The political and socio-economic roles of janissaries in first half of the XVIIIth century: The case of Istanbul

In this study, in addition to revealing the present stuation of the janissary corps in the Ottoman military power, its role in social and political life has been examined through the case of Istanbul in the first half of the XVIIIth century. The janissary corps which continued its presence in the Ottoman military force for nearly five hundred years. The Janissary corps changed because of internal and external reasons, Since the end of the XVIth century, which has made the institution lose its former military power and become an institution with economical and political power rather than being a military organization. For that reason in this study, the Janissary corps has been dealt with in a structure that integrates with civic life in various artisan branches and commercial life, unlike the historical writing which shows it as a military institution. Various archival documents and studies made up to this time have been used to reveal the change in the economic power of the janissaries who participated in urban life. It reveals the relations of the janissaries to civil life, the solidarity and credit associations that arise due to the economic power of the janissary corps and the accumulation of capital that provides this power. Moreover, their influence on the economic order of the city was determined by their participation in various tradesmen groups. Especially, as the influence of the janissaries in the rebellions that took place in the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries, became a threat to central government, one part of the study also revealed the influence and power of the janissaries in the rebellions in this period. Keywords: Istanbul, Janissary Corps, XVIIIth century, Ottoman society, artisans, rebellion.