"Egyptian Recruits Crossing the Desert" by J.L. Gerome, 1857

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Peasants conscripted from the south of the country marching north across the desert, guarded by a soldier from the Albanian province of the Ottoman Empire. The recruits are treated as little better than slaves themselves, and are paired off with their wrists in stocks.

In 1823, the Ottoman governor of Egypt, Muhammad Ali, introduced a new military force composed of peasants conscripted from the south of the country. He intended to replace the traditional corps of Janissaries, who were nominally slaves but in practice a powerful and often rebellious political force in their own right.

Gerome's painting shows recruits for the new army marching north across the desert, guarded by a soldier from the Albanian province of the Ottoman Empire. The recruits are treated as little better than slaves themselves, and are paired off with their wrists in stocks.

Last modified 1 Dec 06, 10:53 PM by Tanos