Thank you Rick, that example does indeed show the similarity between these early Islamic broadswords and the famed Sudanese examples, emphasizing the blade.
You're right Stuart, the term 'mameluke' does apply to the Ottoman form hilts on military officers sabres of Great Britain and France. After the Napoleonic campaigns in Egypt at the end of the 18th century, the armies of these powers greatly impressed by the Mamluk horsemen of Egypt, adopted sabres of the style carried by them, thus the hilt form became known as 'mameluke'.
The Mamluks were a military caste who served Muslim Caliphs and Ayyubid Sultans during the middle ages, and in the Crusades. They became warrior rulers with the Mamluk Sultanate ruling in Egypt and Syria from 1250-1517.
The sword shown here is stated to be Mamluk of 14th century, of which a number of the swords that appear in the Yucel work include.
While Victorian writers perpetuated the romaticized idea that the 'kaskara' swords of the Sudan were either actual swords of the Crusaders or at least carrying thier blades, it is now generally held that these broadswords evolved from the swords of early Islam, such as these Mamluk forms.
All best regards,
Jim
|