In the notes of historians, describing the Ottoman Empire, often referred to "the army in the army" - special troops, reports directly to the sultan.Who are the Janissaries, as the troops formed a view, you can see from this article.
Patrimony
Janissaries known since the mid-14th century, when the power of the Sultan Murad I organized the Turkish elite infantry units.The meaning of "janissaries" - "new army" (in Turkish).At first they were formed from the ranks of the prisoners of Christian teenagers and young men.Despite the strict and sometimes fanatical Turkish education, the future soldiers left Christian names.Janissaries were raised separately from the other children, instilling in combat skills and a fanatical loyalty to the Sultan.In the 16th century the Janissaries could become young men of Turkish origin.Of applicants selected the strongest, toughest and agile young people from 8 to 12 let.Izbrannye lived in barracks, their training was held in very harsh conditions.The men were divided into companies, ate from a common pot, and called friends of the Order of Dervishes.They were forbidden to marry, their family was native company (Horta), which is considered a symbol of the boiler.
about who the Janissaries, said the best-known historian of the 19th century, TNGranovsky.In his works, he mentions that the Turkish sultan had the most effective infantry in the world, but part of it was pretty strange, "Janissaries won all the great battle at Varna, while Kosovo ..." It is thanks to their courage and valor was taken to Constantinople.Thus, the Turkish ruler conquered new territories and consolidated its power thanks to the soldiers, who had Christian origin.
best of the best
Janissaries were granted a number of privileges.Since the 16th century, they had the right to start a family, engage in a variety of crafts and trade in non-military time.Particularly distinguished soldiers were awarded personally by the Sultan.Among the gifts were jewelery, weapons and generous salaries.Commanders Janissary mouth for many years occupied the highest military and civilian positions in the Turkish Empire.Ocak Janissary garrisons, located not only in Istanbul but also in all major cities of the Turkish state.By the mid-16th century, the Janissaries stop taking strangers into their ranks.Their title is inherited.A Janissary Guard becomes a closed social and political caste.This internal sufficiently independent force was involved in political intrigues, erected, and overthrows the sultans and played a huge role in the internal politics of the country.
form Janissaries
about who the Janissaries, and what is their place among other Turkish troops, evidenced by the high hats, decorated with a large copper front buckle - ketch.On each side of a cap sewn wooden sticks, which gave her a stable position.Behind this headdress cloth hung long Shlyk, reaching belt fighter.Long sleeve Shlyk symbolized the chief dervish, a blessing which were the Janissaries.Color cap matches the color of the coat (Zupan), who wore a warrior.
janissary Outerwear consisted of a long warm coat, called Kerey.Initially set the color Kurei was not, but by the early 18th century cloak janissary in most cases had a red color.Under Kerey he was put on a cloth coat, usually white, with long, wide sleeves.On the sides Zupan had long slits that allowed the Janissaries to move freely in the battle.And at the bottom of the garment was embroidered with cords that have the same color as the Kerey.The caftan decorated sash for saber and a wide leather belt.
under color Kurei were trousers - long and wide.Typically, they cover the upper part of the boot to half.
Many elements of the Turkish military clothing and adopted the Cossacks.Following the example of the Janissaries in their bright costumes appear zhupans and trousers.The similarity is manifested in appearance.Cossacks and Janissaries did not wear a beard, but the mustache grow long.It is difficult to say how such borrowing occurred, but that it took place - can not be questioned.
officers Janissaries
officers were almost the same shape as the rest of the Janissaries.Instead of hats they wore with Shlyk high, over which ties a turban, usually white.Sometimes hat wound belt, a makeshift turban adorned the front is usually a jewel - a brooch or ring with a stone.Instead, the officers wore a leather belt embroidered velvet belt or scarf rich Persian.
Weapons Janissaries
Originally Ports Janissaries were archers, so the first weapon was the bow of the Turkish guards.Unlike weapons of ordinary soldiers, onions janissary was complex, with a huge range of shooting.Gradually bows replaced guns.By the mid-15th century in the arsenal of janissaries were a dagger, ax and a scimitar.The fact that such a saber janissaries and how she was a formidable weapon, can be seen in the preserved museum pieces.
Scimitar was a long (70 cm) knife, curved horns of a bull.Unlike saber blade Scimitar was not from the outside and the inside.Handle it took the form of the tibia.The weapon was so terrible that the right to wear a scimitar had only Janissaries.Moreover, in the 17th century they were forbidden to go outside their unit vectors with the knife.Scimitar as other weapons were captured or premium.If at the beginning of the war fighter orts were not personal weapons, he issued his commanders.
Janissaries Slavs
about who the Turkish Janissaries, and the effectiveness of the military forces was widely known.Not surprisingly, these units have tried to create other states.However, in all but appearance and purpose, the janissaries in the army of the Commonwealth markedly different 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 Augustus II was carried out military reform.Temporary armies gave way to the regular army, composed of infantry which had two Janissary company (banners).They played the role of the Guard - consisted hetman and used them for individual orders and as a bodyguard.
Military bands
Banners and had their own bands and their music.Such Janissary bands called chapels.The main difference between this chapel was a drum - two times more than in other orchestras infantry regiments.The chapel was attended by six or more musicians, otherwise called Surmach.Contemporaries describe Janissary music as "barbaric" and "terrible."
End Janissaries Janissaries
Belarusian ceased to exist after the defeat of Stanislas Radziwill.After a series of military defeats, he retreated abroad.And his private army has been disbanded, and was demobilized and Janissary squad.
more tragic fate awaited their Turkish counterparts.In the Ottoman Empire, everyone knew who the Janissaries.Unlike the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, these soldiers did not belong to the Sultan's personal guard, and existed as a closed military caste, until 1826.Then the Turkish Sultan Mahmud II was issued for the destruction of the Janissaries.Since the chance of winning an open battle experienced soldiers were insignificant, the Sultan went to the trick.More than 30 thousand. Man trapped at the Hippodrome and shot cannon shot.Thus ended the era of the Janissaries, and gone for their martial art.
