Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - French Cavalry Officers' Sabre a l'Orientale

Victrix · 3rd February 2024, 10:09 AM

I believe shamsir blades originally had Persian origins (meaning “tail of the tiger”?) and were common all over the Ottoman empire. In Hungary and Eastern Europe, which were involved in a protracted centuries old conflict with the Ottoman empire, it was popular to use shamsir swords as trophies and family heirlooms. They became so fashionable that some “heirloom” blades were even engraved with pseudo Arabic to give the appearance of Ottoman origins. Mamelukes were an elite warrior caste in the Ottoman empire, whose origins were slaves who then took control from their masters, in Egypt. There’s an interesting book about them entitled “The Knights of Islam” (2007) by James Waterson well worth reading. “ The Mamluks were, at one distinct point in history, the greatest body of fighting men in the world and the quintessence of the mounted warrior – reaching near perfection in their skill with the bow, lance and sword.” No wonder there was a European fascination about them.

3rd February 2024, 10:09 AM	#5
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 682	I believe shamsir blades originally had Persian origins (meaning “tail of the tiger”?) and were common all over the Ottoman empire. In Hungary and Eastern Europe, which were involved in a protracted centuries old conflict with the Ottoman empire, it was popular to use shamsir swords as trophies and family heirlooms. They became so fashionable that some “heirloom” blades were even engraved with pseudo Arabic to give the appearance of Ottoman origins. Mamelukes were an elite warrior caste in the Ottoman empire, whose origins were slaves who then took control from their masters, in Egypt. There’s an interesting book about them entitled “The Knights of Islam” (2007) by James Waterson well worth reading. “ The Mamluks were, at one distinct point in history, the greatest body of fighting men in the world and the quintessence of the mounted warrior – reaching near perfection in their skill with the bow, lance and sword.” No wonder there was a European fascination about them.