The Janizaries were an Ottoman infantry force, somewhat analogous to the Roman praetorians, part of them forming the guard of the sultan. They were originally organized about 1330, and subsequently obtained special privileges, which in time became dangerously great. The regular janizaries once amounted to 60,000, but their numbers were afterwards r... Found on http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/browse/FJ.HTM