At Selim’s command, the purge of the Janissaries commenced immediately. The most relentless cleansing fell upon the Beylik Janissaries, the guardians of the capital, Konstantiniyye. Having colluded with the Habsburgs to block Selim’s advance most aggressively, they paid the steepest price. The moment Selim’s order was given, every captured commander was marched to the execution block.
But it wasn’t just the officers. The rank-and-file Janissaries, disarmed and confined to their barracks, came under attack from Selim’s forces and the French, Italian, and Portuguese coalition.
Boom! Kwa-boom! Boom! Bang! Bang-bang! Rat-tat-tat!
The coalition forces, having built up a reservoir of hostility during the fierce street battles, unleashed their artillery upon the barracks and pulled the triggers of their hwachas without hesitation.
“Break out! Break out!”
“Return fire! Fight back!”
“We can’t just die like this!”
Under siege, the Beylik Janissaries retrieved hidden weapons to resist or sought gaps in the perimeter to escape. However, stripped of their senior leadership, their resistance lacked cohesion, devolving into a desperate struggle driven by survival instinct. After a grueling fight, those who managed to escape the barracks fled toward the Sultan’s palace.
“The Sultan has not changed yet! Let us beg for mercy from the Sultan!”
“Yes, let’s do that!”
But the army Selim had dispatched was already arrayed before the palace gates.
“Traitors! Kill them!”
“Fire!”
Rat-tat-tat!
At the commander’s order, Selim’s troops opened fire. There was no hesitation in their hands as they gunned down the Janissaries, their former comrades. Though converts to Islam, the Janissaries were still viewed as outsiders by many—arrogant men who received higher pay than the regular troops.
In contrast, Selim’s soldiers were conscripts drawn from the Sunni Ottoman population—an experimental unit designed to test the viability of Selim’s envisioned “New Army” (Nizam-ı Cedid).
“Argh!”
“Sultan!”
“Mercy! Grant us mercy!”
“Aaaah!”
Under the withering fire of Selim’s troops, the Janissaries cried out for mercy until their throats were raw, but their pleas were answered only with lead. They fell, bleeding out on the cold ground. This purge would later be named the “Auspicious Incident” (Vaka-i Hayriye), known in Europe as the “Massacre of Konstantiniyye.”
Having erased the Beylik Janissaries, his greatest concern within the capital, Selim moved swiftly to consolidate power. Witnessing the gruesome end of the Janissaries, the nobles of Konstantiniyye scrambled to pledge their loyalty to him. Hearing that even the nobility had submitted, Bayezid II was forced to accept reality.
“From this moment, you are the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.”
“It is an honor, Father.”
“I wish to move to the secondary palace and rest now. I am weary.”
“Not yet.”
Selim rejected Bayezid’s request instantly.
“The unrest outside has not yet subsided. As soon as it is safe, I will escort you to the secondary palace.”
“…Understood.”
Leaving his audience with Bayezid, Selim headed to the main hall. Surveying the gathered nobles and officials, he sat upon the throne and spoke.
“As the new Sultan, I issue my first command. Restore the civilian homes destroyed in Konstantiniyye and comfort the people.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Would it not be better to repair the breached walls first?”
When an official suggested prioritizing the fortifications, Selim clicked his tongue.
“Tsk! Did you learn nothing from what you saw? Those antiquated walls are now useless. First, observe carefully how other nations, especially the Empire in the East, build their fortifications. Only then shall we begin repairs.”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”
Having addressed the immediate recovery of the scarred capital, Selim turned to the true matter at hand.
“Convey my command to the remaining Janissaries, both the Cemaat and the Acemi Oglan. ‘The Janissaries no longer exist. Join the New Army, or lay down your weapons and return to your homes. This is the Sultan’s command. Refusal will be met with punishment in the Sultan’s name.'”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Officials summoned scribes to draft Selim’s decree. Soon, messengers carrying the orders galloped toward the Cemaat Janissaries guarding the frontiers and strategic military points.
The first to react were the Acemi Oglan—the Janissary cadets and recruits. Though inexperienced, many had been drafted into the siege and street fighting of Konstantiniyye. They had watched in horror as their comrades died meaningless deaths under the bombardment of the French, Italian, and Portuguese forces. Worse, they had witnessed the survivors dragged to execution blocks or gunned down while begging for mercy at the palace gates.
Consequently, every remaining Acemi Oglan obeyed Selim’s order, becoming soldiers of the “New Army” rather than Janissaries. This was not merely a change of flags. Impressed by the coalition forces’ performance, Selim was determined to overhaul the military system entirely.
Meanwhile, the Cemaat Janissaries were divided. Fierce debates over acceptance versus refusal tore them apart. Those who accepted Selim’s command disarmed and remained in their barracks. Those who refused gathered what they could and fled toward the Anatolian highlands and the eastern deserts.
“Should we go to Korkut or Ahmad?”
“Those two would surely use us as bargaining chips to deal with Selim. Our best chance is to hold out until the end and wait for Selim to tire.”
Receiving reports of their flight, Selim issued relentless orders.
“Send officers to command those who obeyed. As for the traitors who refused my order—hunt them down and kill them all.”
“We obey your command!”
Thus began the “Great Janissary Revolt.” This, too, was a butterfly effect caused by Hyang. In the original history, the Janissaries were instrumental in Selim’s ascension. However, Hyang’s intervention had turned them into targets for liquidation.
Another butterfly effect was the timing. The Janissaries, who historically met their end in 1826, were now being eradicated nearly 300 years early, accelerating the advent of a modern army. Yet, some things remained consistent regardless of the timeline. The Sipahi, the Ottoman Empire’s regular cavalry, served as the main force in suppressing the Janissaries. Longtime rivals of the Janissaries, the Sipahi threw themselves into the task with zeal.
***
Despite the turmoil of the Janissary revolt, Selim moved quickly to stabilize the administration.
“My philosophy of rule is simple. The ‘Circle of Justice’.”
The Circle of Justice, a traditional Ottoman political philosophy, was immortalized in verse:
No power without troops, No troops without wealth, No wealth without prosperity, No prosperity without justice and good administration.
Selim continued.
“The incompetent in the palace, the snatchers, those who covet only wealth and possessions—they offer gifts to the god of greed and serve him. The true slave of our palace is the one who serves loyally, willingly lays down his life for the Empire’s cause, and offers us comradeship and service! Praise the Most High God! Since He has made me a slave and given me the power of a monarch, my compassionate attention shall be directed toward the free people! My council shall be for the capable and outstanding warrior!”
Though metaphorical, the nobles and officials in the great hall understood Selim’s intent perfectly.
He guarantees certain and fair rewards and punishments, and he will prioritize ability!
Those with ambition sensed that their opportunity had arrived.
***
As Selim systematically digested the power of the Ottoman state, envoys from Korkut and Ahmad arrived.
“Have you come to leave your last wills?”
“We heard the Sultan is merciful.”
“Sultan… Amusing. Speak.”
“Our lords wish to convey that they will not covet the Sultanate. They merely wish to enjoy peace where they are.”
“Peace?”
Selim scoffed at the envoys’ words.
“Tell them this: If they wish to enjoy that peace for a long time, they should crouch down and stay as still as the dead. My eyes and ears directed toward them will never close or sleep. The moment they harbor even a sliver of vain ambition, tell them that their meager peace will vanish.”
“We will certainly convey your words.”
“Get out.”
At Selim’s dismissal, the envoys bowed repeatedly and retreated from the hall. Once they were gone, the Grand Vizier bowed to Selim and asked.
“Sultan. Will you truly leave those rebels be? They will surely become a source of future trouble.”
Selim smiled slightly at the Vizier’s concern.
“They are necessary for the time being.”
“But Your Majesty, consider their locations. They are blocking the road.”
“I know.” Korkut in Antalya and Ahmad in Adana were blocking the key transport routes connecting Konstantiniyye to Suez. For the Ottoman Empire, Suez was critical. Selim continued, ”I know, and that is why I intend to leave them alone for now.”
“This dull subject cannot fathom the Sultan’s deep intent. Please, enlighten me.”
Selim answered concisely, ”We can use them as an excuse to build up our navy.”
“Ah!”
The Grand Vizier exclaimed in realization. In this civil war, France, Italy, and Portugal had distinguished themselves on land, but their dominance at sea had been even more impressive. Though they struggled briefly during the blockade phase, they had ultimately secured complete maritime control to dictate the war’s flow.
Deeply impressed, Selim began investing heavily in naval power, ordering ironclad steamships from the three nations while leasing similar vessels. The existence of Korkut and Ahmad provided the perfect pretext.
“Why do we need warships?”
“Because those ungrateful rebels have blocked the land route to Suez! We must transport everything by sea!”
“Merchant ships would suffice for that. Why warships?”
“Pirates are rampant!”
“Our current navy can handle pirates, surely?”
“These are bastards who fly pirate flags but aren’t just pirates!”
“Ah…”
The civil war had ended, but England and the Habsburgs had not simply withdrawn. In waters patrolled by French, Italian, and Portuguese warships, their vessels acted as peaceful merchantmen. But where those patrols were absent, they turned into ruthless privateers, raiding shipping and becoming a headache for the Ottomans.
“To properly punish Korkut and Ahmad, we must strike from both land and sea. We are still lacking. We must train our navy using leased ships so that we can utilize the new vessels immediately upon delivery. The army is the same. Priority is not suppression, but nurturing a New Army.”
“The Sultan is so wise; this is truly a blessing from Allah!”
“You flatter me. Do not be satisfied with the present; continue your efforts.”
“We obey your command!”
***
While a bloody wind of betrayal and consolidation blew through the Middle East, three generations had gathered for the first time in a long while at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.
“Huhu…”
“Hehehe…”
“Kukukuku…”
The three generations, reunited, looked at an object placed to one side and let out sinister chuckles.