The Janizaries
Vendor code: 8050
Scale 1:72
A set of elite soldiers of the Ottoman Empire. The Janizaries (in Ottoman Turkish: yeniceri,
meaning new soldier) originated in 1365. The Janizaries units comprised Christian boys
aged 1216 (Albanians, Serbs, Bulgarians), who were converted to Islam. They were the
slaves of the Sultan and lived in barracks and at first could not marry or engage in any
trade. The proper ty of dead Janizary passed into the regiment ownership. Apart from
the art of war Janizaries mastered calligraphy, law, theology, literature and languages.
Wounded or discharged Janizaries received pensions. The Janizaries were known for
their atrocity and fearlessness in battles against Austrians, Serbs, Byzantines, Russians
and many other nations.