Volume 1

A full and just account of the present state of the Ottoman Empire in all its brances: with the government, and policy, religion, customs, and way of living of the Turks, in general ... from a serious observations, taken in many years travels thro' those countries / By Aaron Hill.

  • Aaron Hill
Date:
1709
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A full and just account of the present state of the Ottoman Empire in all its brances: with the government, and policy, religion, customs, and way of living of the Turks, in general ... from a serious observations, taken in many years travels thro' those countries / By Aaron Hill. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    w -TUP Tnfl-itminn of this famous and formidable Militia, was Founded Care To i„p- Originahyon the fureft Pillars of a deep but barbarous Policy for Officers f]y 'hehES‘were continually difpatch’d to make triennial Scitures ot the Chnftun ‘ Children, Inhabiting the Countries unhappily fallen under the galling Yoke of Tuikijb Slavery: Thefe miferable Wretches thus violently ra- vifh’d from their forrowful Parents, were diftnbuted in Parties over all the Pmnire till they reach’d the Age of Sixteen Years, at which time, com- fjeativ verfed in the Knowledge of the Terkijb Language and Religion, rhev were feverallv difpofed ot, in the many Seraglio's belonging to the Grind Senior, where for the fpace of Five or Seven Years, they were m- ur’d to Hard Flips by the laborious Practice of continual Drudgeries, luch as cleavinCT Wood, bearing Burthens, working in Gardens, and every o- ther toilfome Exercife ; till having learn’d the Art of Patience, and lub- miffive Refignation to the Will of their Superiors, they were inftrudted diligently in the Art of War; and as the Death of other Janizaries afforded Vacancy* fucceeded gradually to their Polls and Privileges, where Pra- &ifin°- with an emulative Courage, the Dictates of their Education, they give a fatal Proof how much the prefent Ties of Life exceed the Bands ot weaker Nature ; for not retaining the minuted: Notion ot their Parents or their Country, they bend entirely the Endeavours ot their Arms for the whil’d Promotion of their Sultan's Intereft ; and have in former Ages, by the Excellence of their Difcipline and Greatnefs of their Courage, been Chief Supporters of the Turkifi Glory ; and by the Jud: Rewards their Va¬ lour won, diftinguifh’d Honourably as the Flower of that Empire. The prefent BUT far below the ancient Spirit of this Martial Order is the grovel- negleft of that Genius of the Modern Janizaries, who tailing largely of the Sweets ol Power in the black Succeffes of their bold Refentments, grew madly Info- former info, lent, and fo familiar with Rebellion, that having dy’d their Weapons in lence* the cruiltlefs Blood of many Sultans, they became fo terrible to iucceeding Emperors, that they'have long endeavour’d by the fubtle Force of undii- cover’d Policies, to Raife fome Milder Order on the Ruin of the Former ; leaft like unhappy Rome's Pretorian Cohorts, the rough Efie£ts of their au- dacious Violence fhould one Day Ruin that declining Empire, whofe Defence alone was the true Defign of their Original Inftitution. Their Kum. THEIR Number was at firft confin’d to Seven Thoufand, but is ber and Pri- now improv’d to more than Forty Thoufand lawfully Enroll’d ; befidesvaft vileges. Numbers who, by the winning Virtue of an annual Pieient, to the Officers of this Order, become Poffelfors of thofe innumerable Privileges, which exempt the Janizaries from Taxes, Profecutions, or any other lies of Ju- ftice, fo that being own’d on all Occafions by the Mufter Mafters of that Militia, they ftand fecure above the Law, and practice Villanies by the favourable Connivance of an uncontroul’d Authority. rheir Wav of T H E R E are now One Hundred Sixty Two Chambers or large Buil- Living. dings call’d Odaes at Confiantinople, for the Lodging of the Janizaries, but none in any other Part of the Empire, becaule the Sultan's having eveL look’d upon this Order, as the Safety and Support of their Authority, took care to have them always near their Perfons, a Defign well laid, but fatal in its Confequences. Over every Chamber is an Officer appointed, undei the Title of Oda Bajhaiv, or InfpeBer of the Chamber. The Creation ol a Janizary is a peculiar Prerogative of this advantageous Office, and the man¬ ner wherein it is perform’d deferves Remark. a • • : j The manner WHEN the Perfons to be Chofen have gradually proceeded thro’ the ot.their Cre- tedious Courfe of tlheir probationary Labours, they are Summon’d in their Aden. Places, to a Perfonaf Appearance before the Mufter Mailer of that Order,