Figure 1.--We have found a Ottoman minature (1588) showing a much more orderly processthan tyhatb shown in later Chhristian paintings. We see two Ottoman officials and their assistant registering Christian boys for the devshirme. The boys all look very young and are dressed in red and ready to go. The official collects a tax to pay for the boys new red outfits and the cost of transporting them to Istambul. They seem tyo have bags of belonings. The assistant diligently records their village, district and province, parentage, date of birth and physical appearance. It all looks very orderly with the parents sending their sons off. Click on the image to see how more moddern Christians depict the process.

Christian children were taken from their parents in periodic 'child gatherings' called devsirm. Other translations are 'child levy' or 'blood tax'. It was called a tax. Ottoman authorities took Christian boys from their parents to work as slaves. This is misleading. Legally they were slaves to the sultan, but they wre very well compensated. Quite a few became wealthy meaning that selections usually increased their life prospects. Most Christian families resented this imposition and losing their sons. Really poor families might actually want their sons be recruited because of the financial prospects. The Sultan every 3-5 five years, would send special 'scouts' to seek suitable boys who could be drafted. They chose healthy, strong and handsome boys and youths. The boys selected were called Devshirme ('draftees') or Acemioðlanlar ('freshmen'). Muslims were not permitted in the system with very few exceptions). Five these opportunities offered, some Muslim families attempted to enter their sons in the system. 【Savory】 Paintings from Chistian artists show heart-renmching scenes of the boys being torn away from their families, paintings done in the 19th century, not at the actual time. We have found a Ottoman minature showing a much more orderly process (1588). We see an Ottoman official and his assistant registering Christian boys for the devshirme. The boys all look very young and are dressed in red and ready to go. The official collects a tax to pay for the boys new red outfits and the cost of transporting them to Istambul. The assistant diligently records their village, district and province, parentage, date of birth and physical appearance. It all looks very orderly with the parents sending their sons off.

Sources

Savory, R.M., ed. (1976). Introduction ṭo Islamic Civilization. ( Cambridge: Cambridge University Pres, 1976).

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Created: 2:49 PM 12/21/2023
Last updated: 2:49 PM 12/21/2023