Janissary and Samurai: early modern warrior classes and religion

Abstract

In 1826, a longheld Ottoman military institution, the Hearth of Janissaries was abolished, many of the janissaries were killed others were persecuted. Bektashi Order was also affected by this incident called “Vaka-i Hayriyye” because it was the official order of the Hearth. This thesis is an attempt to clarify the content of the relationship between the Bektashi Order and the Janissary Corps. In my study, I attempt to shed a light on the mental frameworks, attitudes and motivations of the Janissaries as an early modern age warrior class. My focus is the janissary brethren, Yol (The Path) and the role played by Bektashism in shaping the identities of individual janissaries as Yoldaş (comrade) through education, promotion, training, worldview and traditions of the Hearth. A comparison with the Japanese samurai reveals some striking similarities as well as differences between these two warrior classes in the early modern ages. An amalgam of Buddhism and Shintoism, particularly Zen and the God of War, Hachiman had played a similar role to Bektashism in shaping the identity and worldview of the Samurai.