JANISSARIES

Members of a military unit in the Ottoman Empire, founded at the time of sultan Orhan  (1326-1359). Its members were gathered by means of a “blood tax” – devshirme, introduced by the Empire for Christian population. According to the tax, boys of 5 to 10 years old were regularly taken to Tsarigrad and Odrin and converted to Mohammedanism. The healthiest of them were enrolled into janissaries. Janissaries lived in special hostels in Empire’s capital and were subjected to special military training. They used to be brought up in exclusive Mohammedanian fanaticism and were a solid support of the sultan power. Took part in all the wars of the Ottoman Empire.