From the start of Selim's reign, the Janissaries had viewed this entire program of military reform as a threat to their independence, and they refused to serve alongside the new army in the field. The powerful "derebeys" were alarmed by the way in which the sultan financed his new forces—he confiscated "timars" and directed the other revenue toward the "nizam-i jedid". Further opposition came from the ulama and other members of the ruling elite who objected to the European models on which Selim based his military reforms.