Explore the elite military unit of the Ottoman Empire with a comprehensive look at the EU4 Janissaries. Understand the history and advantages of this formidable military force.
One of the pillars that bolstered the Ottoman Empire’s military might was the elite Janissary soldier.
The Janissaries were first introduced in Europa Universalis IV’s Cradle of Life expansion. In the recent update of EU4, 1.35 Domination, the Ottomans received further attention, adding several new features, including Janissaries, Eyalets, and Decadence.
Explore EU4 and learn everything you need to know for your next Europa Universalis 4 campaign and master the Janissaries of the Ottoman Empire.
History of the Janissaries
The Janissaries, or “yeŋiçeri” in Ottoman Turkish, meaning “new soldier”, were members of the elite infantry units that formed the household troops of the Ottoman Sultan. They are recognized as the first modern standing army in Europe. The corps was likely established under Sultan Orhan (1324–1362).
The Recruitment of Janissaries – The Devşirme System
Janissaries were initially recruited through the devşirme system, a form of child levy enslavement. Young Christian boys, from Ottoman holdings in Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania, and Serbia, were taken from their families, and forced to convert to Islam and serve in the Ottoman army.
The Janissaries were renowned for their internal cohesion, strict discipline, and order. Unlike typical slaves, these soldiers were paid regular salaries. They were also forbidden to marry before the age of 40 or engage in a trade, in order to ensure their complete loyalty to the Sultan.
The Decline of the Janissaries
By the seventeenth century, the Janissaris’ strict recruitment policy was relaxed due to the increasing size of the Ottoman standing army. With these eased recruitment standards, civilians began to buy their way into the ranks of the Janissaries to benefit from the status it held. Consequently, the corps gradually lost its military character, undergoing a process described as “civilianization”.
As Western Europe modernized its military organization and technology, the Janissaries became a reactionary force resistant to all change. Their resistance to modernization led to rebellion when they felt their privileges were being threatened. This led to the decline of the Ottoman Empire’s military power.
By the time the Janissaries were suppressed in the Auspicious Incident by Sultan Mahmud II in 1826, where 6,000 or more were executed, it was too late for Ottoman military power to catch up with the West.
EU4 Janissaries
In EU4 Janissaries are a unique type of infantry unit only available to countries with the Ottoman Government type. Inspired by the Ottoman’s elite fighting forces, players can recruit their own Jannisary regiments to dominate the battlefield in Europa Universalis IV.
There are a number of benefits to recruiting these special Ottoman units. Aside from their unique, green background, they are stronger units than standard infantry. Discover how Janissaries can boost your Ottoman playthrough and how to field them below.
Recruiting Janissaries in EU4
EU4 Janissaries are exclusive to the Ottoman government type. That means the Ottoman nation is the only power able to build these special military units at the 1444 start date. However, formable nations like Rum can unlock this unique government reform.
Unlike regular units, Janissaries in EU4 do not cost ducats or manpower to recruit. Instead, each regiment costs 3 Military Monarch Points to recruit.
Furthermore, Janissary units spawn instantly. However, they only start with 10% Morale and 10% of their regiment strength, meaning they will need some time before they are ready for combat.
With the Ottoman Government enabled and military points in hand, there are two ways for players to recruit Ottoman Janissaries in Europa Universalis 4:
Via State Menu
Janissaries can be recruited via the state menu in EU4, alongside assigning Pashas and State Edicts. Players can only recruit Janissary Infantry units from provinces with a Christian or Orthodox religion.
Via Macro Builder
Janissaries can also be recruited like regular military units in EU4’s Macro Builder. Janissary Infantry units will have their own option to be recruited, as long as the province follows a Christian or Orthodox religion.
The Advantages of the EU4 Janissaries
The Ottomans begin Europa Universalis 4 as the strongest nation in the game. Whether controlled by the AI or a player, the empire can quickly expand and snowball into an unstoppable force.
EU4 Janissaries allow the Ottomans to recruit an elite infantry unit at no cost to their treasury or available manpower. Additionally, the Ottoman Janissary has advantages over normal infantry units, allowing it to dominate the battlefield.
The EU4 Janissaries have the following benefits:
Unit Modifiers
Unlike regular fighting units, EU4 Janissaries have a number of advantages that pay tribute to their real-life counterparts.
Janissaries in EU4 have the following unit modifiers:
- −10% Fire damage received
- −10% Shock damage received
- +50% Army drill gain modifier
- +50% Assault fort ability
- +100% Reinforce cost
Ottoman Janissaries were renowned for their organization and discipline. Europa Universalis IV adds this historical aspect to the game with units that take fewer losses in battles and fort assaults, with the ability to quickly drill their Army Professionalism.
However, these elite units are more expensive to reinforce and replace when they suffer losses.
EU4 Janissary Estate Privileges
“The Janissaries are elite corps only loyal to the Sultan himself. Their ranks are made up through the devshirme system of child levy and go through a strict military training. As such, the Janissaries are the most disciplined forces of the Empire. As time goes on the influence of the Janissaries grew up to a point where the Janissaries are a class of their own.” – Europa Universalis 4
Players should keep an eye on their Estates management when granting privileges to the Janissaries. The Janissary estate becoming disloyal or holding too much influence can lead to disaster. These disasters and disadvantages are covered later.
Keeping the Janissaries Estate loyal can lead to increased rebel suppression efficiency and army tradition gain. Disloyalty can lead to national unrest and loss of army tradition, as well as a monthly increase in Ottoman Decadence.
The following privileges can be granted to the Janissary Estate, at the cost of estate loyalty and influence, to modify the abilities of EU4 Janissaries. More experienced players can leverage these privileges according to their strategic needs.
Ensure Disciplined Training
At the cost of Janissary Estate loyalty, players can boost the discipline of their Janissaries in EU4.
- Discipline: +5%
Professional Soldiers
Additionally, players can cement the Janissaries’ roles as soldiers. While angering the estate, this results in a reduction of the janissary unit’s reinforce cost and the amount of army drilling they lose.
- Reinforce Cost: -20%
- Regiment Drill Loss: -25%
Recruitment by Merit
Depending on how much crown land is controlled by the Janissary Estate, the Recruitment by Merit privilege grants a scaling bonus to the infantry combat ability of EU4’s Janissary units.
- Infantry Combat Ability: Up to +20% (scales with Janissaries Crown land)
Ottoman Vanguards
Establishing the EU4 Janissaries as Vanguards of the Ottoman Army grants a bonus to the morale damage Janissary units inflict in battle. This is an extremely helpful advantage in early game EU4.
- Morale Damage: +10%
Government Reforms: Expanded Devshirme System
Janissary units in Europa Universalis 4 can be further modified by government reforms exclusive to the Ottoman Empire. Unlocking and granting the government reform ‘Expanded Devshirme System’ can boost the cost and speed of reinforcing EU4 Janissaries.
- Reinforce Speed: +25%
- Reinforce Cost: -20%
The Disadvantages of EU4 Janissaries
Europa Universalis’ Janissaries do not come without disadvantages. Although they can bolster the Ottoman’s military might and siege down fortifications with ease, relying on them too heavily can lead to an economic downturn, rebellion, and even a Janissary coup.
EU4 Janissaries Event – Demand Privileges
Granting the Janissary Estate too much power will lead to an EU4 Ottoman event, ‘Janissaries Demand Privileges,’ where the Janissaries will demand a privilege that is opposite to the privileges they have already been granted.
The privileges that affect the Janissary units are as follows.
Loosen Devshirme System
By loosening the requirements of the Ottoman’s Devşirme System, EU4 Janissary units can reinforce their ranks at a much quicker pace and at a reduced cost. However, slackening the system will also negate the Shock and Fire damage reduction Janissaries receive.
- Reinforce Speed: +33%
- Reinforce Cost: -20%
- Shock Damage Received: +10%
- Fire Damage Received: +10%
EU4 Janissaries Estate Privilege: Janissary Officers
Conversely, players can ensure more loyalty from the Janissary Estate in EU4 at the cost of discipline in their Janissary units.
- Discipline: -5%
Allow Paramilitary Professions
By allowing the Janissaries to become more than just soldiers, they can help the nation flourish through trade and development. However, because they are less ready to fight in Ottoman wars, manpower recovers slower, and war exhaustion builds quicker.
- Manpower Recovery Speed: -20% (at peace)
- Monthly War Exhaustion: +0.05 (at war)
- Cost of Reducing War Exhaustion: +25% (at war)
Grant Hereditary Ranks
By granting the Janissaries of EU4 positions by heredity rather than merit, the Ottomans lose army tradition quicker. However, this increases the amount of available manpower, depending on how much crown land the Janissaries own.
- Yearly Army Tradition Decay: +1%
- National Manpower Modifier: Up to +100% (scales with Crownland)
Force Limit of EU4 Janissaries
The Ottomans recruited Janissaries from Catholic and Orthodox areas of their Empire. In EU4, Janissary units can only be recruited from Christian provinces. The force limit for these units is based on the amount of ‘heathen’ development, that is province development under Christian control.
For example, if half of the Ottoman Empire’s development is in Christian provinces in the Balkans, they can field half of their force limit worth of Janissaries.
Unique EU4 Janissary Events
Europa Universalis IV is filled with unique events that add flavor to the game. Several events are specially geared toward the Ottomans and the Janissaries. While they vary from game to game and can provide true rewards, one EU4 Janissary event will constantly cost players.
Janissary Reward
When the Ottoman ruler dies, and his heir comes of age, the EU4 Janissaries demand a salary bonus. This is a traditional practice to assure loyalty and will cost half of the nation’s yearly income.
This reward can be denied, however, Janissary units will suffer discipline penalties and a reinforcement cost increase for the lifetime of the ruler.
Ottoman EU4 Disaster – Janissary Coup
The Ottomans face a unique disaster in EU4 if they become too reliant on Janissaries. Too much influence and lack of loyalty from the Janissary estate can lead to the ‘Janissary Coup.’
If this disaster starts, the Janissary estate will gain ‘privileges’ that severely penalize the Ottomans. Players will need to work to revoke these maluses and end the EU4 Janissaries Coup disaster.
The negative effects of the EU4 Janissary Coup mimic the real-world effects of the decline of the Janissaries, and are as follows:
Coup d’État
Mimicking the real-life Janissaries’ aversion to progress, the Coup d’Etat malus severely hampers government reform progress and adds to the cost of technology and ideas.
- +15% Technology cost
- +15% Idea cost
- −100% Reform progress growth
Military Reactionaries
As the rest of Europe caught up to Ottoman military technology, and a rush of civilians rushed to join the ranks, the Janissaries became less effective on the battlefield. EU4 Janissaries suffer this real-life fate with the ‘Military Reactionaries’ malus.
- −15% Discipline
- +1% Yearly army tradition decay
- −25% Special unit force limit
Puppet [Your Ruler]
If the EU4 Janissaries manage to take control, the nation will suffer from the faction’s control. This malus will sap Monarch Points and legitimacy until the ‘privilege’ is revoke from the estate menu.
- −1 Yearly legitimacy
- −1 Monthly administrative power
- −1 Monthly diplomatic power
- −1 Monthly military power
Final Thoughts
Janissaries were a key feature of the Ottoman Empire’s unique military system. They allowed the empire to maintain a formidable presence on the battlefield, thanks to the elite soldiers who were highly trained and deeply committed to their cause.
The EU4 Janissaries represent the legacy of the Ottoman Empire. Their benefits can help players create powerful armies that are able to take on the rest of Europe. However, make sure to keep their estate in check, or face terrible disaster.
EU4 Janissaries add an element of historical realism to Europa Universalis 4, a complex and educational game.
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