Janissaries and Religion

By emmathayercondon
  • 1451

    Recruitment Policy

    By 1451, the Ottomans had already expanded out of Anatolia into the Balkans. These conquests came with a new recruitment process, called devshirme. Each additional annexation, each invasion, meant a new draftable population for the janissary corps. They recruited boys aged 6-12 via a child levy process. The strongest and most intelligent - the best and the brightest- were selected to join the army
  • 1451

    Conversion to Islam

    The Ottomans, in their recruitment and conquest policy, still wanted an integrated and assimilated society and army. They converted janissaries to Islam, gave them Muslim names, and raised them into a Muslim life.
  • 1451

    Bektashi Order

    The Bektashi Order is the order of Sufism that the janissaries are converted to. Sufism is a mythical strand of Islam, It is about a closer connection with God, without a mediator. It is also connected to the practice of whirling dervishes.

  • Janissaries as defenders of traditionalism

    According to the Sunar piece, especially when quoting Berkes’ argument, throughout the late 16th and 17th centuries, dominance of religion was fading or wholly disintegrating. Interestingly, the ulema and the janissaries, were the frontline defenders of traditional order during this period.

  • Janissaries in Rebellion

    During janissary revolt, oftentimes leaders of the movement would seek out support from high ranking ulema. They did this as a means of legitimizing their rebellions. The ulema could also serve as mediators between the janissaries and the central administration.

  • Alemdar Incident of 1808

    This is an example of janissary rebellion aided by religion. Although the şeyhülislam didn't support the rebels, two chief judges amongst other exalted ulema joined the rebels by "coming to the Palace of the Agha".

  • Destruction of the janissaries

    It was Mahmud II’s destruction of the janissaries that opened the way for changes in the Empire. Mahmud II’s administration proposed a new military reform program, known as the Eşkinci Lahiyası. They legitimized this new infantry by appealing to the ulema, targeting the Bektashi Order, and by getting a fatwa from the Şeyhülislam.