Devshirme

The Devshirme was a practice used by the Ottoman Empire to build a loyal group of soldiers and leaders. It began in the 1400s and involved taking Christian boys, usually between the ages of 7 and 20, from places like Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, and Southeastern Europe. These boys were taken from their families and brought to Istanbul. There, they were taught the Islamic religion, trained in many skills, and prepared to serve the sultan.

Many of these boys grew up to hold important jobs in the empire. Some became grand viziers, which was the second most powerful job after the sultan himself. Others became leaders in the army, governors of places far away, or important advisors. The system helped the sultan control powerful Turkish families who sometimes disagreed with him. Even though it was hard for the families who lost their children, the boys often received good education and could move up in rank based on their abilities.

Over time, the practice of Devshirme slowly stopped. By the mid-1600s, Ottoman leaders began to prefer using their own people for important jobs instead of taking boys from Christian families. The system was officially ended in the early days of Ahmet III's rule.

History

The devshirme was a system used by the Ottoman Empire to build a special group of soldiers and leaders. It started when Sultan Bayazit I ruled and came from an older practice of taking prisoners from war. The Ottoman leaders took children from Christian families in the Balkans. They wanted soldiers who would be loyal only to them.

These children were raised as Muslims and trained for important jobs. When they grew older, they could join the army, work in the palace, or take other important positions. This helped the sultans control their government better. The devshirme happened every few years, especially when the Ottoman Empire was growing fast.

The life of the devshirme

Christian children were taken by Ottoman officials every few years. They were aged between 7 and 20 and came from families in the Balkans. They had to leave everything behind and cut all ties with their families.

Parents were very unhappy about this. Some tried to hide their children, while others asked for help from leaders and other countries. The children were taken to Istanbul. There, they were made to follow new customs and beliefs. They were trained to serve in the army or in important jobs. Life was very hard for them, with strict rules and little rest. Despite this, some managed to keep parts of their old beliefs and memories alive in secret.

Status under Islamic law

Some scholars thought the devshirme practice went against Islamic law. They felt it broke the rules meant to protect certain groups. The boys were taken and made to follow Islam, which some saw as unfair.

Other historians believed the Ottoman rulers did not always follow Islamic law closely. They thought the ruler's choices were more important than the religious laws. Some found ways to explain why taking these boys might be allowed, but not everyone agreed.

Ethnicity of the devshirme and exemptions

The practice of collecting children for service in the Ottoman Empire happened every few years in rural areas of Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe, and Anatolia. Most of these children came from Christian families, though there were a few exceptions. Certain groups, like children from major cities or local craftsmen in small towns, were not taken because it would affect the economy.

Boys from places like Greece, Albania, Bosnia, and Bulgaria were often chosen. Jews were not required to take part in this service. It is believed that Armenians were also not usually taken, though some records show they might have been included.

Well-known leaders in the Ottoman Empire, such as Skanderbeg, Sinan Pasha, and Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, began their lives through this system.

Unifying factor

The mix of people from different backgrounds in important roles helped bring together the many groups in the Ottoman Empire. Even though the ruler was Turkish, leaders came from many places, such as Albanian, Bulgarian, and Greek families. This diversity helped prevent powerful families from taking control and kept everyone united under one rule.

Devshirme in the Ottoman Palace School

The Palace School trained the best boys for important jobs, like leading the army or running the government. Boys came from Christian families in the Balkans. They were taught the religion of Islam. Some groups, like Jews, Roma, and Muslims, were not chosen.

Special scouts traveled to find boys who were good learners and healthy. These boys had to be from good families and not already know Turkish or a trade. The best age was between 10 and 20 years old. The chosen boys wore red clothes and were taken to Constantinople. Some went to palace schools, and others worked on farms. The best students learned more to become important leaders and officers.

Eunuchs

Some boys taken in the devshirme system became white eunuchs. They were given important jobs in the government and military. Some even became grand vizier, the top leader after the sultan. Others served as admirals and generals in the Ottoman forces.

Decline

The devshirme system started to weaken because the army needed to grow bigger. New weapons made old fighting styles less useful, so leaders changed how they chose soldiers. By the late 1600s, they used easier ways to pick new soldiers, letting people from many backgrounds join.

In 1632, some soldiers tried to take control but failed. Later, in 1666, leaders wanted to find new soldiers from the Balkans. But fewer and fewer young people joined each year. The system stopped during the rule of Ahmet III in the early 1700s.

When a new leader, Selim III, tried to change the army in 1798, some soldiers disagreed and caused trouble. His successor, Mahmud II, made a new army in 1826. This led to a big fight, and many of the old soldiers were removed.