Devshirme Sistem and Enderûn Mektebi in the Ottoman Empire

Abstract

There is a need to understand the Devshirme system in order to understand the early development of the Ottoman Empire. The present study first examined the Pencik system before the Devshirme system, which later came into effect during the reign of Mehmed I to supplement the Penjik system. The research was conducted based on the Devshirme law and several historical materials. Mehmed II organized Enderûn Mektebi to educate Devshime children, providing systematic education. The study examined some of Enderûn Mektebi including Hazırlık Saray, Büyük, Küçük Oda, Seferli Koğuşu, Kiler Koğuşu, Hazine Oda, and Has Oda. The Ottoman Empire cultivated elite government officials and soldiers through the Devshirme system. Some have negative opinions about the Devshirme system, arguing that the draft targeted non-Turk, Christian families and forced them to believe Islamism. The study looked into the legal issues of Devshirme system in relation to their arguments. The Ottoman Empire accepted non-Turk, Christians living in its territory as its members through the Devshirme system, creating a single identity of “Ottoman people” for them. In addition, the empire made use of Devshirme-turned government officials to organize padişah and bring up loyal government officials and soldiers, building a centralized state around padişah. These findings put an emphasis on the Devshirme sistemi to understand the history of Ottoman Empire.