Who are the Janissaries? Armed forces of the Ottoman Empire. Janissaries - the military class of the Ottoman Empire. Revolt of the Janissaries in the Ottoman Empire

Modern Europeans' ideas about the Ottoman Empire, as a rule, are a collection of vague images drawn from ancient novels and their film adaptations. Harems, odalisques, and, of course, the famous Turkish Janissaries. Our fellow citizens also know that the latter did not feel pity for anyone, as the hero of the famous novels by I. Ilf and E. Petrov Ostap Bender said. He called himself the son of a Turkish subject, but given the adventurous nature of the character. this assertion may well be questioned. So who were these terrible warriors who made up the stronghold and elite of the Sultan’s army?

Emir Orhan and his new army

It is believed that the Janissary army was created in the second half Ottoman Sultan Murad the First as a special branch of the armed forces, or, to put it modern language, Special Forces. But this event was preceded by a certain prehistory dating back to the 20s of the same century.

Nothing in military affairs is undertaken just like that, on a whim. The motivation for creating a special corps was the low discipline in the troops of Emir Orhan, who in 1326 managed to occupy the city of Bursa, ousting the Byzantine Empire. Victory was achieved, but as a true commander, Orhan analyzed the reasons for the large losses and many other unpleasant moments that arose during the battle, and came to the conclusion that the Turks were fighting poorly, and success was facilitated more by the even worse training of the enemy troops than by the valor and skill of his own army. Reform was needed, a new type of warrior was required. Hence the name (“yeni” - new, “ceri” - army). Thus, the history of the Janissaries begins in the twenties of the 14th century, and Emir Orhan is rightfully considered the founder of Turkish special forces.

Why didn't the Turks approach?

Any special forces are staffed with selected soldiers. During the time of the sultans and emirs, the citizens of the Ottoman Empire were free and prosperous people; the abundance of previously captured territories, the exploitation and plunder of the population of the occupied regions of the Balkans created the conditions for a fairly satisfying and comfortable life, which had a relaxing effect. The Turks did not really want to fight, they did not want to die heroically, and it was even more difficult to talk about the necessary use of cruel measures against fellow tribesmen in the event of riots or other popular unrest. And Orhan turned to world experience. He needed obedient slaves, loyal and merciless. If Turks cannot be like that, then nukers should be recruited from foreigners. Such were the Persian bodyguards of the 9th century and the guards of the ancient Indian Rajahs.

Azab-bachelors

The first attempt to create punitive special forces was the formation of the Azab corps, staffed by captured Christians from Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia and other territories occupied by Ottoman troops. Warriors joined enemy banners voluntarily and forcibly, under pain of death. They were forbidden to marry, which is why they were called Azabs (in Turkish - bachelors).

From further history, including recent history, it is known that units recruited from collaborators are not distinguished by high combat effectiveness. At best, they can be used as auxiliary occupation police, but responsible sections of the front cannot be trusted; they will either run away or immediately go over to the side of their fellow tribesmen, repent, and, most likely, will be forgiven.

Orhan decided wisely. Adult captives are not suitable. The Ottoman Janissaries (new warriors) should not remember kinship, forget their father and mother, then they will be endlessly devoted to the empire to him personally. They need to be raised and educated. Who is needed for this? Children!

Preparation and training

In addition to the usual taxes and taxes, the inhabitants of the lands seized by the Ottoman Empire in the 30s of the 14th century were assigned another duty, perhaps the most terrible. The strongest and most savvy boys aged 12-16 were taken from their parents and taken to Turkey. Now a completely different, non-peasant fate awaited them.

The importance of ideological training was realized by the military leadership of the Ottoman Empire. Future Turkish Janissaries received a new name, converted to Islam and underwent initial adaptation in families, where they mastered the Turkish language perfectly, forgetting their native speech and culture along the way. Then there was a military school.

Military school in Adrianople

At the age of 21, a prepared young man brought up in the spirit of devotion arrived at the main location of the Janissary corps. This was the city of Adrianople, and the oath ceremony took place here. The oath of allegiance was taken by the dervishes, who performed the functions of confessors and political instructors at the same time.

The preparation of ajami (beginners) included lessons in fencing, shooting, and tactical skills. Classes were conducted according to a group system, the training unit consisted of 10 to 15 cadets, future Janissaries. the training lasted six years.

But the matter was not limited to drill.

A real warrior must know not only military affairs. A broad outlook and developed intelligence are the qualities that a true Janissary must have. This makes it possible to make non-standard decisions in critical situations. Knowledge of the Koran brings a warrior closer to Allah, so theology was one of the most important subjects in military school. Christian teaching was a separate important subject. Classes on jurisprudence, literature and foreign languages were also included in the intensive training program.

Discipline

In medieval Europe, service people loved to spend their leisure time in feasts and revelry. The life of a soldier in the era of constant wars and state redistributions was, as a rule, short-lived, and future victims of war wanted to take what they had on earth before their soul flew to heaven. European travelers who saw the Adrianople barracks, the place of training of the “new army,” were surprised by the harsh conditions of the Janissaries. This was unusual; the cadets, always calm and calm, spent all their time, with the exception of sleep, in drills and studies. About cards or dice They didn’t even hear that alcoholic libations were a religious taboo. Iron discipline, stoic patience and ascetic simplicity of life - these are the conditions in which a true warrior is raised. Based on the stories of the Habsburg envoy von Busbeck, who visited Istanbul, a myth about the invincibility of the Ottoman Empire even arose in Europe.

Customs, traditions and uniforms

In addition to the vow of celibacy, which was in force until 1556, there were other prohibitions, for example, on wearing a beard, which could only be allowed by an officer - the commander of the Janissaries. Each unit, called an arc, traditionally had a cauldron (cauldron), from which the personnel ate food they prepared themselves. It was considered a kind of symbol and amulet and was kept in exemplary cleanliness. A sign of discontent or rebellion (they happened) was an overturned cauldron. The uniform changed from century to century, but at its core the Janissary corps was infantry troops equipped with light armor. The clothing of the Turkish special forces and the Zaporozhye Cossacks had a lot in common. thanks to their loose cut, they did not restrict movement in battle, and the “burk” (hat with a flap) was stuffed with horsehair and served as head protection, like a helmet. The mace and curved saber of the Janissary completed the warlike appearance.

Reforms

Such a well-prepared militarily and highly intellectual class could not long tolerate the role assigned to it as a blind instrument in the hands of the Sultan. Cunning combined with strength encourages the unjustly humiliated to fight for power. The Janissary commander, taking advantage of his privileges, pushed aside the Sultan's governors from exercising their powers at every opportunity, expressing claims to greater freedoms and powers.

In the 16th century, traditions that seemed unbreakable underwent changes; ethnic Turks began to be accepted into the corps of the monarch's chosen servants. Despite the modest salary, paid once every 3-4 months, service in the special forces is considered prestigious. This is facilitated by the high quality of education and the growing social influence of the “new soldiers”. In addition, upon retirement due to length of service, the Janissaries received unlimited career opportunities. For the admission of their offspring into their ranks, Turkish parents often gave a substantial “baksheesh”, in other words, a bribe.

This situation could not last long.

End of the Janissary era

Among people interested in history, there is still no single answer to the question: “Were the Janissaries traitors?” However, reasoning logically, we can come to the conclusion that only those who consciously and in adulthood went over to the side of the enemy and did this to obtain some personal benefits can be accused of treason. Children taken from their parents were brainwashed for many years, they were instilled with the idea that the rule of the Sultan, their “father,” was just. To give the Ottoman ruler his due, he truly treated his personal guards-bodyguards, especially trusted punitive officers, elite warriors and part-time police officers as his own children. For three centuries, the Janissary's saber fell without fail on the heads of the rebellious, regardless of whether they were foreigners or Turks. But in the 19th century, the proven instrument began to fail.

In the summer of 1826, the Janissary corps rebelled against new laws adopted by Sultan Mahmud II. A crowd of armed “bashi-bazouks” tried to storm the ruler’s residence in Istanbul. The rebellion was mercilessly suppressed, the Janissary corps was disbanded, and they themselves were almost all exterminated.

7 587

In the 13th century, Turkic nomadic tribes pushed aside by the Mongol conquerors entered the service of the Seljuk Sultan, receiving from him a small fief on the border with Byzantium and creating their own emirate. After the collapse of the sultanate in the 14th century, Osman I became the ruler of the emirate, giving his name to the new state, famous for its conquests with the participation of special units of regular infantry - the Janissaries.

Yeni cheri - a new army

Within a few years, the new Ottoman state conquered Byzantine possessions in Asia Minor. Having captured the Dardanelles, the Turks began to conquer the Balkan Peninsula.

The Ottoman army was a rabble of various nomadic tribes that emerged from the depths of Asia and believed in the power of Mohammed. The siege of Byzantine fortresses required large forces of disciplined infantry. But not a single free nomadic Turk, accustomed to fighting on horseback, wanted to fight on foot.

After unsuccessful attempts to create infantry formations from Muslim mercenaries, Sultan Orhan organized in 1330 a detachment of infantry from a thousand captured Christians who converted to Islam. Trying to make such units impact force In the wars against the infidels (“infidels”), the Sultan tried to give them a religious character, linking them with the Bektashi dervish order, similar to the European model of the military monastic order. According to legend, the head of the order, Haji Bektashi, at the inauguration ceremony of the detachment, tore off the sleeve from his white robe, placed it on the head of one of the warriors, called him “yeni cheri” (“new warrior”) and gave his blessing. So the Janissaries got a headdress in the form of a cap with a hanging piece of fabric attached to the back.

The Janissary infantry became the main force of the Ottoman army. Under Sultan Murad I (1359-1389), the method of its acquisition was finally formed. From now on, the corps were recruited from children captured during campaigns in the Balkans. Christian faith who underwent special military training. The recruitment of children into the Janissaries turned into one of the duties of the Christian population of the empire - devshirme (blood tax). Special officials selected at special “shows” in each Christian community a fifth of all boys aged seven to fourteen years (the so-called Sultan’s share) to serve in the Janissary corps.

Sons of the Sultan

All selected boys were circumcised and converted to Islam. At the first stage, they were sent to be raised by the families of Turkish peasants and artisans in Asia Minor. There they mastered the Turkish language, Muslim customs and became accustomed to various types of hard physical labor. A few years later they were enrolled in the preparatory detachment of the Janissary corps. This stage of training lasted seven years and consisted of physical training and training in the use of many types of weapons. By the age of 20, young men became real “warriors of Islam.”

Upon reaching the age of 21, they were taken to the Janissary barracks. The recruits lined up in the square, and the dervishes, their future spiritual mentors, took their oath of devotion to Islam. After this, the former slaves became recruits of the Sultan's elite army. The drill was harsh and merciless, combat training took place to the beat of drums. Under the influence of eyewitness accounts in Europe, the myth of the invincibility of the Turkish army was born.

The Janissaries called themselves "the arm and wing of the Ottoman dynasty." The sultans took care of them, personally delving into their education and life, and often used them in palace conflicts and in suppressing rebellions.

The Janissaries did not shave their beards, they were forbidden to marry and engage in housekeeping. The copper cauldron was considered their greatest shrine. Each hundred had its own boiler, standing in the middle of the bivouac or in the courtyard of the barracks. In front of the cauldron, the recruits took an oath of allegiance to the Sultan and here they flogged those who were guilty. A hundred that lost its cauldron in war was considered dishonored. The Janissaries believed that death was better than such disgrace.

Eating every time turned into a complex ritual. In peacetime, a solemn procession accompanied the cauldron of food from the kitchen to the barracks. Then the warriors sat down around the cauldron. This is where they spent free time in the evenings. Europeans did not understand this ritual, but for the Janissaries it had a deep meaning. The pot was a guarantee that they would be fed. The gates of the Meat Market in the capital were decorated with a proud and expressive inscription: “Here the Sultan feeds the Janissaries.”

The mob that became the elite

At its height, the Ottoman Empire stretched from Gibraltar to the Caspian Sea and from Transylvania to the Persian Gulf. Its capital was Istanbul (Constantinople), taken by the Turks in 1453. Janissaries, whose total number reached almost 200 thousand, besieged fortresses and defeated crusader detachments directed against them, winning the glory of invincible warriors. Their attacks were accompanied by music played by an orchestra on copper trumpets, drums and kettledrums, bringing panic to their enemies. The Janissary Chapel became the prototype of the military brass bands of many armies.

In the 16th century, the military degradation of the Janissary army began. From a well-trained, disciplined and cohesive unit, it turned into a privileged caste of praetorians who did not possess the fighting spirit and military qualities of earlier days. The reason for this was a departure from the original principles of its recruitment. Children of noble Turks who were not prepared for the hardships of service began to be accepted into the Janissary army. Celibacy was abolished. Married Janissaries were allowed to live in their own homes, and then unmarried ones refused to remain in the barracks and submit to strict discipline. As a result, the corps turned into a hereditary institute. During military campaigns, the Janissaries often refused to fight, preferring to engage in robbery and extortion.

Lion hunt

By the end of the 18th century, Turkish troops began to suffer numerous defeats. The well-trained Russian army crushed them on land and at sea. The Janissary infantry did not want to learn military tactics or master new weapons. Bonaparte's ambassadors, flirting with the Turkish Sultan Selim III, presented him with cannons on wheels, and Mikhail Kutuzov, who was the Russian ambassador to Turkey after being wounded, informed the empress about the weakness of the Janissaries.

Realizing that it was necessary to reform the army, the Sultan invited French military advisers and in one of the quarters of Istanbul secretly began to train new troops - “Nizam-i Jedid”. At this time, Bonaparte began campaigns in Europe, and then moved towards Russia. Türkiye quietly reformed its army.

On June 14, 1826, the Janissaries were given an ultimatum, “that in the future they will not see mutton until they study combat formations following the example of the armies of European infidels.”

- We are not infidels, and we will not disgrace ourselves! - the Janissaries answered and pulled out their cauldrons from the barracks. Dancing Bektashi dervishes appeared in the square, tearing off the sleeves of their rags for the headbands of the Janissaries. While waiting for food, they “scattered through the streets, robbing and attacking all the people they came across.” The orchestras played bravura and wildly.

Sultan Mahmud II ordered new well-trained troops with cannons to be withdrawn from the barracks. Thousands of Janissaries were shot with grapeshot in the square. Many hid in basements, attics and even wells, but they were found everywhere and killed. For a whole week in a row, the Sultan’s executioners worked without rest: they chopped off heads, hung them, strangled them with laces, and cut the Janissaries into many pieces. An eyewitness wrote: “For several days, the dead bodies of the Janissaries were transported on carts and carts, which were thrown into the waters of the Bosphorus. They swam on the waves of the Sea of ​​Marmara, and the surface of the waters was so covered with them that the corpses even prevented the sailing of ships..."

The Janissaries were the elite warriors of the Ottoman Empire. They guarded the Sultan himself and were the first to enter Constantinople. The Janissaries were prepared for service from early childhood. Disciplined, fanatical and absolutely loyal to the Sultan, they lived for war.

Slave Army

At the beginning of the 14th century, the young Ottoman state had an urgent need for high-quality infantry, since the capture of fortresses by siege was too long-term and resource-intensive (the siege of Brusa lasted longer than 10 years).

In the Ottoman army of that time, the main striking force was cavalry, which was of little use for assault tactics. The infantry in the army was irregular, hired only for the duration of the war. Of course, the level of her training and devotion to the Sultan left much to be desired.

Sultan Orhan, the son of the founder of the empire Osman, began to form detachments of Janissaries from captured Christians, but by the middle of the 14th century this method began to fail - there were not enough prisoners, and they were also unreliable. Orhan's son, Murad I, in 1362 changed the principle of selecting the Janissaries - they began to be recruited from the children of Christians captured in military campaigns in the Balkans.
This practice showed great results. TO XVI century it became a kind of duty imposed on Christian lands, primarily Albania, Hungary and Greece. It was called the “Sultan’s share” and consisted in the fact that every fifth boy between the ages of five and fourteen years old was selected by a special commission to serve in the Janissary corps.

Not everyone was taken. The selection was based on the then ideas about psychophysiognomy. Firstly, only children from noble families could be recruited into the Janissaries. Secondly, they did not take children who were too talkative (they would grow up stubborn). Also, they did not take children with delicate facial features (they are prone to rebellion, and their enemies will not be afraid of them). They didn't take too tall or too short.

Not all children were from Christian families. As a privilege, they could take children from Muslim families in Bosnia, but, importantly, from Slavs.

The boys were ordered to forget about their past, initiated into Islam and sent to training. From that time on, their entire life was subject to the strictest discipline, and the main virtue was absolute blind devotion to the Sultan and the interests of the empire.

Preparation

The preparation of the Janissaries was systematic and thoughtful. Christian boys, having parted with their past life, went to the families of Turkish peasants or artisans, served as rowers on ships or became butchers' assistants. At this stage, Muslim converts learned Islam, learned the language, and became accustomed to severe hardships. They were deliberately not treated on ceremony. It was a harsh school of physical and moral training.

After several years, those who did not break and survived were enrolled in the preparatory detachment of the Janissaries, the so-called achemi oglan (Russian: “inexperienced youths”). From that time on, their training consisted of mastering special military skills and hard physical work. At this stage, young men were already being trained as devoted warriors of Islam, who unquestioningly carried out all the orders of their commanders. Any manifestations of free-thinking or obstinacy were nipped in the bud. However, the young “cadets” of the Janissary Corps also had their own outlet. During Muslim holidays, they could indulge in violence against Christians and Jews, to which the “elders” were more complacent than critical.

Only at the age of 25, the physically strongest of those trained in the Acemi Oglan, the best of the best, became Janissaries. It had to be earned. Those who for some reason did not pass the test became “rejected” (Turkish chikme) and were not allowed to serve in the corps.

Lions of Islam

How did it happen that children predominantly from Christian families became fanatical Muslims, ready to kill their former co-religionists who had become “infidels” for them?

The very foundation of the Janissary corps was originally planned according to the type of knightly religious order. The spiritual basis of the Janissary ideology was formed under the influence of the Bektashi dervish order. Even now in Turkish the words "Janissary" and "Bektashi" are often used as synonyms. According to legend, even the headdress of the Janissaries - a hat with a piece of fabric attached to the back - appeared thanks to the fact that the head of the dervishes, Khaci Bektash, while blessing the warrior, tore off the sleeve from his clothes, put it on the head of the neophyte and said: “Let them call these soldiers Janissaries. Yes.” their courage will always be brilliant, their sword sharp, their hands victorious."

Why did the Bektashie order become the spiritual stronghold of the “new army”? Most likely, this is due to the fact that it was more convenient for the Janissaries to practice Islam in this simplified form in terms of rituals. The Bektashi were exempted from the obligatory five-time prayers, pilgrimage to Mecca and fasting during the month of Ramadan. For the “lions of Islam,” who live by war, this was convenient.

One family

The life of the Janissaries was strictly declared by the charter of Murad I. The Janissaries could not have families, they had to avoid excesses, observe discipline, obey their superiors, and observe religious precepts.

They lived in barracks (usually located near the Sultan's palace, since guarding it was one of their main duties), but their life could not be called ascetic. After three years of service, the Janissaries received a salary, and the state provided them with food, clothing and weapons. The Sultan's failure to comply with his obligations to supply his “new army” more than once led to Janissary riots.

One of the main symbols of the Janissaries was the cauldron. It occupied such an important place in the life of the Janissaries that Europeans even mistook it for the banner of the Ottoman warriors. At a time when the Janissary corps was stationed in the city, once a week, every Friday, an orta of Janissaries went with their cauldron to the Sultan's palace for pilaf (rice with lamb). This tradition was obligatory and symbolic. If there was dissatisfaction among the Janissaries, they could abandon the pilaf and overturn the cauldron, which served as a signal for the start of the uprising.

From the beginning of the 16th century, the recruiting system for selecting the Janissaries began to undergo serious changes, more and more Turks found themselves in the corps, there was a departure from the principle of celibacy, the Janissaries began to acquire families that required greater and greater investments.

Children of the Janissaries received the right to enroll in the orts from birth, and they were endowed with appropriate benefits. The Janissaries began to turn into a hereditary institution, with all the ensuing disastrous consequences.

Of course, this situation did not suit many. Every now and then after the riots, demonstration executions of the Janissaries were carried out, but the issue was not fundamentally resolved. There was even a phenomenon " dead souls"When they enrolled anyone into the Janissaries, just to receive additional rations and benefits. The corps was destroyed only in 1826 by Sultan Mahmud II. It was not for nothing that he was called the “Turkish Peter I.”

Mansurs
Fleet
Aviation

Janissaries(Turkish yeniçeri (yenicheri) - new warrior) - regular infantry of the Ottoman Empire in -1826. The Janissaries, together with the sipahis (heavy cavalry) and akinci (light irregular cavalry), formed the basis of the army in the Ottoman Empire. Were part of the regiments kapikulu(the Sultan’s personal guard, consisting of professional warriors who were officially considered the Sultan’s slaves). Janissary regiments also performed police, security, fire and, if necessary, punitive functions in the Ottoman state.

Story

As the Ottoman Empire expanded, the need arose to reorganize its troops and create disciplined regular infantry units as its main striking force. The Janissary infantry was created by Sultan Murad I in 1365. A new army was recruited from Christian youths 8-16 years old. Thus, the bulk of the Janissaries were ethnic Albanians, Armenians, Bosnians, Bulgarians, Greeks, Georgians, Serbs, who were subsequently raised in strict Islamic traditions. Children recruited in Rumelia were given to be raised by Turkish families in Anatolia and vice versa.

The Janissaries initially recruited exclusively Christian children according to the order; the Jews were liberated from the devshirme. Later, Bosniaks and Muslim Albanians, who converted to Islam, also obtained from the Sultan the right to send children to the Janissaries: military service in the ranks of the kapikulu allowed many to achieve a high position in society. Residents of Istanbul who speak Turkish, who are physically and mentally disabled, and who are married were also exempt from devşirme. Probably, the latter circumstance partly explains the early marriages of that time.

The Janissaries were officially considered slaves of the Sultan and lived permanently in barracks monasteries. Until 1566, they were prohibited from getting married and starting their own household. The property of a deceased or deceased janissary became the property of the regiment. In addition to the art of war, the Janissaries studied calligraphy, law, theology, literature and languages. Wounded or old Janissaries received a pension. Many of them went on to successful civilian careers. In 1683, children of Muslims began to be recruited into the Janissaries.

Functions

• campaigns of conquest;
• garrison service;
• Sultan's guard;
• city ​​police.

Structure

The main combat unit of the Janissary corps was the regiment ( ojak"ocak") numbering about 1000 soldiers. During its heyday, the number of regiments ( unit vector"orta") reached 196. The regiments differed in origin and functions. The sultan was considered the supreme commander, but tactical leadership was exercised by the aga. His assistants were the highest officers of the corps - sekbanbashi And kul kahyası. The Janissaries were closely associated with the Bektashi dervish order, whose adherents played the role of a kind of regimental priest. The order also had a significant influence on the formation of the hierarchy of the Janissary corps. In general, some similarities are noted between the Janissaries and European spiritual knightly orders.

He commanded the training units of the corps, as well as the Janissary garrison of Istanbul Istanbul Agasi. The main cleric was ojak imams. The chief treasurer was beytulmalji. Responsible for training the Janissaries talimhanedzhibashi. The senior officers responsible for recruiting boys into the corps in a certain territory of the empire and training them were Rumeli Agasi(he was responsible for conducting devshirme in Europe), Anadolu Agasi(Asia), Gelibolu agasy(Gallipoli). Later a position appeared kuloglu bashcavusu, who was responsible for the education and training of the Janissary sons accepted into the corps.

Ojak consisted of 3 parts:

• Jemaat(regular warriors) - 101 unit vector(first unit vector the Sultan was recorded as a soldier)
• Bölük(personal guard of the Sultan) - 61 unit vector
• Sekban - 34 unit vector

Within the regiment- unit vector there were the following ranks: Sakabashi(“head of water supply”), bash karakullukcu(lit. - “senior assistant cook”; junior officer), Ashchi mouth("senior cook"), imam, Bayraktar(standard bearer), vekilkharch(quartermaster), odabashi(“barracks chief”) and, finally, chorbaji(lit. - “soup cook”; corresponding to the colonel). Ordinary soldiers also had their own ranks depending on the qualities demonstrated and length of service. Highest rank asshole exempted from participation in campaigns and gave the right to engage in trade.

Tactics

During the battle, the leading role in the offensive was given to the cavalry. Her task was to break through the enemy line. Under these circumstances, the Janissaries, having fired their guns, formed a wedge and went on the attack using swords and other weapons. In the early days of the corps' existence, the enemy, especially if he did not have numerous disciplined infantry, as a rule, could not withstand such an attack. The Janissaries did not fire in volleys, preferring targeted shooting. Among the Janissaries there were special shock units called Serdengetchi(lit. - “risking their heads”) numbering approx. 100 volunteers. During the siege of Vienna, the besieged noted that these units were divided into smaller units of 5 Janissaries. Such a detachment included a swordsman, a warrior with grenades, an archer and 2 warriors with guns. During battle, the Janissaries often used a camp (barricade of large carts). During the siege of Vienna, the Janissary engineers performed admirably.

Uniform and weapons

A distinctive feature of the Janissaries was a mustache and shaved beard, which was uncharacteristic of the traditional Muslim population. They were distinguished from other military personnel by a white felt cap ( Burke, or Yuskuf) with a piece of material hanging behind, reminiscent in shape of the sleeve of a Sultan's robe or the ceremonial cap of a Zaporozhye Cossack. The Janissaries' clothing was cut from wool. The uniforms of senior officers were trimmed with fur. The status of the owner was emphasized by belts and sashes.

The Janissaries were originally skilled archers and later armed themselves with firearms. At first, some Janissaries wore full armor, but over time they abandoned it. Only warriors from Serdengetchi. At first, the most common weapons of the Janissaries were bows and short spears. Later, with the transition to firearms, the bow did not lose popularity and remained a prestigious ceremonial weapon. Crossbows were also popular among the Janissaries. The Janissaries were also armed with swords (which were rare at the beginning of the corps' existence), sabers, daggers, and scimitars. Various maces, battle axes and different types of polearms (glaives, polearms, halberds, guizarmes), as well as pistols (from the 17th century), were popular. The role of a kind of regimental banner was played by a large soup cauldron ( Kazan-i sheriff).

Christian Janissaries

see also

• "Notes of a Janissary" by Konstantin from Ostrovitsa

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Notes

Literature

• Vvedensky G. E. “The Janissaries.” - St. Petersburg, Atlant Publishing House, 2003. - 176 p.
• Vodovozov V.V.// Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
• Nikollet D. “The Janissaries” - M., “AST”, 2004 ISBN 5-17-025193-9
• Chukhlib T. “Cossacks and Janissaries.” - Kyiv, “Pub. house Kiev-Mohyla Academy", 2010. - 446 p.

Links

• - in Liberaeum "New Herodotus"

Excerpt characterizing the Janissaries

Old man Mikhail was sleeping on the chest. Prokofy, the traveling footman, the one who was so strong that he could lift the carriage by the back, sat and knitted bast shoes from the edges. He looked at the opened door, and his indifferent, sleepy expression suddenly transformed into an enthusiastically frightened one.
- Fathers, lights! Young Count! – he cried out, recognizing the young master. - What is this? My darling! - And Prokofy, shaking with excitement, rushed to the door to the living room, probably to make an announcement, but apparently changed his mind again, returned back and fell on the young master’s shoulder.
-Are you healthy? - Rostov asked, pulling his hand away from him.
- God bless! All glory to God! We just ate it now! Let me look at you, Your Excellency!
- Is everything all right?
- Thank God, thank God!
Rostov, completely forgetting about Denisov, not wanting to let anyone warn him, took off his fur coat and ran on tiptoe into the dark, large hall. Everything is the same, the same card tables, the same chandelier in a case; but someone had already seen the young master, and before he had time to reach the living room, something quickly, like a storm, flew out of the side door and hugged and began to kiss him. Another, third, same creature jumped out of another, third door; more hugs, more kisses, more screams, tears of joy. He couldn’t make out where and who dad was, who was Natasha, who was Petya. Everyone was screaming, talking and kissing him at the same time. Only his mother was not among them - he remembered that.
- I didn’t know... Nikolushka... my friend!
- Here he is... ours... My friend, Kolya... He has changed! No candles! Tea!
- Yes, kiss me!
- Darling... and then me.
Sonya, Natasha, Petya, Anna Mikhailovna, Vera, the old count, hugged him; and people and maids, filling the rooms, muttered and gasped.
Petya hung on his legs. - And then me! - he shouted. Natasha, after she had bent him to her and kissed his entire face, jumped away from him and holding onto the hem of his Hungarian jacket, jumped like a goat all in one place and squealed shrilly.
On all sides there were eyes shining with tears of joy, loving eyes, on all sides there were lips seeking a kiss.
Sonya, red as red, also held his hand and was all beaming in the blissful gaze fixed on his eyes, which she was waiting for. Sonya was already 16 years old, and she was very beautiful, especially at this moment of happy, enthusiastic animation. She looked at him without taking her eyes off, smiling and holding her breath. He looked at her gratefully; but still waited and looked for someone. The old countess had not come out yet. And then steps were heard at the door. The steps are so fast that they couldn't be his mother's.
But it was she in a new dress, still unfamiliar to him, sewn without him. Everyone left him and he ran to her. When they came together, she fell on his chest, sobbing. She could not raise her face and only pressed it to the cold strings of his Hungarian. Denisov, unnoticed by anyone, entered the room, stood right there and, looking at them, rubbed his eyes.
“Vasily Denisov, a friend of your son,” he said, introducing himself to the count, who was looking at him questioningly.
- Welcome. I know, I know,” said the count, kissing and hugging Denisov. - Nikolushka wrote... Natasha, Vera, here he is Denisov.
The same happy, enthusiastic faces turned to the shaggy figure of Denisov and surrounded him.
- Darling, Denisov! - Natasha squealed, not remembering herself with delight, jumped up to him, hugged and kissed him. Everyone was embarrassed by Natasha's action. Denisov also blushed, but smiled and took Natasha’s hand and kissed it.
Denisov was taken to the room prepared for him, and the Rostovs all gathered in the sofa near Nikolushka.
The old countess, without letting go of his hand, which she kissed every minute, sat next to him; the rest, crowding around them, caught his every movement, word, glance, and did not take their rapturously loving eyes off him. The brother and sisters argued and grabbed each other's places closer to him, and fought over who should bring him tea, a scarf, a pipe.
Rostov was very happy with the love that was shown to him; but the first minute of his meeting was so blissful that his present happiness seemed not enough to him, and he kept waiting for something else, and more, and more.
The next morning, the visitors slept from the road until 10 o'clock.
In the previous room there were scattered sabers, bags, tanks, open suitcases, and dirty boots. The cleaned two pairs with spurs had just been placed against the wall. Servants brought washbasins, hot water for shaving, and cleaned dresses. It smelled of tobacco and men.
- Hey, G"ishka, t"ubku! – Vaska Denisov’s hoarse voice shouted. - Rostov, get up!
Rostov, rubbing his drooping eyes, raised his confused head from the hot pillow.
- Why is it late? “It’s late, it’s 10 o’clock,” Natasha’s voice answered, and in the next room the rustling of starched dresses, the whispering and laughter of girls’ voices was heard, and something blue, ribbons, black hair and cheerful faces flashed through the slightly open door. It was Natasha with Sonya and Petya, who came to see if he was up.
- Nikolenka, get up! – Natasha’s voice was heard again at the door.
- Now!
At this time, Petya, in the first room, saw and grabbed the sabers, and experiencing the delight that boys experience at the sight of a warlike older brother, and forgetting that it was indecent for sisters to see undressed men, opened the door.
- Is this your saber? - he shouted. The girls jumped back. Denisov, with frightened eyes, hid his furry legs in a blanket, looking back at his comrade for help. The door let Petya through and closed again. Laughter was heard from behind the door.
“Nikolenka, come out in your dressing gown,” said Natasha’s voice.
- Is this your saber? - Petya asked, - or is it yours? - He addressed the mustachioed, black Denisov with obsequious respect.
Rostov hastily put on his shoes, put on his robe and went out. Natasha put on one boot with a spur and climbed into the other. Sonya was spinning and was just about to puff up her dress and sit down when he came out. Both were wearing the same brand new blue dresses - fresh, rosy, cheerful. Sonya ran away, and Natasha, taking her brother by the arm, led him to the sofa, and they began to talk. They did not have time to ask each other and answer questions about thousands of little things that could only interest them alone. Natasha laughed at every word that he said and that she said, not because what they said was funny, but because she was having fun and was unable to contain her joy, which was expressed by laughter.
- Oh, how good, great! – she condemned everything. Rostov felt how, under the influence of the hot rays of love, for the first time in a year and a half, that childish smile blossomed on his soul and face, which he had never smiled since he left home.
“No, listen,” she said, “are you completely a man now?” I'm terribly glad that you are my brother. “She touched his mustache. - I want to know what kind of men you are? Are they like us? No?
- Why did Sonya run away? - asked Rostov.
- Yes. That's another whole story! How will you talk to Sonya? You or you?
“As it will happen,” said Rostov.
– Tell her, please, I’ll tell you later.
- So what?
- Well, I’ll tell you now. You know that Sonya is my friend, such a friend that I would burn my hand for her. Look at this. - She rolled up her muslin sleeve and showed a red mark on her long, thin and delicate arm under the shoulder, much above the elbow (in a place that is sometimes covered by ball gowns).
“I burned this to prove my love to her.” I just lit the ruler on fire and pressed it down.
Sitting in his former classroom, on the sofa with cushions on his arms, and looking into those desperately animated eyes of Natasha, Rostov again entered that family, children's world, which had no meaning for anyone except for him, but which gave him some of the best pleasures in life; and burning his hand with a ruler to show love did not seem useless to him: he understood and was not surprised by it.
- So what? only? - he asked.
- Well, so friendly, so friendly! Is this nonsense - with a ruler; but we are forever friends. She will love anyone, forever; but I don’t understand this, I’ll forget now.
- Well, what then?
- Yes, that’s how she loves me and you. - Natasha suddenly blushed, - well, you remember, before leaving... So she says that you forget all this... She said: I will always love him, and let him be free. It’s true that this is excellent, noble! - Yes Yes? very noble? Yes? - Natasha asked so seriously and excitedly that it was clear that what she was saying now, she had previously said with tears.
Rostov thought about it.
“I don’t take back my word on anything,” he said. - And then, Sonya is such a charm that what fool would refuse his happiness?
“No, no,” Natasha screamed. “We’ve already talked about this with her.” We knew you would say this. But this is impossible, because, you know, if you say that - you consider yourself bound by the word, then it turns out that she seemed to say it on purpose. It turns out that you are still forcibly marrying her, and it turns out completely different.
Rostov saw that all this was well thought out by them. Sonya amazed him with her beauty yesterday too. Today, having caught a glimpse of her, she seemed even better to him. She was a lovely 16-year-old girl, obviously loving him passionately (he did not doubt this for a minute). Why shouldn’t he love her now, and not even marry her, Rostov thought, but now there are so many other joys and activities! “Yes, they came up with this perfectly,” he thought, “we must remain free.”
“Well, great,” he said, “we’ll talk later.” Oh, how glad I am for you! - he added.
- Well, why didn’t you cheat on Boris? - asked the brother.
- This is nonsense! – Natasha shouted laughing. “I don’t think about him or anyone else and I don’t want to know.”
- That's how it is! So what are you doing?
- I? – Natasha asked again, and a happy smile lit up her face. -Have you seen Duport?
- No.
– Have you seen the famous Duport the dancer? Well, you won't understand. That's what I am. “Natasha took her skirt, rounding her arms, as they dance, ran a few steps, turned over, did an entreche, kicked her leg against the leg and, standing on the very tips of her socks, walked a few steps.

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They often write about the Janissaries. They are sometimes portrayed as super-elite warriors who knew no failure; sometimes, especially when describing a later time, they are generally deprived of all military qualities. In addition, even in scientific and historical literature, all foot soldiers of the Turkish Sultan are often called Janissaries, as a result of which we read about Janissaries participating in the campaigns of the Tatar khans or fighting on land and sea.

This article is an attempt to understand what role the Janissaries played in the army of the Sublime Porte, and what this word generally meant in different periods of history.

Since this is an attempt, I'll be happy to hear any criticism.

As is known, the Ottoman beylik (principality) arose at the end of the 13th century. At first, it occupied a small territory captured from the Byzantines and controlled by the Kayli (or Kayi) tribe, which at one time fled from the Mongols to Turkic Anatolia (M. Asia). Accordingly, the leader of the tribe was called bey.

After the semi-legendary Ertogrul, about whom nothing is really known, the tribe was led by his son Osman (1281-1324), who laid the foundations of the Ottoman state.

The basis of his army was the tribal militia ( taifa). Osman also began to create and bestow upon his warriors Timara(plots of land with peasants, sometimes markets, etc.) in exchange for service. In fact, we have before us typical feuds or estates distributed for service. They were usually inherited.

If the estate brought in 2000 akche per year, the timariot had to serve personally, and if more, then for every additional 2000 akche income the owner had to bring with him jebel(armour).

It should be noted that among the Timariots there are often surnames characteristic of Greeks who converted to Islam (Mikhailogullars, Evrenosogullars), etc. Historians suggest that these were Akrites (Byzantine border guard soldiers, like the Cossacks) who converted to Islam. On the other hand, at the same time, a large number of refugees from the Middle East appeared in Anatolia, among whom were many well-educated people who occupied important positions in the Ottoman judicial and administrative apparatus. Thus, both Byzantine and Middle Eastern traditions played a role in the formation of the Ottoman state and army.

In addition to the militia, the Ottoman beys used volunteer units ( Ghazi), i.e. fighters for the faith, who naturally did not disdain booty. Osman's first major target was Brusa, but the lack of infantry in his army meant that the siege (or rather regular looting) lasted almost ten years.

When the city finally surrendered, the Ottomans proclaimed it their capital and created the first infantry units - detachments yaya. They were formed according to the following principle: several peasant families received tax exemption, and in return they had to send one warrior to the campaign. Later, riders began to be recruited using the same principle - Muselemov.

The first half of the 14th century. the Ottoman beys remained virtually petty princes, plundering Byzantine possessions in Asia Minor. In addition, the Byzantines often used them as mercenaries, especially in internecine wars.

Neighboring Turkic beyliks, such as Germiyan, Aydin, Sarukhan, were much larger and stronger.

The weakening of Byzantium led to the fact that in the middle of the 14th century. The Ottomans captured Galliopoli, a fortress on the European shore of the Bosphorus. As a result, their troops began to penetrate the Balkans and plunder them. It should be noted that at that time the Balkans became the theater of an almost continuous war for leadership in the region. The Byzantines weakened in civil strife and were defeated by the Bulgarians. Later, the Bulgarian kingdom began to suffer from internecine wars, and leadership passed to the Serbs, who eventually also fought among themselves. In addition, in the Balkans there were also independent crusader states (for example, the Duchy of Athens), the Despotate of Epirus, the possessions of Venice, etc.

Under these conditions, the Ottomans began to capture the Balkans piecemeal.

This was done by semi-independent units called akinji(raiders, or daredevils), consisting of both vassals of the Ottoman beys and ghazis.

It was very important that all these detachments, returning, had to pass through a small territory controlled by the Ottomans and transport the booty on their ships.

Even in those cases when the akinci beys seized their own possessions in the Balkans, they still needed reinforcements, and sometimes help from the center.

Therefore, they were forced to obey the Sultan (this title was accepted by the third ruler of the Ottoman family, Murad I Khudavendigar (1362-1389)), accepting his role as an organizer (i.e., attacking those lands that he indicated) and giving him 1/5 of the spoils, including every fifth captive slave.

Thanks to the income and people received, continuing the Middle Eastern traditions of forming an army from among slaves (ghulams in the Arab Caliphate, Mamluks in Egypt), the Turks began to create detachments from captives, which they called kapi kulu(palace slaves). It was believed that slave warriors, who had no family ties with the local elite and the population of the beylik in general, would be devoted servants of the Sultan.

The initiator and first organizer of this unit was the qadi (judge) of Brussa Kara Khalky Pasha, who later became the vizier of Murad Khudavendigar.

Later, these parts began to be formed according to the devshirmiye system, i.e. by recruiting Christian boys 7-12 years old, who were then sent to Muslim families for several years, after which they were collected again and began to be taught. Then these students, by the way, who served as servants in the Sultan's palace during their training, became warriors of the kapa kulu.

The foot part of this guard began to be called yoni cherry(new army), i.e. Janissaries.

Thus, while the neighboring Turkic beyliks were weakened by internal strife, the Ottomans maintained control over their domains thanks to the ability to control the benefits from raids and the presence of a fairly powerful kapa kulu corps.

In the second half of the 14th century. The Ottoman army was formed on the following principles.

Most of the army were timariots, an analogue of the Russian local militia or knightly militia in the Middle Ages. It is interesting to note that at first the Timariots could also be Christians, although their heirs usually already converted to Islam.

However, unlike feudal Europe, among the Ottomans, the role of commanders was played not by larger feudal lords, who passed on their positions by inheritance, but by officials appointed by the Sultan. Along with the presence of the kapa kulu guard, this guaranteed high level disciplines in the Ottoman army.

Together with the Timariot militias, subordinate to the respective governors of the sultans, the yayas and mussels served. Also during the campaigns, volunteers joined the troops, serving with their own weapons and horses and acting as light cavalry, still called akinji. They acted in the vanguard of the army, which gave them the opportunity to be the first to plunder the villages and cities through which they passed.

In addition, continuing the traditions of the militia, one infantryman from each village was sent and equipped for the campaign. Such warriors were called azaps(bachelors).

They received a salary during the campaign, and after it went home.

Of course, parts of the kapa kulu also took part in the campaigns, including the Janissaries (infantry), Jabeji(gunsmiths) and sipahi(horse guards).

The number of Janissaries in the 14th century. did not exceed 3,000 people, and it is known that they were the largest group of kapa kulu, so the total number of the Sultan’s guard hardly exceeded 5,000 warriors.

Naturally, fewer soldiers took part in the battles, since separate detachments of Janissaries occupied key fortresses of the Ottoman Empire, guaranteeing the loyalty of local feudal lords, and also guarded the palace and treasury of the Sultan.

On the other hand, the Turkish army of that time rarely exceeded the size of ten to twenty thousand people, so 2-3 thousand warriors remained a formidable force.

In general, during this period the Janissaries usually took part in campaigns only together with the Sultan himself. However, at that time this meant almost annual trips.

Thanks to them, the Turks quickly conquered most of their possessions Byzantine Empire(except for Constantinople and the Morea itself), subjugated Bulgaria and Macedonia.

The decisive battle was the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, when the Serbs, who before this battle were considered the most powerful army in the Balkans, were defeated. During (or immediately after the battle) Sultan Murad was killed. His son Bayazid, who was the first to learn about this, acted quickly - he called his brother Yakub to headquarters on behalf of his father and killed him.

During the reign of Bayazid, nicknamed Yoldirm (Lightning), the Turks continued their conquest of the Balkans, while simultaneously beginning to annex the Turkic principalities in Anatolia to their possessions. Here they tried more to act through diplomacy, attracting the local elite with the prospect of participation and conquest of the Balkans, as well as the moral authority of the fighters for the faith.

They also began to very successfully fight local nomads who did not want to submit to the central government, just like the Kayi tribe in their time.

The Turks did not demand taxes from them, but soldiers for campaigns.

Recusants were resettled in the Balkans, expanding the Muslim base on the peninsula.

The groups of nomadic tribes were named Yuryuks, and usually served as light cavalry, like akinji.

When describing the battles of that time, the order and tactics of the Ottoman army are as follows: the first line, consisting of akinci and yuryuks, are light cavalry units. Their task was to scout out the location of enemy troops, harass him with light attacks, and ideally provoke his attack in the right direction and at the right time.

The second line, the main one, usually consisted of infantry standing in the center and timariotes on the flanks. Infantry positions were often reinforced by various structures - stakes, wolf pits, carts, sometimes ditches and ramparts. The infantry's task was to take the enemy's attack and stop it. And then the heavy (by the standards of the East) cavalry of the Timariots struck from the flanks.

The Janissaries occupied a place either in the center or behind the center, usually surrounding the sultan. Their main weapon was the bow, i.e. In front of us are foot archers. As you know, training archers requires a lot of time (ideally from adolescence) and effort.

How effective properly trained archers are is well known from the victories of the British in the Hundred Years' War.

Thus, the Janissaries served as skirmishers, and also probably maintained discipline among the other infantry units in the front ranks (yayas and azaps), i.e. covering the kulu caps. They also played the role of the Sultan’s last reserve, which they threw into battle to either finish off the enemy or try to turn the tide of the battle.

Thus, unlike the units of other Balkan rulers, which were usually typical feudal militias, mostly mounted, the Turks relied on a combination of cavalry and infantry, to which artillery was later added.

During sieges, the Janissaries actively participated in them. As in field battles, they were usually used not in the general mass of troops, but at key moments, including to capture the most important positions, such as breaches in the wall.

The conquest of Anatolia was not without clashes. At the same time, the Janissaries demonstrated a very high level of professionalism. Thus, in 1425, a detachment of only five hundred Janissaries dealt with a five-thousand-strong detachment of Azaps and Timariots from one of the rebel principalities.

Of course, this did not mean that the Janissaries were not defeated or that the Turkish army as a whole was invincible. She suffered defeats more than once from both the Serbs and the Hungarians. The most difficult was the defeat of Sultan Bayazid by the Central Asian ruler Timur in 1401. The Janissary guard surrounding the Sultan fought to the end, but could neither turn the tide of the battle nor save their master, who was eventually captured, where he committed suicide.

After Timur left, Bayezid's heirs began internecine wars, and the Anatolian beyliks regained their independence. Neighboring states, primarily the Byzantines, tried to weaken the Turks as much as possible, pitting them against each other. But the Balkan possessions of the empire, despite the fact that there was an influential aristocracy (the heirs of the Akıncı), were not going to be divided into separate possessions, since the local Turks felt like strangers, unable to survive alone. Relying on these possessions, Sultan Murad II managed to restore the empire, including the revival of the Janissary corps.

During his reign the Janissaries first intervened in politics. When Murad abdicated the throne, they, seeing the youth of his heir, rebelled, plundered the palaces of the dignitaries and demanded that the young sultan return his father to the throne.

Later, after Murad's death, his son Mehmed, known as Fatih (Conqueror) (1451-1481), again ascended the throne and soon captured Constantinople, renaming it Istanbul, and later conquered all remaining possessions in the Balkans and Anatolia. In addition to his conquests, he is also known as a successful legislator. Among his laws was the law that the Sultan was obliged to kill his brothers if they posed a threat to the throne.

An eyewitness indicates that at this time the number of kapa kulu was about 6,000 people, of which about four thousand were Janissaries.

Since the fifties, trampo, i.e., appeared as part of the kapa kulu. artillerymen.

During the reign of Bayezid II Wali (the Saint) (1481-1512), there were practically no major wars. But serious changes appeared in the organization of the Janissaries.

Firstly, since after the death of Mehmed, Bayezid seized power by force, defeating the troops of his brother Cem, he strengthened the devotion of the Janissaries by giving them generous gifts on the occasion of his accession, and since then, each new sultan generously gifted his guard at the time of his accession to the throne.

Secondly, some of the Janissaries were armed with firearms.

Thirdly, the Janissaries received the right to enroll their children in the Janissary Corps.

At the same time, part of the Janissaries (at first, apparently, elderly or disabled people who had the status of pensioners) began to engage in crafts in order to feed themselves. Thus, the butcher shop in Istanbul consisted only of Janissaries. Unlike ordinary artisans, the Janissaries did not pay taxes.

The favorite of the Janissaries of that time was the son of Bayazid, who received the name Yavuz (Fierce or Terrible). The father believed that his other son, Ahmed, should become the heir, but Selim rebelled, overthrew his father, who soon died in prison, from the throne, and executed all his brothers.

Selim II Yavuz (1512-1520) began a holy war with the Shiites, led by the Persian Shah Ismail, whose cavalry was considered unstoppable in the attack. Having first massacred several tens of thousands of Shiites in Anatolia, the Sunni Selim in 1514 defeated the Persian troops at Chaldiran. The Turkic infantry played a major role here. Relying on the Wagenburg (fortifications made from baggage wagons) and actively using artillery and muskets, the Turks managed to stop the attacks of the Persian cavalry and then defeat it. In 1516, according to the same scheme, the army of the Egyptian Mamluks, considered the best warriors of the Muslim East, was defeated. Now this title has passed to the Janissaries.

After Selim's death, power was gained by his son Suleiman, known to Europeans as the Magnificent, and to the Turks as Kanuni (Lawgiver) (1520-1566).

In the 16th century the strength of the Janissary corps fluctuated in the range of 8-12 thousand soldiers.

The Janissaries were still playing big role as the guard of the sultans, especially since in the battles of the New Age, infantry armed with firearms became increasingly important. Moreover, in the main direction of the path of Ottoman expansion - the invasion of Europe, the Europeans relied not on field battles, but on numerous fortresses, during the sieges of which artillery and infantry played the main role.

It should be noted that the yaya and musselem units, consisting of peasants conscripted into the army during campaigns, at this time lose their importance, turning either into simple peasants or into auxiliary units that monitored bridges, roads and other local tasks.

On the other hand, many provincial governors are beginning to create their troops not from horsemen, as before, but from infantrymen. This was also facilitated by the fact that, unlike a bow, firearms do not require lengthy training.

As is known, in the Ottoman Empire, as in the Muscovite kingdom, the highest ranks received not a salary, but estates as a reward for their service. Income from the estate was supposed to not only provide for the pasha himself and his family, but also compensate for his expenses for maintaining personal assistants (officials, guards, etc.).

These warriors were usually recruited among Muslims, most often the Turks themselves, or residents of other countries who converted to Islam (Arabs, Bosnians, etc.). In case of long service, they could count on receiving a special status, i.e. their farms were exempt from taxes.

The most combat-ready of them were considered to be Albanian units ( Arnautov, as the Turks called them). It was believed that only the Arnaut units were capable of matching the Janissaries in terms of combat effectiveness.

It was these units, known under different names - Azaps, Levends, Delhis, Kuguglis, etc., that foreigners often considered Janissaries.

In the 16th century The Ottoman Empire reached its maximum power.

However, having captured Hungary in the west and Iraq in the east, the empire was no longer able to expand its borders further. The opponents managed to stop her onslaught.

Meanwhile, the ships of Columbus and Vasco da Gama had already dealt a powerful blow to the Turks, giving rise to a phenomenon known as the price revolution.

Its essence was as follows: for centuries, the basis of the monetary system of Europe, as well as other countries of the world, was gold and silver. But Europeans needed goods that they could only get in the East - silk (the basis of hygiene), pepper (replacement of refrigerators), spices (the basis of medicines), which they could only buy in the East. And in return they had nothing to offer. Therefore, gold and silver left Europe for the East for centuries. The more Europe developed, the more its trade turnover grew, and therefore the need for money increased, i.e. in noble metals. And they went to the East. That's why noble metals was not enough, i.e. prices of commodities in coins (i.e. gold and silver) either remained stable (on average) or increased.

Moreover, complete control over this trade between East and West, which fell into the hands of the Turks after the conquest of Syria and Egypt, brought enormous profits to the empire.

But when Vasco da Gama opened the sea route to India, approximately half of the spices began to be delivered to Europe by sea, bypassing Ottoman customs and merchants. And when the Spaniards conquered America, first robbing it and then establishing massive gold and silver mining there with the help of free Indian labor, a huge amount of precious metals poured into Europe. Supply exceeded demand, and the price of gold and silver fell sharply. This meant that the coins depreciated and prices rose accordingly. As a result, prices have tripled or quadrupled in one century. Those on fixed incomes found that while they received the same money, they could not buy as many goods.

In the Ottoman Empire such income, i.e. All its soldiers received a salary from the state or taxes established by the state from the peasants.

The Timariots were the first to feel this blow. They had previously suffered seriously from the expansion of the empire. Once upon a time, their ancestors could find themselves in enemy territory intended for plunder within a few days or at least weeks of travel. This made it possible not only to rob the enemy’s possessions, but to deliver home all the loot (livestock, captives, property that could be loaded onto livestock and captives), where they could use it on the farm or sell it over time, calmly waiting for a favorable price. Now, when the journey to enemy possessions in one direction often took months, the loot had to be sold to cunning merchants who paid much less for it.

In addition, long campaigns meant that the Timariots were unable to look after their household for many months.

As a result, the Timariots had two options. The first, traditional way was to try to get more booty and earn grants from the padishah in the form of new estates. But in conditions when the campaigns yielded little booty and did not bring new conquests, this path was unrealistic: the authorities simply did not have enough land to reward everyone. Moreover, trying to equip themselves and their warriors, such traditionalists simply went bankrupt in the new conditions.

The second way was settling on the earth, when the heir of valiant warriors tried to organize his economy, avoid going on campaigns as much as possible, most often paying bribes to the governor so that he would be recognized as sick, etc.

Of course, in practice, many timariots tried to combine both of these paths, or tried to somehow get out.

On the other hand, local pashas, ​​seeing the growing need for infantry and the strengthening of their own power due to the growth of their own troops, often themselves pushed the Timariots to the second path or seized their lands.

As a result, the number and quality of the Timariot militia gradually decreased. But the power of the provincial pashas and their detachments grew, counterbalanced by the increasingly weakening units of the Timariots and Kapa Kulu.

Consequently, the kapi kulu from one of the elements of the Ottoman army increasingly turned into the main military support of the Sultan’s power.

Therefore, the number of Janissaries grew, and in the first half of the 17th century. There were already 30-35 thousand Janissaries in the ranks of the corps. The total number of Kapa Kulu reached more than fifty thousand. This was facilitated by the fact that from 1574 it was allowed to enroll young Muslims in the corps.

However, at the same time, the price revolution also hit both state revenues and the salaries of the Janissaries. State revenues were falling, and due to the weakening of the system of control over local authorities, the government could no longer increase its share of revenues. On the contrary, actual government revenues fell. Thus, although the government was in dire need of the Janissaries, it could not provide them with decent maintenance. The salary of ordinary Janissaries became lower than the wages of laborers in Istanbul, it was often issued with delays and damaged coins.

Under these conditions, the first victim was the discipline of the Janissary corps. While seeking the loyalty of the Janissaries, the authorities turned a blind eye to numerous violations of order. The Janissaries began to train much less, and Janissary commanders had to take into account the opinions of their subordinates much more than before.

Taking advantage of the freedom they received, the Janissaries begin to earn money.

Many Janissaries begin to engage in crafts and small trade. As already mentioned, their status allowed them not to pay taxes. In addition, since they performed the duties of the police and firefighters, it was not easy to compete with them, to put it mildly. Finally, the courts often did not dare to get involved with the Janissaries.

In addition, often the Janissaries, or rather their officers, on behalf of their units, begin to provide patronage to artisans and small shopkeepers. Outwardly, this is expressed in the fact that in the shop, for example, on the wall, hangs either a scimitar or a Janissary cap. This means that this shop is under the protection of the Janissaries of this unit, primarily from other Janissaries, as well as from extortion by local officials. Those. in fact, it was a question of a kind of protection. Sometimes this allowed the shopkeeper or artisan to avoid paying at least part of the state taxes.

In addition, the number of “dead souls” in the Janissary corps is growing. Without reporting losses, Janissary officers receive pay for their dead comrades.

Moreover, documents for the title of Janissaries begin to be sold to artisans and traders, who, having bought them and received the official status of Janissaries, continue to do their business without paying taxes and without depending on local authorities. In case of mobilization, such janissaries pay bribes to officers who help them avoid conscription.

Thus, within the corps there is a division into the old Janissaries, who at the very least serve, receive various incomes, and those who are only listed as Janissaries. It is impossible to establish an exact relationship between the two.

Periodically, when a sufficiently influential vizier came to power, checks were carried out, and a certain number of new Janissaries were crossed off the lists.

But soon the situation returned to normal.

Of course, the authorities saw the weakening of the combat effectiveness of the Janissary corps. Sultan Osman II (1618-1622) was the first to realize this. The young sultan (who ascended the throne at the age of 14) sought to revive the glory of the Ottomans. He personally conducted police checks in Istanbul, then led the Turks’ campaign against Poland. But near Khotyn he became convinced that his numerous troops were inferior in quality to the European mercenaries who used linear system. As a result, Osman decided to carry out a radical reform - during his pilgrimage to Mecca, he intended to gather new troops in Anatolia, which he would train in the European manner, and replace the Janissaries with them. His decision became known, and the young Sultan was killed by the Janissaries. Although the company that did this was later disbanded and the sultan's executioner executed, the Janissaries overthrew sultans more than once.

The next Sultan, Murad IV, nicknamed the Bloody, managed to gain the support of some of the Janissaries and dignitaries, tired of the chaos and chaos that reigned even in the capital. Thanks to their support, he strengthened his power and then began merciless terror against the dissatisfied. Since the Timariot army had already lost its combat effectiveness, he began to increase the number of kapa kulu, bringing the number of Janissaries to 46 thousand. Under him, the devshirmiye system was officially abolished, however, the last recruitment occurred in 1607, since there were already enough people willing to serve in the Janissaries. From now on, the Kapa Kulu corps was formed only by young Muslim boys.

Murad's successor, Ibrahim I of Delhi (the Mad), was overthrown by the Janissaries.

The son of Delhi, Mehmed IV Avaji (Hunter), transferred all power into the hands of the dynasty of viziers to Keprel, abandoning himself to his favorite pastime. In the end, the next representative of the dynasty, Kara-Mustafa Keprelu, attacked Austria, but was defeated near Vienna. To fight against the Turks, a coalition of European powers was organized, and a war began, part of which were Golitsyn’s Crimean campaigns and Peter’s Azov campaigns. The number of Janissaries again increased to 70 thousand, and the total number of kapa kulu reached 100 more than thousand. However, after the end of the war, the number of Janissaries was sharply reduced to approximately 33 thousand.

Thus, the figure of more than 30 thousand janissaries and approximately 50 thousand plus for the entire composition of the kapa kulu seems to be the clearest estimate of the size of these units in peacetime.

Now the Janissaries have finally turned into ordinary mercenary units. Together with detachments of provincial pashas, ​​they formed the basis of the Ottoman army.

It should be noted that there are several persistent myths regarding the Janissaries of that time. Besides the fact that practically everything foot troops The Ottomans are now called Janissaries, there is a myth about the sheer numbers of the Muslim armies and a legend about the extreme degradation of the Janissary corps, and that they overthrew sultans and viziers simply out of caprice.

First, let's look at the size of the Ottoman armies. Most often, there are references to data from various opponents of the Ottomans who assessed their troops. For obvious reasons, these military leaders were interested in exaggerating the enemy's numbers. In addition, unlike regular armies, in the Ottoman units each unit was formed independently and had its own convoy, i.e. the percentage of non-combatants in the Turkish army was much higher than that of its European opponents.

We should not forget that, as shown above, the Janissary officers and the provincial pashas were interested in inflating the number of their units.

Although the extent of the exaggeration of the size of the Ottoman armies has yet to be established, the following can be assumed. Considering that a significant part of the Janissaries remained to carry out garrison service, as well as numerous additions, we can safely assume that more than 50 thousand kapi kulu would be brought to the theater of operations (in general) (taking into account the fact that in the event of hostilities, the corps was recruited additional soldiers) is extremely unlikely.

The total number of the Sultan's armies hardly exceeded 100-150 thousand people (not counting the troops of vassals such as Tatars, Moldovans, Egyptians, etc.).

Secondly, let us clarify the fighting qualities of the Janissaries at this time. The Janissaries still tried to wait for the enemy’s attack behind the fortifications, or they attacked in an uneven trapezoid, almost in a crowd, without observing formation, or rather, due to the lack of drill training, not being able to observe it.

On the other hand, the Janissaries, the core of which were people who had inherited their profession, had good training in handling weapons and had considerable stamina and perseverance.

Although the Ottomans suffered many defeats at this time, including from Russian troops, Russian military leaders were not inclined to consider them whipping toys. And the Austrians were repeatedly defeated by the Turks throughout the 18th century.

Regarding the Janissaries' tendency to revolt, it can be noted that in the 17th century. they overthrew three sultans in the 18th century. - two. Much more often, unrest among the Janissaries led to a change in the Grand Vizier, i.e. head of government. However, it should be borne in mind that the Janissaries during this period were very closely associated with various groups of the population. Further, we note that all the sultans they overthrew were quite unpopular, and their overthrow was usually caused by the actions of a variety of forces, of which the Janissaries were part.

The Janissaries themselves were most opposed to military reforms. The Janissaries themselves did not want to retrain and submit to European instructors with their strict discipline. But they did not want to allow the creation of a serious alternative to themselves as the basis of the Sultan’s army. As a result, all attempts to create modern army, which the Ottomans periodically undertook in the 18th century, ended in failure. The most persistent was Sultan Selim III. After a series of defeats suffered by Russian and French troops, he decided to create new system organization of the army, in which there was no place for the Janissaries. As a result of his reforms, which caused unrest and discontent among a significant part of Ottoman society, a rebellion of the Janissaries broke out and the Sultan was overthrown.

His nephew Mahmud II managed to prepare reforms more carefully and gain public support. As a result, by 1826 he managed to create guards units.

When unrest began again among the Janissaries over this issue, the Sultan managed to gain the support of the clergy, who condemned the rebellion (the detainees were asked the question - are you a Janissary or a Muslim?), and a large number of residents who joined his troops.

The Janissaries tried to sit out in the barracks, but the artillery had its say - the barracks were burned, a significant part of the Janissaries died in battle or were executed. Then decrees were sent out on the destruction of the Janissaries in the provinces, where most often everything came down to the dissolution of the Janissaries units.

The defeat of the Janissaries seriously weakened the Turkish army and significantly contributed to the liberation of Greece from Ottoman rule.