The Janissaries: An Army of Slaves...

[Sphinx777]

The Janissaries (derived from Ottoman Turkish ينيچرى (Yeniçeri), meaning "new soldier") comprised infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops and bodyguards. The force was created by the Sultan Murad I from Christian slaves in the 14th century and was abolished by Sultan Mahmud II in 1826 with the Auspicious Incident.

Initially a small compact force of elite troops, they grew in size and power during the five centuries of their existence until they eventually became a threat to the fabric of the Ottoman empire. In their later years, they mutinied whenever an attempt was made to reform them, deposing and murdering those sultans they regarded as enemies.

Ancient Warriors - Janissaries (Part 1)
Ancient Warriors - Janissaries (Part 2)
Ancient Warriors - Janissaries (Part 3)


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[Matthewj1985]

From the little I have read about them they were Christian children taken by force from various parts of the Ottoman kingdom and brought up as Islamic warriors. They Ottoman's allowed them to hold almost every position in the kingdom and eventually they organized and became a force to be reckoned with inside the empire. They also played a big part in Northern Africa during the first real American war (Barbary Wars). Apparently when the Ottoman's ran the area they brought Armenian Janissaries with them who later deserted and became what were called "mammalukes" (spelling phonetically since I can't find spelling on google, pronounced in the book I was listening to as "mamma"-"lukes").

 

[Tzaousios]

From the little I have read about them they were Christian children taken by force from various parts of the Ottoman kingdom and brought up as Islamic warriors. They Ottoman's allowed them to hold almost every position in the kingdom and eventually they organized and became a force to be reckoned with inside the empire. They also played a big part in Northern Africa during the first real American war (Barbary Wars). Apparently when the Ottoman's ran the area they brought Armenian Janissaries with them who later deserted and became what were called "mammalukes" (spelling phonetically since I can't find spelling on google, pronounced in the book I was listening to as "mamma"-"lukes").

Yes, the "child-" or "blood-levy" (devshirme) was the primary means by which the Ottomans brought in recruits for the Janissary corps. During the classical Ottoman period (15th-17th centuries), they were put through a rigorous education and training almost like soldier-monks.

Later the status of Janissary became a coveted title and families actually gave up their children willingly in order that they might obtain a better life in the Sultan's service. They became lazy and corrupt, much like the Praetorian Guard in the Roman Empire, and ended up assassinating more Sultans in political struggles than protecting them.

 

[Nooj]

Apparently when the Ottoman's ran the area they brought Armenian Janissaries with them who later deserted and became what were called "mammalukes" (spelling phonetically since I can't find spelling on google, pronounced in the book I was listening to as "mamma"-"lukes").

The Mameluks were an older but similar institution of slave soldiers.