Janissaries

E18858

The Janissaries were an elite infantry corps of the Ottoman Empire, originally composed of enslaved Christian youths, that became one of the most powerful military and political institutions in the empire.

All labels observed (7)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Ottoman institution
elite infantry corps
military unit
allegiance Ottoman sultan
commandTitle Janissary Agha
country Ottoman Empire
culturalAssociation Ottoman military music (mehter)
dissolutionDate 15 June 1826
dissolutionEvent Auspicious Incident
dissolvedBy Mahmud II
endTime 1826
equipment firearms in later period
melee weapons in early period
ethnicComposition primarily Christian-born youths in early period
etymology from Ottoman Turkish meaning "new troops"
garrison Istanbul
headquarters Janissary barracks in Istanbul
historicalReputation conservative force resisting military reforms in later period
elite shock troops in early centuries
inception c. 1363
languageName Turkish: Yeniçeri
linked to: Turkish language
languageOfCommand Ottoman Turkish
legacy model for later standing armies in Europe
militaryBranch infantry
notableBattle Battle of Chaldiran
Battle of Lepanto
Battle of Mohács (1526)
Fall of Constantinople
Siege of Vienna (1529)
notableCommander Aga of the Janissaries
organizationalStructure divided into ortas (companies)
partOf Ottoman army
linked to: Ottoman Army
politicalInfluence ability to depose sultans
involvement in palace coups
privilege pensions
regular salary
special legal status
state uniforms
recruitmentChange increasing recruitment of Muslims in later period
recruitmentSystem devshirme
religion Islam after conversion
role palace guards
personal troops of the sultan
political power-brokers in the Ottoman Empire
standing army of the Ottoman Empire
socialStatus slave-soldiers in origin
startTime 14th century
symbol white felt cap with long flap (börk)
training religious education in Islam
strict discipline and military drill

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (33)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Ottoman Empire militaryUnit Janissaries
Napoleon's Egyptian campaign involved Ottoman land forces
linked to: Janissaries
Sultan of the Ottoman Empire commanderOf Janissary corps
subject linked to: Sultan
linked to: Janissaries
Bayezid I militaryUnitUsed Janissaries
Battle of Abukir (1799) involvedBranch Ottoman Janissaries
linked to: Janissaries
Battle of Petrovaradin involvedForce Ottoman janissaries
linked to: Janissaries
Battle of Zenta involvedUnit Ottoman janissaries
linked to: Janissaries
Ottoman sultan commanded Janissaries
Siege of Constantinople 1422 usedMilitaryForce Ottoman infantry
linked to: Janissaries
Ottoman Army notableUnit Janissaries
Ottoman Army disbandedUnit Janissaries
Ottoman culture hasEliteGroup Janissaries
Auspicious Incident mainSubject Janissary corps
linked to: Janissaries
Auspicious Incident participant Janissary corps
linked to: Janissaries
Aga of the Janissaries headOf Janissary corps
linked to: Janissaries
Aga of the Janissaries commanderOf Janissary corps
linked to: Janissaries
Aga of the Janissaries appliesTo Janissaries
Janissary Agha hasPositionIn Janissary corps
linked to: Janissaries
Janissary Agha commanderOf Janissary corps
linked to: Janissaries
Battle of Kosovo 1389 involvedForce Ottoman Janissaries
linked to: Janissaries
Battle of Chaldiran usedForces Ottoman Janissaries
linked to: Janissaries
Şehzade Mustafa associatedWith Janissaries
Bektashi order associatedWith Janissaries
Battle of Senta involvedUnitType Ottoman janissaries
linked to: Janissaries
Ottoman period militaryInstitution Janissary corps
linked to: Janissaries
Nizam-i Cedid replaced Janissary corps (intended)
linked to: Janissaries
Nizam-i Cedid opposedBy Janissary corps
linked to: Janissaries
Ottoman incursions hasParticipant Janissaries
Devshirme system associatedWith Janissary corps
subject linked to: devshirme system
linked to: Janissaries