However, the threat of the conservative, traditionalist Janissaries, the sultan's elite troops, prevented reforms from being enacted by more liberal rulers.

Selim, a composer of some talent as well as an advocate of modernization, was inspired to a certain degree by the French Revolution,[1] his efforts at Westernization culminating with a levy for new regular troops in 1805.

Mahmud had appointed as grand vizier Mustafa Bayrakdar, leader of the rebellion that had installed him as sultan, and the reforms that the pair implemented angered the janissaries once again.

In an attempt to cow Mahmud, the janissaries staged a brief uprising and killed the vizier,[3] forcing the sultan to call off the reforms and disband the army, which had been based on Selim's model, yet again.

Now, without having to fear a coup, Mahmud pursued military and social reforms that, although modernizing the empire, did not stop its decline.