Ottoman Swords and Weapons
The weapons used in the Ottoman Empire, which has a rich content, are divided into four main sections. These are called striking weapons (eslah-i coup), piercing weapons (eslah-i nafiza), cutting weapons (eslah-i cariha), shooting weapons (eslah-i ramiye). The blade is the part of the sword that performs the main cutting function. The barrel, which does not have standard dimensions on its length and width, is different in Ottoman swords and differs from European swords in this feature. Ottoman swords were made with a slight inclination from the blade to the tip and as one-sided sharp. It is certain that this inclination is given according to certain measures in order to provide ease and efficiency in using the sword. This curvature is also seen in Indian, Persian and Mamluk swords. The most characteristic feature of Turkish swords is to obtain the steel used in the barrels and to apply ornamentation, decoration and calligraphy on these barrels with an advanced technique for their age. In addition, the Chinese ambassadors who went to the Mongol country during the time of Genghis Khan wrote that they ordered the swords of Mongolian generals and armies, whom they did not know how to handle, to the Uighur Turks. The Turkish society, which has a historical background in both the construction and use of the sword, continued this feature in the Ottoman period as well.
It is stated in many sources that the most famous and most distinguished sword barrels were made in Damascus, and it was called "DIMIŞKÎ" in connection with the Arabic name of Damascus, "DIMIŞKÎ". given the title. In the first years of the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, we see that among the craftsmen who gave him a holiday gift (festival), DIMIŞKÇI Hüseyin gave one DımIŞKî egg and DIMIŞKÇI Murat presented ten eggs. Here, the term "egg" refers to the steel used in making swords and called "sword egg".
Although the sword was one of the most used weapons in the Ottoman period, there is no source that gives precise information about the workshops and the processes during the making of swords. Only in Evliya Çelebi's travel book; Referring to the Dımışkihane, which was built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet between Kurşunlumahzen and Topkapı, he says: "Even the chief swordsman of Sultan Murad IV, Davud, used to work in this sword house, it was a big workplace by the sea."
According to their thoughts, the art of using the sword, which was invented by the Turks and used in a unique way, could be used as a continuation of this old tradition, was adopted by the Ottomans, and in the training house in the Janissary Corps, the drills were trained to hold the hilt and steal the sword. stealing a sword; to get the highest desired result by downloading it on the target in accordance with the technique of using it without causing any damage to the sword.
Turkish swords, which adorn museum showcases with local and foreign collections today, with their fine and delicate appearance with the elegance of an ornament, are a relentless weapon that shatters armors and helmets in the hands of master Turkish warriors in the times they lived.
It is very natural for the Turks, who are a cavalry nation, that the sword is a tool that every person carries with them. Turks opened and closed ages with horses and swords throughout history. Iron and the fire that melts it were considered to have a great spiritual aspect. The Turks, who respected the iron, therefore also respected the sword and made their oath on the sword.
Good sword making was carried out by the Turks who found the iron. The metal part of the wedges, called the barrel, was made even longer, and Turkish swords were made of wrought iron and their weights were gathered to the end. Each time it was broken or broken, it was re-forged to form a sword. The Turks showed superior skill in the construction and use of the sword, and they made great progress in the technique of using the sword. Swords made with special formulas have accomplished great things in talented wrists. The wrist, which cut a camel in two with one stroke, split an atlas in two with a single stroke and smashed the layered felt.
The Turks, who used the sword as a means of attack, were dexterous enough to cut the hair, and they used the shield as a defense tool with an equivalent feature. European swords were made straight and double-edged. One side of Turkish swords is sharp and curved. Many documents reflecting these historical aspects were found in the excavations of the Turks who wanted them to be buried in their graves with their horses and swords. B.C. 23–24. There are extensive explanations in the Chinese sources of the weapons of the eastern Hun Turks dating back a century. In one chapter it is said: They were all armored cavalry. His long weapons were the bow and arrow, and his short weapons were sharp swords and spears.
Shamsir (Şaşmir): Although Şaşmir means sword in Old Persian, it is said to have been given this name because its muzzle looks like a lion's tail when viewed from the side. It has also been used in Iran, Turkey, Russia and India.
YATAĞAN
Yatağan is a famous and effective type of sword that was widely used in the Ottoman period from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
It is also known as the Turkish Sword among foreigners, and the Ears among the people. It is difficult to use because the center of gravity of the sword, the angle known as the Turkish curve in sword making, and the stroke shape are different from other swords. But the power of destruction and chisel in the hands of a person who uses it well is much higher than that of contemporary swords. Among the Serbs it became the national sword in the 19th century.
Yatağans have many differences in terms of form, structure and size, as well as performing the defense and attack function of any sword. The head part of the hilt, which is made of white or black bone, ivory, wood or horn, is divided into two wide ears. These prevent the bearing from getting out of hand during the move and give the weapon a different aesthetic appearance. Because of this appearance, it is called Earlier among the people.
When the grip head, which slopes parallel to the slope of the barrel, is slightly bent inwards, it creates a fingernail that grips the hand, and there is no sludge. The hilt forming a "Y" letter was combined with the muzzle under a wide and thick metal bracelet, the muzzle would extend up to the head in the hilt. In Yatağans, the muzzle would be shorter than in conventional swords, and the concave edge would be sharp and the convex edge straight. Convex. Iron was generally used on the edge and steel was used on the sharp inner edge.The most important feature of the slope is that it is not the long side of the slope, but the reverse facing downwards, as in the machetes.
Yattan, a weapon used by the janissaries, infantrymen and levents in the Ottoman Empire, was carried in its sheath, at the waist, in the belt or in the armament. Their height is 60-80 cm. are among. Rather, gold, silver and precious stones were used in the decoration. The writings used in the inscriptions are not at a high level in terms of calligraphy, as is the case with swords. There was no craftsmanship, especially in cheap and commonplace ones, and the writings were sloppy and often incorrectly written. In Yatağan, motifs and writings are sometimes a poem, sometimes a saying, but mostly verses, the name of the owner of the sword, prayers and the seal of the master who made the sword and the date of manufacture are seen. As a prayer, the name of the sword owner was usually written after "Ya Muhammed hair intercession" was written. They often also had blood troughs on them. Due to the fact that the mouth of the bed is very sharp, a usage culture has developed over time. For example, if the owner of the bed was weak, he would intervene with the back of the bed, not the sharp edge of the bed.
While Yatağan's muzzle motifs were embroidered on the sword, two methods were generally used: In the first method, the gaps formed after the motifs were made with inlay art, were filled with molten gold or silver, and finally the surface was smoothed by grinding. However, this method is rare, since the motifs are usually silver, the second method was used. In this method, the shape of the desired motif was given to a thin silver wire and then embroidered on the sword.
Even though sloppy bedspreads were made from a single piece of iron among the people, more than one master specializing in certain parts of the sword was needed in order to make quality bedspreads suitable for the status of the owner. While one master was making the knife part, the other was making the handle, the next sheath, and another was making the motifs. Motif masters were also divided into two as inlay and wire work.