Abolition of the Janissary Corps

The Janissary Corps, once a formidable military force within the Ottoman Empire, was officially abolished by Sultan Mahmud II. This decision marked a pivotal shift in the military structure of the empire, leading to the establishment of a modernized army known as the Nizam-ı Cedid, or New Order. The Janissaries had been an elite infantry unit, originally formed from Christian boys taken through the devshirme system, who were converted to Islam and trained as soldiers. Over time, however, the corps became increasingly resistant to reform and modernization, which contributed to its decline. The abolition was not merely a military restructuring; it was part of a broader effort to modernize the Ottoman state in response to internal challenges and external pressures from European powers. The Janissaries had become a political force, often intervening in state affairs, which made their existence a threat to the sultan's authority.