1/n Do you know what Janissaries are?
They were the main reason for the fall of Constantinople. They were elite forces of #Ottoman Empire comprised of young Christian boys which were captured by #Turkish Army from Christian states.
#HagiaSophia
They were the main reason for the fall of Constantinople. They were elite forces of #Ottoman Empire comprised of young Christian boys which were captured by #Turkish Army from Christian states.
#HagiaSophia
2/n This means Islamic #Sultan destroyed Christians rule and ended the #Byzantine Empire which lasted nearly 1,500 years by the help of Christian boys.
They were the same forces which conquered and turned the #HagiaSophia into a mosque.
They were the same forces which conquered and turned the #HagiaSophia into a mosque.
3/n The Janissaries were elite fighters that formed the Ottoman Sultan's household troops, personal bodyguards and the first modern standing army in Europe. The number grew from 20,000 in 1575, to 49,000 (1591), dropped to a low of 17,000 (1648), then rebounded to 135,000 in 1826
4/n During Turkish raids, Turkish warriors kidnapped young Christian boys and offered to the sultan. Sultan converted those young boys into Islam and latter with training these boys became the elite Janissaries.
web.archive.org/web/2018120314…
web.archive.org/web/2018120314…
5/n They were not allowed to marry, or to father children. Their life was dedicated to constant drilling and exercise. But latter this rule was relaxed.
Sultan Murad I, started a blood tax system known as devşirme, or “gathering,” for Christian land
books.google.co.in/books?id=FbEAA…
Sultan Murad I, started a blood tax system known as devşirme, or “gathering,” for Christian land
books.google.co.in/books?id=FbEAA…
6/n conquered by the #Ottoman Empire.
They trained these boys for over 6 years. During this time they were drilled and trained to use a variety of weapons, including bows, muskets, javelins, and swords.
They trained these boys for over 6 years. During this time they were drilled and trained to use a variety of weapons, including bows, muskets, javelins, and swords.
7/n The Janissaries played a decisive role in the capture of Constantinople in 1453. They defeated Egyptian Mamluks in 1486 and in 1516 and Iranian Safavids in 1514. Also Battle of Mohács, (August 29, 1526), decisive defeat of Hungary, led by King Louis II,
8/n by the Turks of the #Ottoman Empire, led by Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. This victory at Mohacs marked the effective destruction of the Hungarian monarchy and paved the way for Habsburg and Turkish domination in Hungary.
9/n but later they became a burden to the Ottoman Empire. After a defeat against Poland in 1622, Osman II decided to curb Janissary excesses and tried to disband the corps. But, the Janissaries revolted and murdered teenage sultan.
10/n In 1807 Janissaries revolted again and deposed Sultan Selim III, who had tried to modernize the army. His successor Sultan Mahmud II diligently planned the destruction of Janissaries and in 1826 he announced to create a new European style army.
11/n He was aware of the mutiny from them but he planned an attack on the Janissaries Barracks in which 4000 Janissaries were killed and The Elite Janissary Forces met their fate.
Source: Mercenaries: A Guide to Private Armies and Private Military Companies By Alan Axelrod
Source: Mercenaries: A Guide to Private Armies and Private Military Companies By Alan Axelrod
12/n
The same forces which gave #Ottoman Empire its zenith were destroyed by the sultan of the same Islamic Empire.
The same forces which gave #Ottoman Empire its zenith were destroyed by the sultan of the same Islamic Empire.
