ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Janissaries

Janissaries were soldiers in the Ottoman Empire, which was a big empire a long time ago. The Ottoman Empire was ruled by Muslim leaders who were called sultans. They made the janissaries by taking young boys from Christian families living in different parts of their empire. These boys were usually 7 to 10 years old and were taken from their families by force.

Once the boys were taken, they were separated from their families and were trained to become soldiers or warriors. They were taught how to fight and defend the Ottoman Empire. The boy's families could never see them again and they were not allowed to go back home. This was very sad for the families, but it was a way for the sultans to make sure that they had very loyal soldiers who would always defend the empire.

The janissaries were very important soldiers in the Ottoman Empire. They were known for their bravery and loyalty to their leaders. The janissaries wore special uniforms and had their own special ways of doing things. They were so important that they were even given a lot of power. They could become very important people in the Ottoman Empire, and some of them even became rulers of different regions.

The janissaries were powerful and important for a long time, but eventually things changed. People started to feel like the way the janissaries were made was not right. They thought that it was not fair to take young boys from their families by force. So, the sultans stopped making the janissaries and started recruiting soldiers in different ways.

Even though the days of the janissaries are long gone, they are still remembered as an important part of the Ottoman Empire's history.