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Auspicious Incident

Ottoman history

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The Auspicious Incident refers to the violent disbandment of the Janissaries, an elite military corps of the Ottoman Empire, in June 1826. The Janissaries, originally composed of Christian youths from the Balkans, had become a powerful political force, frequently deposing sultans and resisting military reforms. Sultan Mahmud II declared war on the revolting Janissaries, and their barracks were bombarded, leading to the deaths of most of the corps and the execution of survivors. This event marked the end of the Janissaries and paved the way for the modernization of the Ottoman army.1

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