Janizaries

Janizaries (Turkish, meaning 'new soldiers'), the first regular standing army of the Turks, formed by Sultan Orkhan, about 1330, of Christian prisoners compelled to embrace Mohammedanism, and of the children of Christians forcibly trained as Mussulmans. It was more perfectly organised by Orkhan's son, Amurath I., after 1362, especial privileges being conferred on those who belonged to it. This soon induced many Turks to join its ranks. There were two classes of Janizaries, one regularly organised, dwelling in barracks in Constantinople and other towns, whose numbers sometimes amounted to 100,000, and the other composing an irregular militia, scattered throughout the empire, and amounting to 300,000 or 400,000. At the head of the whole force was an aga, who was held in most reverential respect, and whose power extended to life and death. In time of peace the Janizaries acted as a police force. In war they served on foot, and were noted for the wild impetuosity of their attack. The sultan's bodyguard was formed of them. But success and special privileges produced their usual effects; the history of the Janizaries abounds in conspiracies, assassinations of sultans, viziers, agas, &c., and atrocities of every kind, and in the end they became more dangerous to the sultans than any foreign enemies. More than one sultan attempted, but unsuccessfully, to reform or dissolve them. At last Sultan Mahmud II., in 1826, having organised a new force after the pattern of the European armies, displayed the flag of the Prophet, and after some sanguinary fighting drove back the Janizaries into their barracks, which he burned, 8000 perishing in the flames. Not fewer than 15,000 were executed, and more than 20,000 banished. By a proclamation of June 17, 1826, the Janizary force was finally dissolved; its place was taken by the Nizam, the modern regulars organised on a European plan.