The Devşirme and Köçek Systems: A Factual Look at the Ottoman Empire’s Dark Practices

The Ottoman Empire, a sprawling power that dominated vast regions from the 14th to the early 20th century, is often remembered for its military might and cultural achievements. Yet, beneath this legacy lies a grim reality: the systematic exploitation of children through the Devşirme and Köçek systems. 

These practices, rooted in control and subjugation, targeted vulnerable populations and left an indelible mark on history.

The Devşirme System: A Forced Harvest of Boys

The Devşirme system, implemented primarily between the 14th and 17th centuries, was a state-sponsored levy that targeted Christian boys, mostly from rural Balkan regions such as Serbia, Bosnia, and Albania. Meaning “collection” in Turkish, Devşirme was a method to bolster the Ottoman military and administrative ranks. Ottoman officials, often accompanied by soldiers, would enter villages to select boys aged 8 to 18—typically healthy, strong, and deemed capable of service.

Once taken, these boys underwent a radical transformation. They were forcibly converted to Islam, circumcised, and sent to training centers in Istanbul or other major cities. There, they were taught Turkish, Islamic law, and military skills. The most promising became Janissaries, the Sultan’s elite infantry, while others were funneled into the bureaucracy or palace service. By design, the system severed ties with their families and Christian roots, ensuring absolute loyalty to the Ottoman state.

Historical records estimate that tens of thousands of boys—possibly up to 200,000 over centuries—were taken through Devşirme. The practice was not random; it followed strict rules. Only non-Muslim boys were eligible, and exemptions existed for only sons, orphans, or those already married. Villages often resisted, leading to violent clashes, but opposition was futile against the empire’s might. The system began to decline in the 17th century as the Janissary corps grew corrupt and hereditary privileges took hold, phasing out the need for such levies by the early 18th century.

The Köçek System: Exploitation in Disguise

Parallel to Devşirme, the Köçek system revealed another facet of Ottoman exploitation, this time through performative and sexual subjugation. Köçeks were young boys, typically from marginalized or impoverished groups—often non-Muslims like Greeks, Armenians, or Roma—trained to perform as dancers. Dressed in feminine attire, including skirts, jewelry, and makeup, they entertained at public celebrations, taverns, and private gatherings.

The Köçek tradition peaked in the 16th and 17th centuries, with boys as young as 7 or 8 recruited by troupes or impresarios. Their performances featured acrobatic dances and suggestive movements, accompanied by music from drums and lutes. While celebrated as an art form, the reality was far darker. Many Köçeks were sexually exploited by patrons, their youth and androgynous appearance making them targets of desire among the elite and commoners alike.

Ottoman chroniclers noted the popularity of Köçeks, with some troupes achieving fame across the empire. However, their lives were precarious. By their late teens, as they aged out of their youthful appeal, most were abandoned, left to fend for themselves in a society that offered little support. The practice faced growing criticism from religious authorities and was officially banned in 1837 under Sultan Mahmud II, though it lingered informally in some areas.

A Legacy of Control

Both systems served the Ottoman Empire’s insatiable need for power. Devşirme supplied a steady stream of loyal servants, while Köçeks reinforced social hierarchies through entertainment and exploitation. Together, they affected countless lives—boys stripped of agency, families left broken, and communities forever altered.

Historians continue to debate the scale and impact, but the evidence is clear in Ottoman tax records, European traveler accounts, and Balkan oral traditions. The Devşirme and Köçek systems stand as stark reminders of the human cost behind imperial ambition, their victims a testament to resilience amid unimaginable hardship.