paid in cash as regular soldiers, and marched to distinctive music, the mehter, similar to a modern marching band. A uniform is a set of standard Clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity Ottoman military bands are thought to be the oldest variety of military Marching band in the world A marching band is in the broadest terms a group of performers that consist of instrumental Musicians and sometimes dance teams / color guard who generally perform All of these features set the Janissaries apart from most soldiers of the time.
The Ottomans were the first state to maintain a standing army in Europe since the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Janissaries have been likened to the Roman Praetorian Guard and they had no equivalent in the Christian armies of the time, where the feudal lords raised troops during wartime. The Praetorian Guard ( Latin: PRÆTORIANI was a special force of Guards used by Roman Emperors Before being appropriated [1] A janissary regiment was effectively the soldier's family. They lived in their barracks and served as policemen and firefighters during peacetime. [2]
The Janissary corps was also distinctive in the regular payment of a cash salary to the troops, and differed from the contemporary practice of paying troops only during wartime. The Janissaries were paid quarterly and the Sultan himself, after authorizing the payment of the salaries, dressed as a Janissary, visited the barracks and received his salary as a regular trooper of the First Division. [3]
The Janissary force became particularly significant when the foot soldier carrying firearms proved more effective than the cavalry equipped with sword and spear. A firearm is a Tool that projects either single or multiple Projectiles at high velocity through a controlled explosion [4] Janissaries adopted firearms very early, starting in 15th century. By the 16th century, the main weapon of the Janissary was the musket. A musket is a muzzle -loaded Smoothbore Long gun, which is intended to be fired from the shoulder Janissaries also made extensive use of early grenades and hand cannon, such as the Abus gun. The hand cannon ( Arabic: midfa; Chinese: 手[[wikt 銃|銃]] as it was called was the first handheld portable The Abus gun is an early form of Howitzer created by the Ottoman empire. [3]
The auxiliary support system of the Janissaries also set them apart from their contemporaries. The Janissaries waged war as one part of a well organized military machine. The Ottoman army had a corps to prepare the road, a corps to pitch the tents ahead, a corps to bake the bread. The cebeci corps carried and distributed weapons and ammunition. The Janissary corps had its own internal medical auxiliaries: Muslim and Jewish surgeons who would travel with the corps during campaigns and had organized methods of moving the wounded and the sick to traveling hospitals behind the lines. [3]
These differences, along with a war-record that was impressive, made the Janissaries into a subject of interest and study by foreigners in their own time. Although eventually the concept of the modern army incorporated and surpassed most of the distinctions of the Janissary, and the Ottoman Empire dissolved the Janissary corps, the image of the Janissary has remained as one of the symbols of the Ottomans in the western psyche.
In modern times, although the Janissary corps no longer exists as a professional fighting force, the tradition of mehter music is carried on as a cultural and tourist attraction. Ottoman military bands are thought to be the oldest variety of military Marching band in the world
Recruitment, training and status
The first Janissary units comprised war captives and slaves, selecting one in five for enrollment in the ranks (Pencik rule). After the 1380s Sultan Mehmet I filled their ranks with the results of taxation in human form called devshirmeh: the Sultan's men conscripted a number of non-Muslim, usually Christian Balkan boys, taken at birth at first at random, later, by strict selection – to be converted to Islam and trained. Sultan (سلطان is an Islamic title with several historical meanings Mehmed I Çelebi ( Ottoman: چلبی محمد IMehmet or Çelebi Mehmet) (1389 May 26 1421 Edirne, Turkey) was a sultan of the Devşirme or devshirme (derived from devşirme meaning "collection gathering" was the systematic collection of non-Muslim children
Initially they favoured Greeks (who formed the largest part of the first units) and Albanians (who besides supplied with gendarmes), usually selecting about one boy from forty houses, but the numbers could be changed to correspond with the need for soldiers. The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions } Albanians (Shqiptarët are an Ethnic group and a Nation, in the sense of sharing a common Albanian culture speaking the Albanian language Boys aged 14-18 were preferred, though ages 8-20 could be taken.
As the Turks expanded their borders, the devshirmeh was extended to also include Bulgarians, Romanians, Armenians and Serbs at first, but later even Poles, Ukrainians and southern Russians. The Bulgarians (българи balgari) are a South Slavic people generally associated with the Republic of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian language The Romanians (dated Rumanians or Roumanians; Romanian: români or historically and today rather seldom and only regional rumâni The Armenians (Հայեր Hayer) are a Nation and Ethnic group originating in the Caucasus and in the Armenian Highlands A large Serbs ( Serbian: Срби Srbi) are a South Slavic people living in the Balkans and Central Europe, mainly in Serbia, The Polish people, or Poles, (Polacy) are a Western Slavic Ethnic group of Central Europe, living predominantly in Poland. Ukrainians (Українці Ukrayintsi,) are an East Slavic Ethnic group primarily living in Ukraine, or more broadly— Citizens The Russian people (Русские— Russkie) are an East Slavic Ethnic group, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries
The Janissaries started accepting enrollment from outside the devshirmeh system first during the reign of Sultan Murad III (1546-1595) and completely stopped enrolling devshirmeh in 17th century. Murad III ( Ottoman Turkish: مراد ثالث Murād-i sālis, Turkish: III After this period, volunteers were enrolled, mostly of Muslim origin. [3]
Janissaries trained under strict discipline with hard labour and in practically monastic conditions in acemi oğlan ("rookie" or "cadet") schools, where they were expected to remain celibate. Monasticism (from Greek μοναχός, monachos, derived from Greek monos, alone is the religious practice in which one Celibacy refers to the lack of participation in Sexual intercourse. They were also expected to convert to Islam. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. All did, as Christians were not allowed to bear arms in the Ottoman Empire until the 19th century. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Unlike other Muslims, they were expressly forbidden to wear beards (a Muslim custom), only a moustache. These rules were obeyed by Janissaries, at least until 18th century when they also began to engage in other crafts and trades, breaking another of the original rules.
For all practical purposes, Janissaries belonged to the Sultan, carrying the title kapıkulu ("door slave") indicating their collective bond with the Sultan. Janissaries were taught to consider the corps as their home and family, and the Sultan as their de facto father. Only those who proved strong enough earned the rank of true Janissary at the age of twenty-four or twenty-five. The regiment inherited the property of dead Janissaries, thus amassing wealth (like religious orders and foundations enjoying the 'dead hand'). A regiment is a Military unit, composed of a variable number of Battalions – commanded by a Colonel. Mortmain is a legal term derived from medieval French literally meaning dead hand.
Janissaries also learned to follow the dictates of the dervish saint Hajji Bektash Wali, disciples of whom had blessed the first troops. Darvesh or Dervish ( Arabic and Persian: درویش) as it is known in European languages refers to members of Sufi Hajji Bektash Wali ( Ḥājī Baktāš Wālī; Turkish: Hacı Bektaş Veli) was a Persian Bektashi served as a kind of chaplain for Janissaries. Bektashism (Bektaşilik is an Islamic Sufi order ( Tariqat) considered to be a distinct branch of Shi'a Islam A chaplain is typically a Priest, Pastor, ordained Deacon, Rabbi, Imam or other member of the Clergy serving a group of In this and in their secluded life, Janissaries resembled Christian military orders like the Johannites of Rhodes. military order is a Christian Order of knighthood that is founded for crusading, i The Knights Hospitaller (also known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St Rhodes (Ρόδος Ródos, ˈɾo̞ðo̞s Rodi ردوس Rodos; Ladino: Rodi or Rodes) is a Greek island
In return for their loyalty and their fervour in war, Janissaries gained privileges and benefits. They received a cash salary, received booty during wartime and enjoyed a high living standard and respected social status. At first they had to live in barracks and could not marry until retirement, or engage in any other trade but by the mid-18th century they had taken up many trades and gained the right to marry and enroll their children in the corps and very few continued to live in the barracks. [2] Many of them became administrators and scholars. Retired or discharged Janissaries received pensions and their children were also looked after. A pension is a steady income given to a person upon Retirement, typically in the form of a guaranteed annuity. This evolution away from their original military vocation was the essence of the system's demise.
The Janissary corps
| Year | Number of Jannisaries[5] |
|---|---|
| 1514 | 10156 |
| 1526 | 7885 |
| 1567-68 | 12798 |
| 1609 | 37627 |
| 1660-61 | 54222 |
| 1665 | 49556 |
| 1669 | 51437 |
| 1670 | 49868 |
| 1680 | 54222 |
The full strength of the Janissary troops varied from maybe 100 to more than 200,000. Abdulcelil Levni or Abdulcelil Çelebi (b late 17th century Edirne &ndash d According to David Nicolle, the number of Janissaries in the 14th century was 1,000, and estimated to be 6,000 in 1475, whereas the same source estimates 40,000 as the number of Timariot, the provincial soldiers. David Nicolle is an Historian specialising in the Military history of the Middle Ages, with a particular interest in the Middle East. A timariot (or timar holder timarlı in Turkish) was an irregular Cavalryman that served the Ottoman Sultan After the defeat in 1699, the number was reduced, but it was increased in the 18th century to 113,400 soldiers according to Ottoman, but most were not actual soldiers and were accepted into the army through corrupt means and were only taking salary.
The corps was organized in ortas (equivalent to regiment) An orta was headed by çorbaci. A regiment is a Military unit, composed of a variable number of Battalions – commanded by a Colonel. Çorbaci (sometimes variously transliterated as chorbaji, chorbadzhi, tschorbadji) (çorbacı "soup server") was a Military rank All ortas together would comprise the proper Janissary corps and its organization named ocak (literally "hearth"). Suleiman I had 165 ortas but the number over time increased to 196. Suleiman I (سليمان Sulaymān, Süleyman almost always Kanuni Sultan Süleyman) ( 6 November 1494 5/ 6 September 1566 The Sultan was the supreme commander of the Army and the Janissaries in particular, but the corps was organized and led by their supreme ağa (commander). The corps was divided into three sub-corps:
- the cemaat (frontier troops; also spelled jemaat), with 101 ortas
- the beyliks or beuluks (the Sultan's own bodyguard), with 61 ortas
- the sekban or seirnen, with 34 ortas
In addition there was also 34 ortas of the ajemi (cadets).
Originally Janissaries could be promoted only through seniority and within their own orta. They would leave the unit only to assume command of another. Only Janissaries' own commanding officers could punish them. The rank names were based on positions in a kitchen staff or troop of hunters, perhaps to emphasise that Janissaries were servants of the Sultan.
In the first centuries, Janissaries were expert archers, but they adopted firearms as soon as such became available during the 1440s. Archery is the practice of using a bow or Crossbow to shoot Arrows Archery has historically been used in Hunting and Combat and has A firearm is a Tool that projects either single or multiple Projectiles at high velocity through a controlled explosion The siege of Vienna in 1529 confirmed the reputation of their engineers, e. The Siege of Vienna in 1529, as distinct from the Battle of Vienna in 1683, was the first attempt of the Muslim Ottoman Empire, led by g. sapping and mining. Sapping is a term used in siege operations Any trench excavated under defensive musket or artillery fire that was intended to advance a besieging army's position in relation to the works Mining, undermining, or sapping was a Siege method used since antiquity against a Walled city, Fortress or Castle In melee combat they used axes and sabres. The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape split and cut Wood, Harvest timber, as a Weapon The sabre or saber (see spelling differences) is a kind of Sword that usually but not always has Originally in peacetime they could carry only clubs or cutlasses, unless they served in border troops. A cutlass is a short thick Sabre or slashing Sword, with a straight or slightly curved Blade sharpened on the cutting edge and a Hilt often Local Janissaries, stationed in a town or city for a long time, were known as yerliyyas. In the Ottoman Empire of the 17th century the yerliyya was a term used to describe local Janissaries.
The Ottoman empire used Janissaries in all its major campaigns, including the 1453 capture of Constantinople, the defeat of the Egyptian Mamluks and wars against Hungary and Austria. Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Janissary troops were always led to the battle by the Sultan himself, and always had a share of the booty.
Janissaries’ reputation increased to the point that by 1683, Sultan Mehmet IV abolished the devshirmeh as increasing numbers of originally Muslim Turkish families had already enrolled their own sons into the force hoping for a lucrative career. Mehmed IV ( Ottoman Turkish: محمد رابع Meḥmed-i rābi‘; also known as Avcı, "hunter" ( January 2, 1642 &ndash Devşirme or devshirme (derived from devşirme meaning "collection gathering" was the systematic collection of non-Muslim children Every governor wanted to have his own Janissary troops.
The Janissary revolts
As Janissaries became aware of their own importance they began to desire a better life. In 1449 they revolted for the first time, demanding higher wages, which they obtained. Similar scenarios took place a number of times during the following centuries. As the Janissaries were amassing more power and wealth, they gradually turned into a corrupt and largely useless caste, wielding an influence akin to that of the Roman Praetorian Guard. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Praetorian Guard ( Latin: PRÆTORIANI was a special force of Guards used by Roman Emperors Before being appropriated Finally, Mahmud II succeeded in forcibly disbanding them in 1826. Mahmud II ( Ottoman Turkish: محمود ثاني Mahmud-ı sānī) ( July 20, 1785 July 1, 1839
Janissary music
The military march music of the Janissaries is characteristic because of its powerful, often shrill sound combining davul (bass drum), zurna (a loud oboe), naffir (trumpet), bells, triangle, and cymbals (zil), among others. Names A large double-headed Drum with many names depending on the country and region some of which include davul (davul daul For other meanings see Zurna (disambiguation For other spellings see Surna (disambiguation The A bell is a simple Sound -making device The bell is a Percussion instrument and an Idiophone. The triangle is an Idiophone type of Musical instrument in the percussion family Cymbals are a modern percussion instrument Cymbals consist of thin normally round plates of various Cymbal alloys; see Cymbal making for a discussion of their Janissary music influenced European classical musicians like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven, both of whom composed marches in the Turkish style (Mozart's Piano Sonata in A major, K. Ludwig van Beethoven ( English ˈlʊdvɪg væn ˈbeɪtoʊvən, 16 December 1770 &ndash 26 March 1827 was a German Composer and Pianist. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 's Piano Sonata No 11 in A major K 331 (300i is a sonata in three movements Andante 331 (c. 1783), and Beethoven's incidental music for The Ruins of Athens, Op. The Ruins of Athens ( Die Ruinen von Athen) Opus 113 is a set of incidental music written in 1811 by Ludwig van Beethoven. 113 (1811), and the final movement of Symphony no. 9). The Symphony No 9 in D minor Op 125 "Choral" is the last complete Symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven.
In 1952, the Janissary military band, Mehter, was organized again under the auspices of the Istanbul Military Museum. A military band is a group of personnel that perform musical duties for military functions usually Ottoman military bands are thought to be the oldest variety of military Marching band in the world Istanbul Military Museum ( Askeri Müze) is dedicated to one thousand years of Turkish military history They have performances during some national holidays as well as in some parades during days of historical importance. For more details, see Turkish music (style) and Mehter. "Turkish music", in the sense described here is not really Music of Turkey, but rather a musical style that was occasionally used by the European composers of the Ottoman military bands are thought to be the oldest variety of military Marching band in the world
See also
- Ottoman military band
- Devşirme system
- Culture of the Ottoman Empire
- Cantonist recruitment
- Millet system
- Ottoman Turkish language
- Army of the Republic
Sources and references
- Godfrey Goodwin, Janissaries
- David Nicolle, Janissary, 1995. Ottoman military bands are thought to be the oldest variety of military Marching band in the world Devşirme or devshirme (derived from devşirme meaning "collection gathering" was the systematic collection of non-Muslim children The culture of the Ottoman Empire evolved over several centuries as the ruling administration of the Turks absorbed adapted and modified the cultures of conquered Cantonists ( Russian language: Кантонисты, the term adapted from Prussia for "recruiting district" were sons of Russian conscripts who Millet is an Ottoman Turkish term for a Confessional community in the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman Turkish (Osmanlıca or tr ''Osmanlı Türkçesi'' Ottoman Turkish ota-Latn ''lisân-ı Osmânî'' is the variety of the Turkish language that was used as the Godfrey Gummer Goodwin ( January 11, 1873 &ndash February 16, 1933) was a Representative from Minnesota. David Nicolle is an Historian specialising in the Military history of the Middle Ages, with a particular interest in the Middle East. Osprey Publishing
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone
- Janissary section on German-language website about Ottomman empire (not yet exploited)
References
- ^ Lord Kinross (1977). John Patrick Balfour 3rd Baron Kinross, (1904-1976 was a writer noted for his biography of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and other works in Islamic Historiography Ottoman Centuries: The Rise and Fall of the Turkish Empire. New York: Morrow Quill Paperbacks, 52. ISBN 0-688-08093-6.
- ^ a b Goodwin, Jason (1998). Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire. New York: H. Holt, 59,179-181. ISBN 0-8050-4081-1.
- ^ a b c d Uzunçarşılı, İsmail Hakkı (1988). Osmanlı Devleti Teşkilatından Kapıkulu Ocakları: Acemi Ocağı ve Yeniçeri Ocağı. Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurumu, 411-463,376-377,405-406,66-67,482-483. ISBN 975-16-0056-1.
- ^ Jelavich, Barbara (1983). History of the Balkans, 18th and 19th Centuries. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521 27458-3.
- ^ Gábor Ágoston, Barut, Top ve Tüfek Osmanlı İmparatorluğu'nun Asker Gücü ve Silah Sanayisi, ISBN 975-6051-41-8, Page 50
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