Kapıkulu

Kapıkulu (قپوقولو اوجاغی, Kapıkulu Ocağı, "Slaves of the Porte") was the collective name for the household troops of the Ottoman Sultans. They included the Janissary infantry corps, as well as the Six Divisions of Cavalry. Unlike provincial levies such as the timariots and irregular forces (levend), the kapıkulu were professional, standing troops, mostly drawn through the devshirme system. They formed the backbone of the Ottoman army during its "classical period", from the 15th century until the abolition of the kapıkulu during the Tanzimat reforms in the 19th century.