Sudanese thuluth inscribed spear head

Edster · 3rd June 2025, 01:31 AM

Jim,

Your spear head, perhaps with a colored "flag" or strip, may have been among the several standards held up to identify and form up or otherwise organize various troop units at large parades, etc. that the Khalifa periodically held in Omdurman. There were thousands of troops and populous called out to participate and means were needed to provide order and avoid chaos. Alas, he didn't mention the organizational means, but the spear head seems plausible.

These events are mentioned by Rudolf Slatin, a 10 year prisoner of the Khalifa, in his book : Fire and Sword in the Sudan, P.530 & 531 Ch. XVI available from Project Gutenberg.

Best,
Ed

Jim McDougall · 3rd June 2025, 05:19 PM

That fantastic Ed!! Thank you so much for this most valuable information!!
I had thought this was used as some sort of organizational standard but was unclear if used in combat formations or not. This makes perfect sense, and thank you for the cited reference.

It really is exciting to catch up with all the dynamics of these Sudanese items in going through these examples!

Edster · 3rd June 2025, 08:01 PM

Hi Jim,

I think we plowed this field a couple of years ago. Still, it's great to review this important part of Sudanese history and its weapons.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28561

Best,
Ed

Jim McDougall · 3rd June 2025, 09:43 PM

We sure did Ed! My memory clearly is NOT what it used to be, I had totally forgotten, and again, your input always amazing. Thanks again. Now I need to get back to those books on Sudan.

3rd June 2025, 01:31 AM	#1
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 413	Jim, Your spear head, perhaps with a colored "flag" or strip, may have been among the several standards held up to identify and form up or otherwise organize various troop units at large parades, etc. that the Khalifa periodically held in Omdurman. There were thousands of troops and populous called out to participate and means were needed to provide order and avoid chaos. Alas, he didn't mention the organizational means, but the spear head seems plausible. These events are mentioned by Rudolf Slatin, a 10 year prisoner of the Khalifa, in his book : Fire and Sword in the Sudan, P.530 & 531 Ch. XVI available from Project Gutenberg. Best, Ed

3rd June 2025, 05:19 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,275	That fantastic Ed!! Thank you so much for this most valuable information!! I had thought this was used as some sort of organizational standard but was unclear if used in combat formations or not. This makes perfect sense, and thank you for the cited reference. It really is exciting to catch up with all the dynamics of these Sudanese items in going through these examples!

3rd June 2025, 08:01 PM	#3
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 413	Hi Jim, I think we plowed this field a couple of years ago. Still, it's great to review this important part of Sudanese history and its weapons. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28561 Best, Ed

3rd June 2025, 09:43 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,275	We sure did Ed! My memory clearly is NOT what it used to be, I had totally forgotten, and again, your input always amazing. Thanks again. Now I need to get back to those books on Sudan.