Who are the Janissaries? The meaning of the word "Janissary"

In the notes of historians describing the Ottoman Empire, it is quite often mentioned "army in the army" - special troops subordinated directly to the sultan. Who are the Janissaries, how this kind of troops was formed, you can learn from this article.

Excursion to the history

Janissaries are known since the middle of the 14th century, when the units of Turkish elite infantry were organized by the authority of Sultan Murad I. The meaning of the word "janissaries" is "a new army" (in Turkish). At first, their ranks were formed from captive Christian adolescents and young men. Despite strict and sometimes fanatical Turkish upbringing, future soldiers were left with Christian names. The Janissaries were raised separately from other children, instilling combat skills and fanatical fidelity to the Sultan. In the 16th century junipers could become boys of Turkish origin. The candidates were selected from the strongest, hardiest and agile teenagers from 8 to 12 years old. The elected lived in the barracks, their training took place in particularly harsh conditions. The soldiers were divided into companies, ate from a common cauldron and called friends of the order of dervishes. They were forbidden to marry, their family was a native company (orta), the symbol of which was considered a cauldron.

The well-known historian of the 19th century, T.N. Granovsky. In his works it is mentioned that the Turkish sultan possessed the most effective infantry in the world, but its composition was rather strange: "The Janissaries won all the great battles, under Varna, under Kosovo ..." It was thanks to their courage and valor that Constantinople was taken. Thus, the Turkish ruler conquered new territories and strengthened his power thanks to warriors of Christian origin.

The best of the best

The Janissaries were given a number of privileges. Since the 16th century, they had the right to establish a family, engage in various crafts and trade in non-military time. Personally distinguished soldiers were awarded personally by the Sultan. Among the gifts were jewels, weapons and generous salaries. The commanders of the Janissary's mouth occupied for many years the highest military and civil positions of the Turkish empire. The garrisons-ojacs of the Janissaries were located not only in Istanbul, but also in all major cities of the Turkish state. By the middle of the 16th century, the Janissaries ceased to accept strangers in their ranks. Their title is inherited. And the Janissary Guard becomes a closed socio-political caste. This internal, sufficiently independent force participated in political intrigues, erected and overthrew the sultans and played a huge role in the domestic policy of the country.

The shape of the Janissaries

The high caps, decorated with a large copper plaque - keche, testify to who the janissaries are and what their place is among other types of Turkish troops. On the sides of the hat were sewn wooden sticks, which gave it a stable position. Behind this headgear hung a long cloth cloak that reached the waistband of a fighter. The long canine symbolized the sleeve of the main dervish, under the blessing of which were the Janissaries. The color of the hat corresponded to the color of the caftan (zhupan) worn by the warrior.

The outer clothing of the janissary consisted of a long warm cloak called kereya. Initially, the established color of kerei was not, but by the beginning of the 18th century the janissary cloak was in most cases red. Under the kerei was put on a cloth caftan, usually white, with long wide sleeves. On either side zhupan had long incisions allowing the janissary to move freely in battle. And below, this garment was embroidered with cords that were of the same color as kereya. The caftan was decorated with a saber-ligature and a wide leather belt.

Under the color of the kerei were also wide trousers - long and wide. Usually they covered the top of the boot to half.

Many elements of Turkish military clothing were adopted by the Cossacks. Following the example of the Janissaries in their suits appear bright zhupany and wide trousers. Similarity manifests itself in appearance. Cossacks and Janissaries did not wear beards, but they grew a long mustache. It is difficult now to say how this borrowing took place, but that it took place - is beyond doubt.

Officers of the Janissaries

The officers wore almost the same shape as the rest of the Janissaries. Instead of a cap with a slag, they wore a high, on top of which tied a turban, usually white. Sometimes a belt was wound around the hat, an improvised turban in the front was usually decorated with a jewel - a ring or a brooch with a stone. Instead of a leather belt, officers wore a velvet-embroidered belt or a rich Persian scarf.

The weapons of the Janissaries

Initially, the janissary's units were archers, so the first weapon of the Turkish guardsman was a bow. Unlike the arms of ordinary soldiers, the bow of the Janissary was complex, with a huge range of fire. Gradually the bows changed their guns. By the middle of the 15th century, a dagger, a scimitar and an ax were in the arsenal of the Janissary. About what saber janissary and what a formidable weapon it was, you can judge from the surviving museum exhibits.

The Scimitar was a long (up to 70 cm) knife, arched in the form of a bull's horn. Unlike the saber, the blade of the yataghan was not from the outer, but from the inside. His handle looked like a tibia. The weapons were so formidable that only janissaries had the right to wear a scimitar. Moreover, in the 17th century they were forbidden to go beyond their yoke with such a knife. The Scimitar, like other weapons, was a prize or a trophy. If at the beginning of the war the soldier had no personal weapons, the commanders issued it.

Janissaries from the Slavs

About who the Turkish janissaries are, and the effectiveness of these military formations was widely known. Not surprisingly, such units tried to form other states. However, in all except for appearance and purpose, the Janissaries in the army of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth differed markedly from their Turkish namesakes.

In the early 18th century, before the end of the Northern War, as a result of negotiations between the opposition magnates and King August II, military reform was carried out. The temporary troops gave way to parts of the regular army, of which there were two janissary companies (banners) in the infantry. They performed the role of guards - they were under the hetman and used them for individual assignments and as personal protection.

Military Orchestras

The Khorugvi had their own orchestras and their music. Such orchestras were called janissary chapels. The main difference of such a chapel was a drum - twice as much as in the orchestras of other infantry regiments. In the chapel, six or more musicians, otherwise known as surahmaks, participated. Contemporaries describe janissary music as "barbaric" and "terrible."

The end of the Janissaries

Belarusian janissaries ceased to exist after the defeat of Stanislav Radziwill. After a number of military failures, he retired abroad. And his personal army was disbanded, and the Janissary detachment was also demobilized.

More tragic fate awaited their Turkish counterparts. In the Ottoman Empire, everyone knew who the janissaries were. Unlike Rzeczpospolita, these soldiers did not belong to the personal guard of the Sultan, but existed as a closed military caste, until 1826. Then the Turkish sultan Mahmud II issued an order to annihilate the Janissaries. Since in the open battle the chances of defeating experienced warriors were negligible, the sultan went on a trick. More than 30 thousand people were trapped in the Hippodrome and shot with cannon from cannon. Thus ended the era of the Janissaries, and the past of their military art.