The Janissaries

Ottoman Janissary Corps XVII C - Elite corps of the Ottoman Empire's army from the late 14th to the early 19th century. Its original soldiers were prisoners of war, but a system soon was developed (the devsirme) wherein Christian youths were levied from Balkan vassals, converted to Islam, and—though paid a regular salary—inducted into the ranks of the sultan's slaves. They were, for the most part, infantry troops conscripted to replace the often-unreliable Turkish tribal cavalry (spahi). Strict early rules of behaviour, including celibacy, were later abandoned, and the Janissaries became active in court politics. In 1826 they rebelled rather than accept the reform of the army along European lines. The revolt was violently put down, and most of the Janissaries were killed.