A Government Built on Servitude
If a person carefully considers the structure of the entire Turkish government, he will find that it is built like a fabric woven entirely of slavery. It is so deeply rooted in servitude that one might wonder how anyone among them could be born with a truly free and independent spirit. From the highest rank to the lowest, obedience and submission form the foundation of power Private Sofia Tours.
Even the Grand Signior himself is often born of a slave woman. The mother of the present ruler, for example, was a Circassian woman, likely taken captive by the Tartars during their raids into that country. This shows that slavery is not only common among the lower classes but reaches even the highest seat of authority.
Origins of the Ruling Class
The viziers and other great officers of the Empire are also not always free-born on either their father’s or mother’s side. Among the Turks, more children were often born to slaves than to lawful wives. In addition, there was a constant supply of slaves brought in by the Tartars through the Black Sea. These captives came from many different nations and backgrounds.
As a result, Constantinople became filled with a strange mixture of peoples and bloodlines. It became difficult for many individuals to trace a clear and honorable family lineage. This mixture created a society in which inherited freedom and noble descent were rare, and dependence on authority became the norm.
Obedience as a Learned Nature
Because of this long history, submission and obedience became deeply embedded in the character of the people. From childhood, obedience was carefully taught and reinforced. Strict discipline replaced kindness, and harsh rule proved more effective than gentle leadership. Lenity and softness were unfamiliar to both the people and their ancestors.
Some thinkers of the time argued that certain peoples were naturally inclined toward servitude, better suited to being ruled than to ruling. Whether this belief is just or mistaken, it was widely used to explain the Ottoman system of governance.
The Puzzle of Rebellion
Yet a serious question arises from this picture. If obedience is so deeply rooted in Turkish society, how does one explain the many mutinies and rebellions that frequently occurred? These uprisings were often the most violent, reckless, and desperate recorded in history.
Leaving aside the smaller revolts of earlier times, attention should be given to the causes of several major disturbances in the Ottoman army. These were not mere protests but outbreaks of collective madness among the soldiers. Though rarely recorded in formal histories, they occurred within living memory and deserve careful examination.
A System Prone to Extremes
Thus, a government founded entirely on slavery and fear may produce obedience for a time, but it also breeds instability. When submission breaks, it does so with terrible force, revealing the hidden dangers within such an absolute system.