For the similar Empire: Total War unit, see Beylik Janissary Grenadiers (Empire: Total War).
Beylik Janissary Grenadiers are a type of grenadier infantry in Napoleon: Total War.
Description[]
The janissaries are professional soldiers, almost born for close combat and powerful in a charge!
These grenadiers are the cream of the Ottoman army, but in comparison to other nations they fight in an old-fashioned way. The Beylik Janissary are unusual because they are grenadiers that still carry grenades. Their relatively small numbers in a unit puts them at a disadvantage against more modern style soldiers, but what they compensate for this lack of numbers by their ferocity. The janissaries are personally brave to the point of foolhardiness; they are given to festooning themselves with weapons and think nothing of hurling themselves into any fight!
Historically, the corps of janissaries dates back to the 14th Century. They were intended to be a force that was to be completely loyal to the sultan. Boys as young as five were trained and, if necessary, converted to Islam. Janissaries were paid even when not at war, something unheard of in the medieval world! Over time, however, they became bureaucrats and administrators, and this gave them too much power within the Ottoman Empire. Eventually, the janissaries’ entrenched position in government and conservative outlook corrupted them. They became a force against any and all change, contributing to the Ottomans’ decline.
General Information[]
Beylik Janissary Grenadiers are the only grenadiers available to the Ottoman army, filling the role of powerful close range troops. Armed with both muskets for medium range and grenades for close range, Beylik Janissary Grenadiers additionally have very good melee, defense, and charging skills, making up for their inferior regiment size. They are outclassed by Nizam-I Cedit Infantry at range, however, due to the latter's superior reloading skills and soldiers per regiment, and by Cemaat Janissaries at close range--while their charging statistics are superior, their inferior number of men per regiment still hurts them. These grenadiers make up for their shortcomings with flexibility, and if they can get within close range of a stationary target, their grenades can be thrown in quick succession with a good kill rate.
Compared to grenadiers in other factions, Beylik Janissary Grenadiers have above average melee skills and average ranged capabilities, with average cost. They come with the disadvantages of lacking bayonets, making them weaker in a melee than their stat suggests, and lacking Square Formation, making them vulnerable to cavalry. Like all other Ottoman units, they are resistant to heat fatigue and therefore hold a stamina advantage on desert maps, as well as being immune to the effects of heat attrition on the world map.