Subject: beylerbey commander of sipahi knights
Culture: Ottoman Turk
Setting: imperial warfare, eastern Europe / Middle East 16-17thc
Object: body armor = korazin, zirh gomlek gobekligi cuirass, zirih mail, kolluk vambrace
Armeria Real *
* Metropolitan Museum of Art > Stone Gallery of Arms and Armor
"Portions of a Cuirass Steel Turkish, Ottoman period, about 1550-1600 Armors with circular breastplates appeared in the Middle East in the late fifteenth century and were used by the Ottoman heavy cavalry throughout the sixteenth century. This example has plates embossed with Koranic inscriptions that presumably served a talismanic purpose. Portions of the backplate, covering the shoulder, are also preserved."
Royal Armouries Museum > Oriental Gallery
"Breastplate (zirh gomlek gobekligi) Turkish, late 16th century An inscription on this piece states that it was owned by a Wazir in 1067 ah (1656/7). However, the fluted decoration of the piece suggests that it was made some years before that." ...
* Higgins Armory Museum > Scimitars to Samurai: Arms around the World
"Mail coat, perhaps 1550-1650 Probably Ottoman Turkey Steel; brass alloy Weight: 17lb. ...
Mail armor was used extensively in the late Roman Empire, aned adopted by Islamic armies as one of their chief forms of defense. The rings on this coat are stamped with the names Allah, Muhammand, Ali, Fatimah, Hassan, and Hussain. Ali was the founding figure of Shi'ite Islam; he was married to Muhammad's daughter Fatimah, and their sons were Hussain and Hassan. These founding figures of Islam are especially important to Shi'ites, but are revered throughout the Islamic world."
Royal Armouries Museum > Oriental Gallery *
"TURKISH HEAVY CAVALRYMAN Mail and plate armour for man and horse became the standard type of equipment for the heavy cavalry under the Timurids (1370-1506) and under the Ottoman Turks. These cavalry, armed with bow, sword and sometimes lance, were the main component of all the medieval Islamic armies. The helmet, body armour and horse armour are original, but the ancillary equipment, including the bow, bowcase, quiver and arrows, are modern reproductions, because the original pieces are too fragile to put on display. Turkish, late 15th century" ....
* Royal Armouries Museum > Oriental Gallery
"Cuirass (zirh gomlek gobekligi)
Turkish, late 16th century
In Turkey, mail and plate armours were replaced during the 16th century by plate armours (often called 'pot-lids') which were worn over mail shirts."
