Muslims in Europe: - International Institute - University of Michigan

Transition: Turkish Army, 1846 Engraver: Winkles
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Top: Troops of the older Turkish military system, Bottom: Modern Turkish army
From the original description (numbers in () correspond to figures in the above image):
The organization at that time was like the Roman, with Decurions, Centurions, and chiefs of a
thousand, and besides these, Jaga or Piade, footmen, the Jeni Tscheri (new troops, Janissaries)
were created, who were to consist entirely of Christian children who had been forcibly converted
to Islamism. These formed afterwards the flower of the army. The Piades were disbanded, and
received land in fee, with the obligation to keep the military roads in order in time of war; they
were therefore pioneers, and their name, with their office, has passed into European warfare.
The irregular troops were called Asal (light), and the cavalry of the same Akindschi (runners on
horses), and formed predatory, skirmishing, and foraging parties. The Jeni Tscheri (Janissaries;
(1) shows an officer; and (2) a private) formed four bodies, after the manner of the banner guard
which the Caliph Omar established for the protection of the holy standard (3), and which
consisted of 2,400 men.
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