Conscription in the first modern Ottoman army in the context of state and society relations

OpenAlex İngilizce

The dissolution of the Janissary Corps and the establishment of the Asâkir-i Mansûre-i Muhammediyye Army precipitated profound transformations within the Ottoman military structure. Initially, the prospect of lucrative salaries attracted volunteers to enlist; however, this financial incentive was ultimately deemed unsustainable. Consequently, conscription was mandated, thereby inciting widespread discontent among the populace. This article will analyse the unnamed practice of conscription before the Tanzimat reforms through the Ottoman-Russian War of 1828–9 and the Tosya Incident and will also examine how the Ottomans used the press, especially the official newspaper (Takvim-i Vekâyi), to legitimise this conscription practice.