The ideal age of a recruit was between 8 and 10 years of age, recruitment of boys younger than 8 was forbidden. Those were called şirhor (nursling) and beççe (child). The devshirme system was at times locally resented and was resisted. There were even Christian rebellions initiated specifically against the Devshirme in Albania and Epirus in 1565. Many sources (including Paolo Giovio) mentioned attempts of Christian parents to avoid the devshirme: trying to bribe the officers, marry the boys at the age of 12, mutilate the boy or both the father and son convert to Islam. On the other hand, as the devshirme could reach powerful positions, Christian parents in Bosnia were known to bribe scouts to take their children.