Jean-Baptiste Annibal Aubert du Bayet
Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire
Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire
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[thumb\|*General Aubert du Bayet with his Military Mission being received by the Ottoman Grand Vizier in [Constantinople](/wiki/Constantinople "Constantinople") in 1796*, by [Antoine\-Laurent Castellan](/wiki/Antoine-Laurent_Castellan "Antoine-Laurent Castellan").](/wiki/File:General_Aubert_Dubayet_with_French_officers_being_received_by_the_Grand_Vizier_in_1796.jpg "General Aubert Dubayet with French officers being received by the Grand Vizier in 1796.jpg")
In 1796, General Aubert du Bayet was appointed as ambassador ("Minister of the Republic") to the [Ottoman Empire](/wiki/Ottoman_Empire "Ottoman Empire"). He was sent to the Ottoman court with artillery equipment, and French artillerymen and engineers to help with the development of the Ottoman arsenals and foundries. Infantry and cavalry officers were also to train the [Spahis](/wiki/Spahis "Spahis") and [Janissaries](/wiki/Janissaries "Janissaries"), but they were frustrated by the opposition of the Janissaries. Ironically, some of these troops, trained to Western methods, were successfully employed against the French troops of [Napoleon](/wiki/Napoleon "Napoleon") a few years later under Sir [Sydney Smith](/wiki/Sidney_Smith_%28Royal_Navy_officer%29 "Sidney Smith (Royal Navy officer)") at the [Siege of Saint\-Jean d'Acre](/wiki/Siege_of_Acre_%281799%29 "Siege of Acre (1799)") in 1799\. Their behaviour delighted [Selim III](/wiki/Selim_III "Selim III"), and upon their return, they were named *Nizam\-gedittes* or "New Regulars", but they were eventually slaughtered and dispersed by the [Janissaries](/wiki/Janissaries "Janissaries") and conservative clerics and politicians, leading to the deposition of Selim III.

Aubert du Bayet died of fever in 1797 while in Constantinople. His widow returned to France and married to his long\-time assistant Jean\-François Carra de Saint\-Cyr.


What were the consequences for the Ottoman Empire of employing European-trained troops?