Timeline Friday 16 June 1826

Events on Friday 16 June 1826 1

• 1826 The Auspicious Incident -- Janissaries destroyed On 15-16 June 1826, Mahmud II springs his carefully prepared trap. When the Janissaries revolt against the new infantry drill (as expected), Mahmud raises the Prophet's banner (a call for holy war), surrounds the Janissary barracks with loyal artillery and bombards them. Thousands of Janissaries are killed; the survivors are hunted down, their corps abolished, their property confiscated and their memory officially cursed. The Bektashi Sufi order (closely associated with the Janissaries) is suppressed simultaneously. The destruction of the Janissaries removes the greatest obstacle to Ottoman military modernisation -- at a moment (Greek independence war, 1821-1829) when the empire urgently needs a modern army.