The Maturation of the Devşirme System: The Ottoman "Meritocracy" Model

1500 CE · Osmanlı Devleti · political

The devşirme (child levy) system reached full maturity in the sixteenth century: Christian boys taken from the Balkans and Anatolia were given an education in Islam and in Turkish and became both Janissary officers and palace bureaucrats.

The great majority of grand viziers, viziers and pashas emerged from this system, while ethnic Turks remained a minority in the higher bureaucracy. A distinctive system of power recalled with criticism and admiration alike.

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Frequently asked questions

What was The Maturation of the Devşirme System: The Ottoman "Meritocracy" Model?
The devşirme (child levy) system reached full maturity in the sixteenth century: Christian boys taken from the Balkans and Anatolia were given an education in Islam and in Turkish and became both Janissary officers and palace bureaucrats.
When did The Maturation of the Devşirme System: The Ottoman "Meritocracy" Model happen?
1500 CE
Where did The Maturation of the Devşirme System: The Ottoman "Meritocracy" Model take place?
Osmanlı Devleti