Who were janissaries? Why were they an elite? Why did they decline and what was their end? Answering such questions, this book begins by exploring the origins o... » 

Who were janissaries? Why were they an elite? Why did they decline and what was their end? Answering such questions, this book begins by exploring the origins of the janissary corps, with a selection of youths from Christian families in the Balkans. It then introduces the pillars of the Ottoman state which these recruits were to serve. «