Origins of Kaskara

ariel · 1st May 2010, 04:19 PM

This was discussed extensively in the past.
They are characterized by straight blade, often ( in older examples) with a broad central fuller, and characteristic crossguard: iron, cruciform, with square quillons twisted at 90 degrees .
The opinion that Kaskaras derive from crusaders' swords is, to put it mildly, untenable.
The prevailing opinion is that they derive from pre-islamic swords. Ultimately, it is likely correct, but there may be an intermediary, true, predecessor: Mamluk swords. Geographically and historically, the Sudanese must have had much more in common with Egyptian mamluks that with pre-islamic Arabs.

Here are pics from Yucel's book ( the best collection of mamluk swords, albeit of a poor photographic quality). This is a 15th century Mamluk sword with the blade and the crossguard identical to classic old Kaskara. Well before any similar Ottoman examples ( although there are no known Ottoman swords before the time of Mehmet II, so caution is needed here).
Slight difference in the form of the handle ( disk instead of pommel cap), but this is minor and may be just a labor-sparing maneuver.
Similar examples , albeit with shorter quillons of decidedly similar configuration) dating to 13-15th century, are also shown in the book, but the pics are atrocious.

Any comments?

Jim McDougall · 16th May 2010, 04:07 PM

I have been anxiously awaiting the 'comments'

and wanted to hold off on one of my 'treatises' as long as possible. It appears the waiting period is now past, so I will add this before the thread descends into the abyss.

The Mamluks are of course a key element in the early ancestry of the kaskara, and thier conservativism in things military certainly brought their broadswords into Sudanese awareness as they entered into these regions. The development of the curved sabres associated of course with the Mamluks from the Napoleonic period took place concurrently with use of the broadsword in earlier times in limited degree, but overall, the use of the Mamluk broadsword seems to have continued long after the crusades.

The flight of Mamluk survivors into Dunqulah in 1517 certainly increased the Mamluk traditions in Sudanese regions, which had certainly been present before these times, and created the medieval style military traditions that set the stage for the later European perceptions in the 19th century. In the much romanticized journalistic styles of the Victorian period, the description of these warriors in comparison to knights of the crusades was there for the taking.

The reinforcing of these Mamluk traditions occurred again in the Sudan after the 'Massacre of the Citadel' in Egypt, and again, the diaspora of Mamluks to the regions of Sudan. These same military traditions were diffused out of these regions far to the west via trans Saharan trade routes to other parts of Africa known for medieval style arms and armor traditions, such as the Kingdom of Kanem-Bornu and of Nigeria. While the kaskara did not largely become part of these traditions to the west, in most cases, its Saharan cousin, the takouba, certainly did.

It was the increase of availability of European broadsword blades entering these trade routes that created the development of the broadswords known
today as the kaskara, and in distictly varying degree in the Sahara, the takouba.

That would be the 'Readers Digest' version. The complexities inherently associated with these developments would constitute a book in itself.
Now, to the archives

Also, for the readers out there interested in the kaskara, I would bring to your attention the post by RDG on kaskaras held in that museum in York as well as the occasional examples posted by Stephen Wood. At this time both of these are still on the visible page so I would recommend catching them before they drop down.

Lew · 16th May 2010, 06:36 PM

Jim

Here are a few pics of the swords of the Prophet Muhammad they have a very similar shaped blades and cross guards compared to the kaskara.

Jim McDougall · 16th May 2010, 09:20 PM

Lew, thank you so much for posting these magnificent swords, and these well illustrate how the reverent tradition for the broadsword remained well in place in these regions even into present times. Well done, and very much appreciated.

All best regards,
Jim

ariel · 17th May 2010, 01:11 PM

Finally, responses... :-)
Thanks to Jim and Lew.
The examples from Istanbul have original blades ( early Islamic to ~ 14-15 century), but most handles and crossguards were reworked by the new Ottoman owners. Thus, most have typical slender crossguards. But the original Mamluk examples have very much kaskara-like configuration. some with much shorter quillons.

Jim McDougall · 18th May 2010, 01:01 AM

Sorry to have taken so long to respond, but I wanted to see if anyone out there would 'pick up the gauntlet' as it were!!

It is an excellent topic and Im glad to see it posted.

There are two concurrent threads which correspond nicely, the very nice example of a 20th century Darfur type which Lew posted, which has the interesting 'lohr' type panel and crescent motif; and the well provenanced example posted by RDGAC.

It certainly does seem that Mamluk military tradition played a key role in the development of the kaskara, as well as the continued use of mail which has added to the medieval character of the Sudanese armoury.

1st May 2010, 04:19 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Origins of Kaskara This was discussed extensively in the past. They are characterized by straight blade, often ( in older examples) with a broad central fuller, and characteristic crossguard: iron, cruciform, with square quillons twisted at 90 degrees . The opinion that Kaskaras derive from crusaders' swords is, to put it mildly, untenable. The prevailing opinion is that they derive from pre-islamic swords. Ultimately, it is likely correct, but there may be an intermediary, true, predecessor: Mamluk swords. Geographically and historically, the Sudanese must have had much more in common with Egyptian mamluks that with pre-islamic Arabs. Here are pics from Yucel's book ( the best collection of mamluk swords, albeit of a poor photographic quality). This is a 15th century Mamluk sword with the blade and the crossguard identical to classic old Kaskara. Well before any similar Ottoman examples ( although there are no known Ottoman swords before the time of Mehmet II, so caution is needed here). Slight difference in the form of the handle ( disk instead of pommel cap), but this is minor and may be just a labor-sparing maneuver. Similar examples , albeit with shorter quillons of decidedly similar configuration) dating to 13-15th century, are also shown in the book, but the pics are atrocious. Any comments? Attached Images

16th May 2010, 04:07 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,943	I have been anxiously awaiting the 'comments' and wanted to hold off on one of my 'treatises' as long as possible. It appears the waiting period is now past, so I will add this before the thread descends into the abyss. The Mamluks are of course a key element in the early ancestry of the kaskara, and thier conservativism in things military certainly brought their broadswords into Sudanese awareness as they entered into these regions. The development of the curved sabres associated of course with the Mamluks from the Napoleonic period took place concurrently with use of the broadsword in earlier times in limited degree, but overall, the use of the Mamluk broadsword seems to have continued long after the crusades. The flight of Mamluk survivors into Dunqulah in 1517 certainly increased the Mamluk traditions in Sudanese regions, which had certainly been present before these times, and created the medieval style military traditions that set the stage for the later European perceptions in the 19th century. In the much romanticized journalistic styles of the Victorian period, the description of these warriors in comparison to knights of the crusades was there for the taking. The reinforcing of these Mamluk traditions occurred again in the Sudan after the 'Massacre of the Citadel' in Egypt, and again, the diaspora of Mamluks to the regions of Sudan. These same military traditions were diffused out of these regions far to the west via trans Saharan trade routes to other parts of Africa known for medieval style arms and armor traditions, such as the Kingdom of Kanem-Bornu and of Nigeria. While the kaskara did not largely become part of these traditions to the west, in most cases, its Saharan cousin, the takouba, certainly did. It was the increase of availability of European broadsword blades entering these trade routes that created the development of the broadswords known today as the kaskara, and in distictly varying degree in the Sahara, the takouba. That would be the 'Readers Digest' version. The complexities inherently associated with these developments would constitute a book in itself. Now, to the archives Also, for the readers out there interested in the kaskara, I would bring to your attention the post by RDG on kaskaras held in that museum in York as well as the occasional examples posted by Stephen Wood. At this time both of these are still on the visible page so I would recommend catching them before they drop down. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 16th May 2010 at 09:20 PM.

16th May 2010, 06:36 PM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Jim Here are a few pics of the swords of the Prophet Muhammad they have a very similar shaped blades and cross guards compared to the kaskara. Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 16th May 2010 at 06:52 PM.

16th May 2010, 09:20 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,943	Lew, thank you so much for posting these magnificent swords, and these well illustrate how the reverent tradition for the broadsword remained well in place in these regions even into present times. Well done, and very much appreciated. All best regards, Jim

17th May 2010, 01:11 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Finally, responses... :-) Thanks to Jim and Lew. The examples from Istanbul have original blades ( early Islamic to ~ 14-15 century), but most handles and crossguards were reworked by the new Ottoman owners. Thus, most have typical slender crossguards. But the original Mamluk examples have very much kaskara-like configuration. some with much shorter quillons.

18th May 2010, 01:01 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,943	Sorry to have taken so long to respond, but I wanted to see if anyone out there would 'pick up the gauntlet' as it were!! It is an excellent topic and Im glad to see it posted. There are two concurrent threads which correspond nicely, the very nice example of a 20th century Darfur type which Lew posted, which has the interesting 'lohr' type panel and crescent motif; and the well provenanced example posted by RDGAC. It certainly does seem that Mamluk military tradition played a key role in the development of the kaskara, as well as the continued use of mail which has added to the medieval character of the Sudanese armoury.