Janissaries were a uniquely Ottoman practice, and evoke something completely different than Muslim Andalucia. Also, I don’t believe that the Ottomans mutilated Janissaries in the way you described - that would be counterproductive, since strength is important in the military, especially with highly motivated elite soldiers. Look it up, that’s a popular myth, no more real than the Unsullied in Game of Thrones.
In contrast to the Ottoman Empire, no one talks about some great Andalusian army. Al-Andalus was known for its culture, architecture, scientific innovation, multiculturalism, etc…that being said, the American school system doesn’t really cover Al-Andalus, the so-called Islamic Golden Age, and Muslim advancement of the frontier of knowledge.
The Janissary were a part of the Ottoman Empire - which was on 'other end' of Europe, geographically. The Janissaries were not eunuchs.
Eunuchs were also an element of society in Ancient Rome. I'm pointing out that it was not considered in previous ages, as it is today. As an example Italians would castrate boys prepped for singing opera - castrati - until the 1800s, it seems.
Is the idealism of a successful society ever not of the elites and the rulers?
I have read somewhere that the monarchs of Al-Andalus often had Visigoth (i.e. Spanish) lineage. Arabic may have been their lingua franca, but their society may have been essentially Spanish in many ways, just not 'Christian Spanish'.
I think that the decline and fall of Al-Andalus may have been mostly a result of internal divisions, conflict and civil war. The Reconquista was however from without, the terror of the Spanish Inquisition was what followed, for the newly conquered.
Janissaries were part of the Ottoman Empire starting in 1300s, while this article is about Muslim Spain, which lasted until 1400s at the latest. So, ignoring the rest of the bait in your content, no they did not have Janissaries.
Religious flamewar is not ok here, and please don't post in the flamewar style to HN generally. It's not what this site is for, and destroys what it is for.
keenmaster|2 years ago
In contrast to the Ottoman Empire, no one talks about some great Andalusian army. Al-Andalus was known for its culture, architecture, scientific innovation, multiculturalism, etc…that being said, the American school system doesn’t really cover Al-Andalus, the so-called Islamic Golden Age, and Muslim advancement of the frontier of knowledge.
ROTMetro|2 years ago
[deleted]
Simorgh|2 years ago
Eunuchs were also an element of society in Ancient Rome. I'm pointing out that it was not considered in previous ages, as it is today. As an example Italians would castrate boys prepped for singing opera - castrati - until the 1800s, it seems.
Is the idealism of a successful society ever not of the elites and the rulers?
I have read somewhere that the monarchs of Al-Andalus often had Visigoth (i.e. Spanish) lineage. Arabic may have been their lingua franca, but their society may have been essentially Spanish in many ways, just not 'Christian Spanish'.
I think that the decline and fall of Al-Andalus may have been mostly a result of internal divisions, conflict and civil war. The Reconquista was however from without, the terror of the Spanish Inquisition was what followed, for the newly conquered.
stryan|2 years ago
GreenWatermelon|2 years ago
dang|2 years ago
We detached this subthread from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37349887.
ROTMetro|2 years ago
[deleted]
oa335|2 years ago
whims31|2 years ago