
Episode #253
The Janissary Uprising That Ended an Empire
In 1826, Sultan Mahmud II orchestrated the most dramatic military purge in Ottoman history: the destruction of the Janissary corps. This episode explores the Aşkale Incident and the subsequent massacre at the Asr Meydanı, detailing how a centuries-old elite guard, once the pride of the empire, became its greatest obstacle to modernization. We examine the role of Captain Ömer Bey in smuggling cannons into Istanbul and the brutal efficiency with which Mahmud II dismantled the devshirme system's legacy. The narrative moves beyond simple conquest to reveal the complex political maneuvering that allowed the Sultan to turn public opinion against his former protectors. Listeners will encounter key figures like Mustafa IV and the religious scholars who initially supported the Sultan’s new Nizam-i Cedid army. Through this lens, we understand not just a battle, but the painful birth of a modern Turkish state and the end of an era defined by martial tradition. #Janissaries #MahmudII #OttomanHistory #AşkaleIncident #AsrMeydanı #Nizam-iCedid #devshirme #1826Massacre #OttomanMilitary #IslamicModernization #Capitulations #SublimePorte #TurkishHistory #MiddleEastHistory #MilitaryReform #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #EuropeanHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo


