AP Syllabus focus: ‘The development of military professionals became more common; examples include the Ottoman devshirme system and salaried samurai.’
Professional soldiers became increasingly important as states tried to control territory and reduce reliance on independent warriors. Two influential models were the Ottoman devshirme-recruited forces and Japan’s salaried samurai, both tied closely to state power.
Why “Military Professionals” Mattered (1450–1750)
Early modern rulers sought armed forces that were more reliable than temporary levies or semi-independent nobles. “Professionalization” generally meant:
Regular training and standardized tactics
Stable compensation (pay, stipends, or land-linked income)
Clear chains of command and discipline enforced by the state
Service identity tied to the ruler rather than local kin networks
The Ottoman Devshirme System
The Ottoman state developed a distinctive approach to building loyal military and administrative personnel by recruiting from subject populations.
Devshirme: An Ottoman recruitment system that levied selected Christian boys from the empire’s provinces, converted and trained them for state service, including elite military roles.
How Devshirme Produced Military Professionals
Devshirme recruits were reshaped into servants of the sultan through controlled training and advancement. Key features included:
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FAQ
This reflected an aim to staff multiple branches of government with personnel trained to serve the ruler.
It was framed as a legal levy tied to imperial authority over subject communities.
In practice, it functioned as coerced recruitment justified by the state’s political and fiscal dominance.
Often a stipend assessed in rice output, sometimes delivered through storehouses or converted into cash.
The key was predictable, official support tied to service obligations.
Stipends were fixed obligations even when domain revenues fluctuated.
This could strain budgets during poor harvests or long periods without territorial expansion.
They might become masterless warriors, seeking new patronage or employment.
Their existence highlighted how a salary-based order depended on stable lord–retainer ties.
