Janissary: Encyclopedia II - Janissary - The janissary corps

Janissary - The janissary corps

The full strength of the janissary troops varied from maybe 100 to more than 200,000. The corps was organized in ortas (literally "hearth" but equivalent to regiment). Suleiman I had 165 ortas but the number over time increased to 196. The sultan was the supreme commander of the Janissaries but the corps was organized and led by the aga (commander). The corps was divided into three sub-corps:

• the jemaat (frontier troops), with 101 ortas
• the beyliks or beuluks (sultan's bodyguard), with 61 ortas
• the sekban or seirnen, with 34 ortas

In addition there was also 34 ortas of the ajemi (apprentices).

Originally janissaries could increase in rank only within their own orta and only through seniority. 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 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. In melee combat they used axes and sabres. Originally in peacetime they could carry only clubs or cutlasses, unless they served in border troops. Local janissaries, stationed in a town or city for a long time, were known as yerliyyas.

The Ottoman empire used janissaries in all its major campaigns, including the 1453 capture of Constantinople, the defeat of the Egyptian mameluks and wars in Austria. 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 the sultan Mehmet IV could abolish the devshirme. Increasing numbers of originally Muslim Turkish families had already enrolled their own sons into the force. Every governor wanted to have his own janissaries.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "The janissary corps", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki