I became interested about history and organization of the Janissaries between 1350 until late 16th century, but never found any good reference regarding the type of weapons they used in addition to clubs and kilijs. In the pictorial references they are always portrayed wearing good clothes and a big hat, but no armor, how it was possible that a shock-trooper could battle without armor? It is true that they were the first to use arquebusiers on the battlefield after 1440's? They had exclusivity of firearms in the Ottoman army at such a time? They were still recognized as professional archers even in the 16th century?

As far as I know they were originally archers indeed, not really 'shock troopers'.

They were using powerful bows up to the late 16th century, at which point they were indeed generally started shooting firearms instead.

Works of this guy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogier_Ghiselin_de_Busbecq

Contain quite a few descriptions and stories about late 16th century Turkish warriors being still very much afraid and puzzled by the firearms.

His point is that "shock troops" don't necessarily have to be wearing armour. The designations "heavy" and "light" have nothing to do with the gear they are using, but the role they perform in the battle. A naked man with a shield and spear in a phalanx formation is classed as "heavy infantry" while a fully armoured knight in a skirmishing position is classed as "light cavalry".

Sure, but at least he had a shield. But turkish bows isn't much difficult like an English Longbow. seems to be a gap in the reason why train standing armies of christian-slaves since childhood and pay them salaries so high to act as an archer, which was a tradition among the Turks since they moved West. I found these images on Turkish sites, they could have any historical accuracy in the equipment of the Janissaries or would be normal Ottoman warriors?


Turkish soldiers dressed in Ottoman Janissary outfits take part in a ceremony to mark the 556th anniversary of the conquest of the city by Ottoman Turks, in Istanbul May 29, 2009:
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Another:
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Here is a bit from the Turkish Letters mentioned above.

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I admit I don't know as much about this as I should, but I think Janissaries were not completely uniform in their kit or their intended role. Most were archers initially and this shifted to firearms, but there were also apparently some who fought close - in.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons...Sipahi.jpg

I think these guys are the Rumeli type.

Without a doubt the Spiahi were typically heavily armored. There were two 'standardized' types of kit ideally, one for the Anatolian / Middle East zone and one for the Balkans called Rumeli, but again, I doubt uniformity was pristine. According to what I've read they would use both types in the same batle. But clearly some Sipahi armor was quite 'heavy' (I know not really) and well made.

Like this guy
http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/559/ms29c.jpg

I doubt all Sipahi even wore armor necessarily, but generally their role was as the heavy cavalry (not very different from knights) while the more wild Turkish clan / tribesmen took the role of light cavalry and cavalry skirmishers in the typical steppe fashion.

http://media.liveauctiongroup.net/i/15532/155...E321BF0660

One thing I have read about i gather Janissaries was of their using steel shields. Like the one you see hanging from the saddle on the Sipahi. I've read both that these were the inspiration for the steel rotella

Jean

Pieter B., it is true that there were muskets before 1550? I thought they used to carry arquebuses ... When he means that armour (usually plated mail) would went to palace horse-guards. Did they would be a special unit of Sipahis?

Jean Henri Chandler, if I'm correct, Sipahis are ottoman "equals" of the feudal medieval knight: Heavy armoured horsemen with some kind of "fief". I think they usually wore barding horse armour, but I don't know really. They used to rival the Janissaries, mainly because the Janissaries were slaves and Sipahis, aristocrats

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One thing I have read about i gather Janissaries was of their using steel shields. Like the one you see hanging from the saddle on the Sipahi. I've read both that these were the inspiration for the steel rotella

Very very interesting, if you remember the source or get me one other, I would be very grateful.




So, We can assume that the Janissaries used to be elite units of archers, arquebusiers and musketeers who usually did not wear armor and fought primarily for long distance, using maces, daggers and swords in hand-to-hand combat?

I also found those pics:


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I have seen a lot of pics of Janissaires using Bills and hungarian shield. Down bellow, there is another pic of the ceremony which marks the conquest of Constantinople. I now can see the brass/bronze shield which Jean Henri Chandler told:

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Those modern pictures are going to be a bit suspect until we know what group they're from and what their historical authenticity standards are like. Remember that Turkey is currently ruled by Erdogan, who has been frequently (and I think justly) accused of wanting to take Turkey back to the Ottoman era, so there's a reasonable suspicion that such large reenactment events there are going to be more romantic than authentic -- especially since something that big is probably going to rely heavily on government sponsorship and thus be subject to government interference.

To me the regular weapons used by Turkish janissaries were muskets, flintlock pistols and of course, scimitars like this one below. ;)
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