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 Balkans, 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 began during the rule of Sultan Bayazit I and grew from an earlier practice of taking prisoners from war. The Ottoman leaders wanted soldiers who would be loyal only to them, so they took children from Christian families in the Balkans. These children were raised as Muslims and trained for important jobs.

When these children grew older, they could join the army, work in the palace, or take other important positions. This helped the sultans control their government better, because these leaders had less power from noble families. The devshirme happened every few years, especially during times when the Ottoman Empire was growing most quickly.

The life of the devshirme

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

Parents were very unhappy about their children being taken. Some tried to hide their children, while others asked for help from leaders and other countries. The children were taken to Istanbul, where they were made to follow new customs and beliefs. They were trained to serve in the army or as helpers 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 believed the practice of devshirme went against Islamic law. They thought it broke the protections that were meant for certain groups under this law. The boys were taken and made to follow Islam, which some saw as wrong.

Other historians thought the Ottoman rulers did not always follow Islamic law strictly. They believed the ruler's decisions were more important than the religious laws in many cases. Some even found clever ways to explain why taking these boys was allowed, though not all agreed with these ideas.

Ethnicity of the devshirme and exemptions

The practice of collecting children for service in the Ottoman Empire happened every four or five 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 aimed to prepare the most capable children for important leadership roles, either as military leaders or high administrators for the government. Though similar to other palace schools from earlier times, the Palace School was special because of who could attend and how students were chosen. Boys were taken from Christian families in the empire's Balkan regions and were introduced to the religion of Islam. Certain groups, like Jews, Roma, and Muslims, were not included in this selection.

Special scouts traveled through the Balkans to find boys who showed promise in learning, personality, and health. These boys had to come from families with strong values and could not already speak Turkish or know a trade. The best age for a new student was between 10 and 20 years old. The chosen boys were dressed in red to help prevent escape and were taken to Constantinople. There, some were sent to palace schools, while others worked on farms until they were old enough for military training. The most promising students received further education to become respected military officers and administrators.

Eunuchs

Some boys taken in the devshirme system became white eunuchs. These boys were castrated at the palace, unlike other eunuchs who were castrated before they arrived. Many eunuchs from the devshirme went on to hold important jobs in the government and military. Several even became grand vizier, the top leader after the sultan. Others served as important admirals and generals in the Ottoman forces.

Decline

The devshirme system began to weaken because the army needed to grow larger. New types of weapons made older fighting styles less important, so the leaders decided to change how they chose soldiers. By the late 1600s, they were using 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 set a goal to find new soldiers from the Balkans. But fewer and fewer young people joined each year. The system was finally 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.