Sudanese Command Batons

[Edster]

Teodor,

I read Pradines' paper you referenced. I'm not sure that he proved his points.
1. While Sudanese troops (as "other ranks") typically Nuba, were in Greece, they likely were not in command positions. He provides no evidence that they were. Nuba were highly regarded and used as slave troops by the Ottomans, later impressed by the Mahdist and as free men by the British at Omdurman.
2. Is the end piece actually a sphero-conical container? Doesn't look bulbous enough and the end hole is too big.They may appear simiiar to s-c common from Romania to Central Asia. I think they were purpose made pieces, thick enough to be drilled to accept the seeds or beads. While some of these batons may have been collected after Omdurman, I saw no evidence as to who used them or for what purpose.
3. The Mahdi essentially outlawed participation in sufi activities during his reign. As far as I know, none of the British captives or others who wrote reports of the Mahdiya mentioned religious officials using such a baton.Much of these reports were propaganda, but they and later histories were pretty inclusive and were good observers.

I like your batons, but while he weaves an interesting story, I'm not convinced it is what he says it is.

Regards,
Ed

[TVV]

Thank you Ed, I agree that the knobs do not look like sphero-conical vessels, at least on the spears/scepters discussed here. It also looks like these were in use well before the Mahdi started his rebellion, with their use continuing during the Mahdiya but not originating during those times. The command baton theory so far lacks factual support, so we should probably dismiss it for now.

If I am interpreting your post right, you have not found anything in contemporary accounts to support Zirngibl's statement that these were used by religious fanatics for self-inflicting wounds either, correct?

Teodor

[Edster]

Teodor,

Some shi'a of contemporary Iran beat themselves across the back with chains, bringing blood. No doubt this practice has a historical roots, but I haven't researched it lately. I don't recall reading of any self flagellation among Mahdists and Sudanese in general. Scarification is another matter as tribal identification, but not as far as I know a Islamic ritual. Of course, specialists could know of details available to serious detailed study.

Maybe officials of the Turkiya/Egyptian government in Sudan may have used a baton between 1821-1885. Can't say.

Best,
Ed

[Jim McDougall]

I am thinking the 'baton' notion is a bit of a red herring, and am pretty much firmly in accord with this item being something used by priests or other religious figures used in ceremonial practices rather than any sort of command symbol. While this example, by its provenance, well predates the Mahdist period, it does seem clear that the nature of the item is similar to later examples used as ceremonial objects used in the Mahdiyya period.

These seem to approximate forms of mace, and like many weapons which are effectively like the actual combat weapons they recall, they are of course used in a more figurative manner, to dispel evil, etc. I have learned a great deal more on the thuluth weapons, and find the suggestion that these may well have been used in military ranks to carry as talismanic standards etc. quite plausible . The fact that these are not typically sharpened may support that.

While these various forms of 'mace' have 'weapon' like elements in most cases, I do not think they are intended for necessarily 'military' context. They may well be intended as figurative 'weapons' in the manner of the 'phurbu' of Tibet for example. A 'dagger' to chase away demons.

While I am sure there were not 'thuluth' covered weapons in the Greek situation to which this example is noted as from, there were surely native priests or monks there with the tribal forces who might have used this accordingly.

To the Mahdi, while he was a Sufi, and effectively a dervish in the Summaniya order, he later changed to a different Tariqa, and as he began his Jihad, he forbad the use of the dervish term, insisting on the term 'Ansar'(=helper) for his followers. They remained mystics, so I believe the practices were very much as before. The examples of these ceremonial maces/staves which have added elements such as crocodile hide, small daggers etc. are in keeping with the weapons so decorated in his time and that of the Khaliph.

As in the field of battle, these Ansar fully expected glorious death, and the presence of priests, talismanic objects emblazoned with talismanic invocations and in their view certainly would have driven their fervor into action.

I hope I have recounted these things reasonably accurately from what I have found in researching these past few days and look forward to correction from those here far better versed in them than I.

[thinreadline]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

I am thinking the 'baton' notion is a bit of a red herring, and am pretty much firmly in accord with this item being something used by priests or other religious figures used in ceremonial practices rather than any sort of command symbol. While this example, by its provenance, well predates the Mahdist period, it does seem clear that the nature of the item is similar to later examples used as ceremonial objects used in the Mahdiyya period.

These seem to approximate forms of mace, and like many weapons which are effectively like the actual combat weapons they recall, they are of course used in a more figurative manner, to dispel evil, etc. I have learned a great deal more on the thuluth weapons, and find the suggestion that these may well have been used in military ranks to carry as talismanic standards etc. quite plausible . The fact that these are not typically sharpened may support that.

While these various forms of 'mace' have 'weapon' like elements in most cases, I do not think they are intended for necessarily 'military' context. They may well be intended as figurative 'weapons' in the manner of the 'phurbu' of Tibet for example. A 'dagger' to chase away demons.

While I am sure there were not 'thuluth' covered weapons in the Greek situation to which this example is noted as from, there were surely native priests or monks there with the tribal forces who might have used this accordingly.

To the Mahdi, while he was a Sufi, and effectively a dervish in the Summaniya order, he later changed to a different Tariqa, and as he began his Jihad, he forbad the use of the dervish term, insisting on the term 'Ansar'(=helper) for his followers. They remained mystics, so I believe the practices were very much as before. The examples of these ceremonial maces/staves which have added elements such as crocodile hide, small daggers etc. are in keeping with the weapons so decorated in his time and that of the Khaliph.

As in the field of battle, these Ansar fully expected glorious death, and the presence of priests, talismanic objects emblazoned with talismanic invocations and in their view certainly would have driven their fervor into action.

I hope I have recounted these things reasonably accurately from what I have found in researching these past few days and look forward to correction from those here far better versed in them than I.

A very reasoned summary Jim , as usual, and I do agree that the 'command' element is misleading. When I first read this thread I thought the term 'command baton' was odd and unfamiliar and struck me as a bad translation , as the phrase command baton is not one that I am familiar with in English at all . We would simply say baton or most likely in a military context 'Field Marshall's baton' as these are the only guys that carry them in the British Army. So has this been borrowed from the archaeological phrase 'baton de commandment' which refers to the paleolithic antler bone artefacts now thought to have been spear throwers ? I agree they may well be some form of talismanic device and as has been suggested , perhaps carried by priests of some sort , but 'commanders' ...I dont think so . For one thing , certainly their use by commanders in the later Mahdist period would have been recorded either in drawings or photos by the eventually victorious Anglo-Egyptians , or brought back to Britain to reside in the various regimental museums , prized trophies and labelled 'taken from so and so , commander of .... '. I have not encountered any evidence of this in my 40 years of interest in the Sudan wars , but would be delighted to be corrected !
As an aside I have a Sudanese 'bident' , unsharpened and covered in thuluth script , which I have always taken to be a status symbol item of a local chieftain or the equivalent of a battle standard in western terminology , serving as a rallying point and for morale purposes ( showing the leader is still in the field ! ) . I feel items like this are more likely to be commanders 'batons'. See attached picture .

[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.

[thinreadline]

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.