Sudanese Command Batons

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Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thanks very much TRL!
The baton term seems often misconstrued giving us this notion of these kinds of objects made in the form (loosely) of certain weapons signifying command recognition. As we have seen, these variations produced in Sudanese context during the Mahdiyya appear to be intended for religious leaders who were perhaps present in tandem with the emirs who did indeed command certain units of forces. While I think the units primarily relied on flags for identification and assigned to their commanders, while these kinds of weapon/standard were possibly carried by these religious leaders within the units. I have an 'alam' , a huge spade shaped spear head with thuluth used as a standard probably in similar fashion.

The thuluth calligraphy carried profound invocations and messages, just as on various forms of weapons such as kaskara, axes and throwing knives. The two bladed configuration represents of course the dual blades of Dhu'l Faqar and its religious and talismanic magic potency. In other forms of the ceremonial mace we have seen here, some have two knives attached, which in effect carries the same implication. It would seem these were produced in shops in Omdurman, possibly as early as 1881, which date has been found on thuluth covered blades on kaskara.

Most interesting Jim, thank you.