Janissaries
by Ray Agius
Original - Sold
Price
Not Specified
Dimensions
22.000 x 30.000 inches
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Title
Janissaries
Artist
Ray Agius
Medium
Painting - Watercolour On Cold-pressed 300 Gsm Watercolour Paper
Description
The Janissaries - The Sultan�s Elite
The Knights suffered their first serious setback in the defence of Fort St Elmo on June 3. The weak and hurriedly built outer ravelin fell to the enemy and Janissaries poured in. After five hours of hand-to-hand combat, the Knights and their men were forced to retreat inside the fort. In the confusion they forgot to pull up the drawbridge and the Janissaries nearly gained entry to the fort itself.
The Janissaries were the Sultan�s elite troops and bodyguards. Conscripted from the Sultan�s Christian subjects in the Balkans at a young age, the Janissaries were indoctrinated into Islam and trained with severe discipline.
A Janissary assault was relentless, like an incoming tidal wave. Shouting battle cries, they charged to the insistent rhythm of drums, fifes, and horns � an unbearable din struck up by a military band in the rear. The Janissaries advanced oblivious to enemy fire, climbing over their own dead. If the first wave failed, others followed in quick succession. Pride and ruthless determination made the Janissaries fearsome opponents in battle.
The first troops to be sent in a Turkish attack were usually the irregulars and other infantry troops. Fortified by hashish they descended like madmen upon the enemy. They were considered wholly expendable, little more than cannon fodder. Only when these attacks were well under way, did the Pashas let loose the regular and elite troops.
Accounts vary but about 6,000 Janissaries were sent to Malta out of a total of 30,000 Turkish troops, including sailors.
Uploaded
April 30th, 2015
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