JANIZARIES, an order of infantry in the Turkish armies; reputed the grand feignior's foot-guards. Vossius derives the word from genizere, which in the Turkish language signifies new homines or militis. D'Herbelot tells us, that jenicheri signifies a new band, or troop; and that the name was first given by Annath
Janizaries,
Janſen.
Janizaries, rath I. called the Conqueror, who choſing out one-fifth part of the Chriſtian priſoners whom he had taken from the Greeks, and inſtructing them in the diſcipline of war and the doctrines of their religion, ſent them to Hagi Bektaſche (a perſon whoſe pretended piety rendered him extremely revered among the Turks), to the end that he might conſer his bleſſing on them, and at the ſame time give them ſome mark to diſtinguiſh them from the reſt of the troops.—Bektaſche, after bleſſing them in his manner, cut off one of the ſleeves of the fur-gown which he had on, and put it on the head of the leader of this new militia; from which time, viz. the year of Chriſt 1361, they have ſtill retained the name jenicherri, and the fur-cap.
As, in the Turkiſh army, the European troops are diſtinguiſhed from thoſe of Aſia; the janizaries are alſo diſtinguiſhed into janizaries of Conſtantinople, and of Damaſcus. Their pay is from two aſpers to twelve per diem; for when they have a child, or do any ſignal piece of ſervice, their pay is augmented.—Their drefſ conſiſts of a dolyman, or long gown, with thoſt ſleeves, which is given them annually by the grand ſeignior on the firſt day of Ramazan. They wear no turbeau; but, in lieu of that, a kind of cap, which they call zarcola, and a long hood of the ſame ſtuff hanging on their ſhoulders. On ſolemn days they are adorned with feathers, which are ſlued in a little caſe on the fore part of the bonnet.—Their arms, in Europe, in time of war, are a fabre, a carabine or muſket, and a cartouch-box hanging on the left ſide. At Conſtantinople, in time of peace, they wear only a long ſtaff in their hand. In Aſia, where powder and fire-arms are more uncommon, they wear a bow and arrows, with a poignard, which they call haniare.—Though the janizaries are not prohibited marriage, yet they rarely marry, nor then but with the conſent of their officers; as imagining a married man to make a worſe ſoldier than a bachelor.—It was Oſman, or Ottoman, or, as others will have it, Amurath, who firſt inſtituted the order of janizaries. They were at firſt called jaja, that is, footmen, to diſtinguiſh them from the other Turks, the troops whereof conſiſted moſtly of cavalry. The number of janizaries is generally above 40,000; divided into 162 companies or chambers called adas, in which they live together at Conſtantinople as in a convent. They are of a ſuperior rank to all other ſoldiers, and are alſo more arrogant and factious, and it is by them that the public tranquillity is moſtly diſturbed. The government may therefore be ſaid to be in the hands of the janizaries. They have, however, ſome good qualities: they are employed to escort travellers, and eſpecially ambafſadors and perſons of high rank, on the road; in which caſe they behave with the utmoſt zeal and fidelity.