Auspicious Incident

The Auspicious Incident (or Event) (Turkish: (in Istanbul) Vaka-i Hayriye "Fortunate Event"; (in the Balkans) Vaka-i Şerriyye, "Unfortunate Incident") was the forced disbandment of the centuries-old Janissary corps by Sultan Mahmud II on 15 June 1826. Most of the 135,000 Janissaries revolted against Mahmud II, and after the rebellion was suppressed, its leaders killed, and many members exiled or imprisoned, the Janissary corps was disbanded and replaced with a more modern military force.

The Janissaries were first created by the Ottoman Sultans who employed captured prisoners as mercenary troops. The Janissary corps eventually consisted of conscripted young Christian boys who were given a strict military education. During the 15th and 16th centuries they were recognized as the best trained and most effective military unit in Europe. They became known for their discipline, morale and professionalism. They were paid regularly and were expected to be ready to enter in battle at any time. Since the early 17th century the Janissary corps had ceased to function as an elite military force, and had become a privileged hereditary class. They became a separate class who were exempted from paying taxes, which made them highly unfavorable in the eyes of the rest of the population. Many Janissaries were not soldiers, but still collected pay from the Turkish state as dictated by the corps. The corps held an effective veto over the government, contributing to the steady decline of the Ottoman Empire. Any sultan who tried to diminish the status or power of the Janissaries was immediately either killed or deposed. As opportunities and power continued to rise within this military unit, Turks began enrolling their own children which then ultimately replaced the original intention of the janissaries of recruiting Christian boys from Christian families. As corruption continued, the Janissary corps began to undermine the Ottoman Empire. Over time it became clear that for the Ottoman Empire to be a major power of Europe, it needed to replace the Janissary corps with a modern army. The number of Janissaries grew from 20,000 in 1575 to 49,000 (1591) and 135,000 in 1826.

When Mahmud II began forming a new army and hiring European gunners, the Janissaries mutinied as usual and fought on the streets of the Ottoman capital, but the militarily superior Sipahis charged and forced them back into their barracks. Turkish historians claim that the counter-Janissary force, which was great in numbers, included the local residents who had hated the Janissaries for years.

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