The abolition of the Janissary army and its reflections

Abstract

This study alms to find, within a descriptive and analytical framework, academically relevant answers to the questions, why and how the main military corps of the Ottoman Empire was destroyed, and what were its effects. Relying mainly on selected archival documents and primary sources, first the historiographic analysis of the term corruption and the transformation of the Janissaries are studied. Analysing briefly the previous reform attempts, the thesis then deals with the planning and the preparatory process of the abolition and the path towards it. Since Mahmud II's attempt at reform was promulgated as the Eşkinci reform, the thesis evaluates the Eşkinci Project. The final rebellion of the Janissaries and subsequently, the course of events during and immediately after the abolition are examined in detail. The abolition of quasi-Janissary groups and the reorganization of loyal units is another theme since the reform movement was not only restricted to the Janissaries. Immediately after the abolition, the complementary reforms were imposed, including "the prohibition of the Bektashi Order", which is covered, as well. Another aspect of this study is a comprehensive analysis of provincial responses to the abolition of the Janissary corps. Findings in archival documents, and primary sources indicate that the abolition of the Janissary army was the culmination of an extended plan and preparation. It was the first step of a more comprehensive centralization policy, and became a turning point in the history of Ottoman Empire since the government succeeded in substituting a more centralized military force for the decentralized Janissary corps.