The Janissaries were part of the kapikulu regiments - the Sultan's personal guard, recruited from slaves or prisoners. They largely reflected the characteristics of Ottoman society, at the top of which was the military elite and social mobility in which was much higher than in European society. The book by D. Nicollet tells us what the elite units of the Ottoman army that terrified Europe were like, their structure, weapons, training and tactics. Detailed color illustrations make it possible to get acquainted with the various types of weapons and uniforms of the Janissaries.