nizam-ı cedid

▪ Turkish history

      (Turkish: “new order”), originally a program of westernizing reforms undertaken by the Ottoman sultan Selim III (reigned 1789–1807). Later the term came to denote exclusively the new, regular troops established under this program.

      In 1792–93 Selim III, assisted by a committee, promulgated a series of reforms that included new regulations on provincial governorships and taxation, on land tenure, and on the control of grain trade. More significant, however, were military reforms. A new corps of regular infantry trained and drilled on Western lines was founded, and an attempt was made to introduce discipline into the decadent Janissary Corps (elite troops). New regulations were introduced into the artillery, bombardier, and miners corps; the fleet was reorganized; new military and naval schools provided training in gunnery, fortification, and navigation; and technical and scientific books were translated into Turkish from Western languages. To finance these projects a special treasury was established, collecting revenues from confiscated fiefs and taxes on liquor, tobacco, and coffee.

      The reforms were inspired by Western models, and in their application Selim had to rely heavily on French assistance, particularly upon French instructors in the military schools. The growing French influence and the reforms, however, evoked a strong reaction from a conservative coalition of the Janissaries and the ulama (men of religious learning). In 1805 that coalition was joined by aʿyān (local notables) of the Balkan provinces to stop an attempt to organize nizam-ı cedid troops in Edirne. Finally in 1807 a mutiny of the yamaks (auxiliary levies) compelled Selim to abolish the nizam-ı cedid reforms and brought about his deposition.

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