Editing Musketeer (section)

===Ottoman Empire===
[[File:Knotel-Janissaries.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.7|An illustration of Janissaries.]]
The [[Janissary]] corps of the [[Military of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman army]] were using [[matchlock]] muskets as early as the 1440s.<ref name=Nicolle>{{cite book| last = Nicolle| first = David| author-link = David Nicolle| title = The Janissaries| url = https://archive.org/details/janissaries00nico| url-access = limited| publisher = [[Osprey]]| year = 1995| page = [https://archive.org/details/janissaries00nico/page/n22 22]| isbn = 1-85532-413-X}}</ref> The [[Ottoman Empire]], centering on [[Turkey]] and extending into [[Balkans]], [[Arabia]] and [[North Africa]] used muskets to conquer [[Constantinople]] (modern [[Istanbul]]) and were one of the earliest users of muskets in a military conflict. It also utilized large cannons, including the [[Dardanelles Gun|Great Turkish Bombard]]. The Ottomans, under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (r. 1520-1566), embraced these weapons to maintain military superiority against European rivals such as the Habsburgs and the Safavids. By the late 17th century, the Ottoman military began to face increasing difficulties in keeping up with the rapid advances in European military technology and tactics, particularly regarding firearms. The stagnation of the Ottoman military was evident during key conflicts such as the Great Turkish War (1683-1699) and the Siege of Vienna in 1683, where the Ottomans were defeated by the combined forces of the Holy Roman Empire and its allies.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Ottoman Empire recognized the need to modernize its military, particularly in the face of defeats at the hands of European powers. Several sultans, most notably Sultan Selim III (r. 1789-1807) and later Mahmud II (r. 1808-1839), attempted to reform the army and introduce more modern firearms, including newer versions of muskets with flintlock mechanisms. It wasn't until the reign of Mahmud II that the Janissaries were finally abolished in 1826, during the event known as the "Auspicious Incident." This paved the way for further military reforms, including the widespread adoption of modern muskets and rifles. By the mid-19th century, the Ottomans had restructured their military to be more in line with European standards, though the empire continued to struggle in keeping pace with technological advancements.