THE OLDEST KNOWN YATAGHAN!!!!

ariel · 19th March 2006, 02:44 PM

Every book on Ottoman weapons states that the oldest known yataghan belonged to the sultan Suleiman the Magnificient. It dates from 933H, ie 1526/1527. It was made by a master named Akhmed Tekelu who was likely a member of the Turkoman tribe Teke, a member in the Kizilbashi confederation that was established in the XV century in Meshkhed ( Iran). He might have been brought to Turkey by the sultan Selim I in 1514 from Tebriz. Showh is a pic (you all know it very well, of course) from the Astvatsaturyan's book " Turkish Weapons".
Well, I recently got a book " Zanatsko oruzhje Balkana" which is a catalogue of the collection of the Military Museum in Belgrade. They casually mention a Yataghan in their collection, that has an ivory handle with a green stone and undeciphered inscription except for a short Arabian inscription " Oh Victorious" in an elliptical mark. It is dated 865H, ie 1460/1461. No photo is provided.
If true, this would be the oldest Yataghan known !!
Do we have any connections in Serbia to go there and photograph/examine this astonishing find?

19th March 2006, 02:44 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	THE OLDEST KNOWN YATAGHAN!!!! Every book on Ottoman weapons states that the oldest known yataghan belonged to the sultan Suleiman the Magnificient. It dates from 933H, ie 1526/1527. It was made by a master named Akhmed Tekelu who was likely a member of the Turkoman tribe Teke, a member in the Kizilbashi confederation that was established in the XV century in Meshkhed ( Iran). He might have been brought to Turkey by the sultan Selim I in 1514 from Tebriz. Showh is a pic (you all know it very well, of course) from the Astvatsaturyan's book " Turkish Weapons". Well, I recently got a book " Zanatsko oruzhje Balkana" which is a catalogue of the collection of the Military Museum in Belgrade. They casually mention a Yataghan in their collection, that has an ivory handle with a green stone and undeciphered inscription except for a short Arabian inscription " Oh Victorious" in an elliptical mark. It is dated 865H, ie 1460/1461. No photo is provided. If true, this would be the oldest Yataghan known !! Do we have any connections in Serbia to go there and photograph/examine this astonishing find? Attached Images