Final answer:
The 'men of the pen' were the educated elite in the Ottoman government, usually recruited through the devshirme system as Christian boys. They were trained to become loyal scribes, administrators, or soldiers, such as the Janissaries, serving the Sultan with unwavering loyalty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 'men of the pen' refers to a select group of highly educated and loyal individuals within the Ottoman government. These men were often recruited through the devshirme system, where Christian boys were taken from their families, converted to Islam, and trained for various roles in the empire. They became proficient in Turkish, were indoctrinated into Islam, and received extensive education to prepare them for careers as scribes, administrators, or soldiers. Many of these boys ascended to high-ranking positions, such as the Grand Vizier, and were granted timars (landholdings) for their service. This system aimed to ensure absolute loyalty to the Sultan and the state, as these men did not have ties to their original families or regional loyalties.
The devshirme system was beneficial in creating a corps of able administrators known as the Janissaries, who played a key role in both the politics and the military of the Ottoman Empire. The Janissaries became an elite fighting force and formed the Sultan's household guard, directly reporting to him. The loyalty of these 'men of the pen' was to the Sultan alone, which significantly reduced the chances of political infighting and elevated merit over familial connections within the state.