Osmanlı Devletinde Devşirme Sistemi (Devshirme System in the Ottoman State)

When the Ottoman State was established, it was the state of veterans and gentlemen. As its borders expanded, it became necessary to have a central and strong army establishment. After a short while, the Janissary House was established in accordance with the Ottoman conquest policy. The Janissaries, who formed the most distinguished union of the Ottoman Empire, expanded the borders of the state by combining their disciplines with their warrior skills. The Janissaries have become a problem with their institutional structure and cultural practices since the 17th century. The losing of the discipline that formed the basis of the success of the Janissaries, the weakening of obedience to the Sultan and his commanders, the deterioration of the merit of warriors, and their inadequacy in times of war, has become a threat to the existence of another state. The Ottoman state cannot be considered separately from the janissaries. Janissaries have been on the stage of history as an organization that has shaken Europe for centuries with their benefits and harms. The purpose of this article is to explain the phases of the Janissaries, the heart of the Ottoman army, from its foundation to its dissolution, from the 13th century to the 19th century, their cultural practices and their reflections on social life and their effects on today.