Wallachian Swords of the 15th Century: What Types?

[Teisani]

Originally Posted by Reventlov

I don't recognize the "eques Walachus", but wouldn't be too surprised if it was based on a earlier piece also.

Thank you very much Reventlov, for this interesting bit of info!

So, let's look at the following:

1) Zwei Türken mit vier Gefangenen - Erhard Schön 1529 http://www.zeno.org/Kunstwerke/B/Sch...ngenen+%5B1%5D
2) Buch von den probierten Künsten - Franz Helm 1535
3) Gorodno (today Belarus) from Vera designatio Urbis in Littavia Grodnae : Ware abconterfectung der Stadt Grodnae in der Littaw 1568.
4) Eques walachus. Ein reuter aufs der walachi - Diversarum gentium armatura equestris Abraham de Bruyn 1576
5) Militis walachia ex vestitus - Omnium pene Europae, Asiae, Aphricae, Americae gentium habitus - Abraham de Bruyn 1581

In addition to these, I would like to add these Mamluks:

6) MAMALVCKE - Three Mamelukes with lances on horseback - Daniel Hopfer 1526-1536 https://www.britishmuseum.org/collec...1845-0809-1342
7) Mammalutus, qui abiurata Christ religione, Turc fectam feguitur - Omnium Poene Gentium Imagines Cologne, Abraham de Bruyn 1577
https://www.meisterdrucke.com/kunstd...e-Gravur).html

Remarks:
- As we can see 1), 2), & 6) are pretty much the same depiction. Difficult to know who was first, 1) or 6). My bet is on 6), but this is just a baseless guess. Also, look at the mistake in 2), the sabre has only the front quillon, probably due to the poor visibility of the rear quillon in 1).
- All, except 5), have large "hussar" shields. Not really remarkable, just a note.
- 5) and 7) are very, very similar, even though one depicts a Wallachian, the other a Mamluk. Both are made by de Bruyn.
- 3) & 4) have the same lion on two legs depicted on the shield. You would think that de Bruyn's is the inspiration, but the other one is older...so that's something to ponder.
- those hats...what's with those hats? Tall, simple design (no borders, decorations etc.), fur hats. All, except 3), have twin long feathers. To be continued...

[Teisani]

...Continued

Regarding those hats. It could be that those hats are associated with Mamluks, Wallachians/Romanians and Ottomans (from Rumelia) because:

- Wallachian/Romanian shepherds wore (and still do https://revistacititordeproza.files....u-caciula1.jpg) similar hats. They would migrate with their flocs depending on the season, and Germans would learn to associate Wallachians with this style hat. This Moravian Vlach from Brumov, 1787 even has feathers (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A...alach_1787.jpg). Here's a sea of these https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/n...hoto/524663486 & https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/n...hoto/525511648. So that much regarding Wallachians.
- Mamluks...well even 7) says: Mammalutus, qui abiurata Christ religione, Turc fectam feguitur = Mamluk, who renounced the religion of Christ, was made a Turk. It seems they associated Mamluks with former Christians (mostly from South-East Europe/Rumelians). Considering that Wallachia Transalpina was an Ottoman vassal at that time (even though not under direct control of the Sultan, it was a vassal), they probably lumped Mamluks, Wallachians/Romanians and Ottomans (from Rumelia most likely) under the same estetic umbrella.
- One more thing... in 1) you can see the two styles of ottomans, one wearing a turban?, the other a simple tall hat. This could mean "a born muslim" Ottoman and a "converted person" or "Ottoman vassal". Not sure, but something to think about.

[Reventlov]

Originally Posted by Teisani

- As we can see 1), 2), & 6) are pretty much the same depiction. Difficult to know who was first, 1) or 6). My bet is on 6), but this is just a baseless guess. Also, look at the mistake in 2), the sabre has only the front quillon, probably due to the poor visibility of the rear quillon in 1).

Daniel Hopfer made a number of engravings (particularly of landsknechts) that were based on prints of Schön and others, sometimes combining figures from different artists into a new composition. So in general, he's unlikely the original artist with this subject matter.

I checked though, and it seems that actually the true original is a print of Mamelukes by Jan Swart van Groningen, made in 1526.

http://warfare.ga/Ottoman/byEuropean...-Solimanvs.htm

Swart's series of prints does differentiate the nationalities: Turks in turbans are labelled Haiden - "pagans".

[Teisani]

Originally Posted by Reventlov

I checked though, and it seems that actually the true original is a print of Mamelukes by Jan Swart van Groningen, made in 1526..

Nice find, thank you! One thing that intrigues me is coat of arms on the shields of the Turks and Mamluks of Jan Swart van Groningen and Daniel Hopfer. Any idea what it is? I searched briefly only, but it's upper left corners / lower right is reminiscent of the Serbian cross, itself adapted from the Byzantine tetragrammatic cross (like this one https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzant...tantinople.svg) maybe it symbolizes orthodox Christians incorporated into the Ottoman Empire? The other two corners have the crescent moon of Islam, I guess.

[Reventlov]

Originally Posted by Teisani

One thing that intrigues me is coat of arms on the shields of the Turks and Mamluks of Jan Swart van Groningen and Daniel Hopfer. Any idea what it is?

I can only guess the same as you do. Western artistic depictions can't be taken too literally since the Ottomans were unfamiliar and exotic enemies. Probably there was some general understanding that the Mamluks were slave-soldiers, and the Ottomans recruited from Balkan peoples... so we get this depiction of "Mamelukes" who are more likely Serbians or what have you, or the shield is a generic symbol of the Ottoman union of Muslim/Orthodox lands.

[Teisani]

Vlad's Duels

Here's an experience of mine, and a warning to anyone trying to research Vlad III "Țepeș".
It started with my viewing of this video about a year ago (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NA34EZACkWY), where it says that Țepeș fought two duels for the throne of Wallachia. One with Vladislav II, the other with Dan III. I decided to look it up, and started with the Wikipedia article on Vladislav III in Romanian. No mention of a duel. There is one in Wiki English, but no source is provided... so not trust worthy. Even less could be found for Dan III.
The only historical source that I could find was from "Letopisețul Cantacuzinesc - Istoria Țării Rumânești de când au descălecat pravoslavnicii creștini" which said:

Vădislav-voievod Bătrânul au venit domn când au fost cursul anilor de la Adam 6935. Acesta au făcut bisérica domnească den Târșor. Și au pierit de sabie, în mijlocul Târșorului.

Which means "And he (Vladislav) died by the sabre in the middle of Târșor".

You may be wondering. "Sabre/sabie"? In 1456? Shouldn't it be "sword/spată". But you see, the text was written in the late 1600s, so nothing to write home about. Thus, no word of a duel. Confirmation for this lack of any duels came only recently with this video by Corpus Draculianum group which clearly states that there is no evidence for these duels happening https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i6mtzCJWF5Y
Why do I believe them? Because they are the best source of info on Vlad Țepeș that I have found thus far, and recommend them to anybody interested in this topic.

I can't recommend however the following (anything that uses Florescu and McNally as a source really):
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MY82EpsvbQ8
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BtCjc5OwBi4
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NA34EZACkWY

I can recommend this part 2 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9RoBspQiOiE and the Corpus Draculianum channel (audio is in Romanian, but there are English captions).

[Teisani]

Damn! Found another one of those depictions. This one is from Códice De Trajes, 1547.
http://warfare.ueuo.com/Renaissance/...Trajes-59v.htm

And here's what that hat is "Mamluk red zamṭ hat". So his hat was very much associated with the Mamluks.
http://blog.slow-venice.com/fashion-...demia-gallery/
http://warfare.ga/16/Carpaccio-St_Ge...nites-zamt.htm
https://www.rct.uk/collection/990062...uk-dignitaries
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki...the_Louvre.jpg
https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File...giorgio_01.jpg

So the similarity between Wallachian and Mamluk depictions seems to be a coincidence only.

[Reventlov]

Originally Posted by Teisani

Damn! Found another one of those depictions. This one is from Códice De Trajes, 1547.

Nice! It is interesting to see how far the image circulated. A consequence of the original being a print that could be mass-produced, not a painting or drawing. In this case the caption Mosquwiter would mean "Muscovites"?! The other groups of horsemen are there too... the "Arabs" have become "Tatars".

http://bdh-rd.bne.es/viewer.vm?id=0000052132&page=1

Searching in connection with this new version I found that according to at least one 16th century Wappenbuch, the coat of arms seen in some of the versions was attributed to Osman I. I am quite sure that this should not be taken literally, but instead symbolizes the transfer of authority from the Byzantines to the Ottomans.

http://www.hubert-herald.nl/ByzantiumArms.htm