New links for Ottoman Peiks & similar Persians & Mughals
The Ottomans had a bodyguard/messenger called a Peik (Peyk) who would march before the Sultan. They usually carried a small axe as illustrated in a Peyk by Nicolas de Nicolay (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Ottoman/byEuropeans/Nicolay-folio_155.htm) with bells attached to garters & sash.
Ottoman miniatures:
Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent during the Siege of Estolnibelgrad in Hungary, 1543 (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Ottoman/Suleymanname/1543-Siege_of_Estolnibelgrad_in_Hungary.htm)
Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent during the campaign on Nachivan in the South Caucasus, 1554 (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Ottoman/Suleymanname/1554-Nachivan_in_the_South_Caucasus.htm)
Sultan Selim - riding between Kutahya and Belgrade, en route to join the Imperial Army (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Ottoman/1568-Selim_riding_between_Kutahya_and_Belgrade.htm)
Three figures in Departure from the palace of the army for the war, Nusretname, 1578 (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Ottoman/1578-Departure_from_the_palace_of_the_army-lg.htm)
The Ottoman Army at Tiflis, Nusretname, 1578 (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Ottoman/1578-Ottoman_army_at_Tiflis.htm)
This position may have been from a wider cultural tradition. Nicolas de Nicolay also illustrated a Peyk of the Persian nation (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Persia/ByWesterners/Nicolay-folio_M5_151.htm).
Some Persian miniatures with a similar character:
The Old Woman complaining to Sultan Sanjar, from a 1539-43 Khamsa by Nizami (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Persia/The_Old_Woman_complaining_to_Sultan_Sanjar-Khamseh-1539.htm)
The Death of Zahhak from the Shahnama of Shah Tahmasp, c. 1522-1540 (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Persia/Shahnama/1522-The_Death_of_Zahhak-f37v.htm)
A royal usher from Dr. Kaempfer's Album of Persian Costumes and Animals (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Persia/Kaempfer_Album-08-Bodyguard_and_Usher.htm) Can anyone supply a transliteration of the Persian caption of the Usher?
Mughal miniatures with a similar character:
Prince Riding Prancing Horse (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Moghul/16thC/Prince_Riding_Prancing_Horse-late_16thC.htm)
Foray to Kuhat, from the Baburnama (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Moghul/Baburnama/Foray_to_Kuhat.htm)
Babur visiting the Urvah valley in Gwalior (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Moghul/Baburnama/Babur_visiting_the_Urvah_valley_in_Gwalior.htm)
Meeting between Babur and Sultan 'Ali Mirza near Samarqand (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Moghul/Baburnama/Meeting_between_Babur_and_Sultan_Ali_Mirza.htm)
Babur and his army emerge from the Khwaja Didar Fort, Baburnama (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Moghul/Baburnama/Baburs_army_emerges_from_the_Khwaja_Didar_Fort.htm)
1502, Babur advancing through the mountains to Kabul (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Moghul/Baburnama/1502-Babur_advancing_to_Kabul.htm)
Adham Khan pays homage to Akbar at Sarangpur, 1561, Akbarnama (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Moghul/Akbar/1561-Adham_Khan_pays_homage_to_Akbar_at_Sarangpur-Akbarnama.htm) (upper left)
Flight of Sultan Bahadur During Humayun's Campaign in Gujarat, 1535, Akbarnama (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Moghul/Akbar/1535-Flight_of_Sultan_Bahadur-Akbarnama-large.htm)
Prince Akbar Hunting a Nilgae, c.1555 - 1560 (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Moghul/16thC/Prince_Akbar_Hunting_a_Nilgae.htm)
Toda Mongke and His Mongol Horde, from a Chingiznama (History of Genghis Khan), painted 1596 (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Moghul/16thC/Chingiznama-Toda_Mongke_and_His_Horde-1596.htm)
What are the names for these Persian and Mughal Peik-like figures?
Are these related to a Mongol practice?:
Hulāgu and his envoy (ilči) leading his army against the castles of the Assassins includes a footman in front who seems to carry a paiza, a sign that identifies persons on official duty. (http://www.warfare.meximas.com/Persia/14/Diez_Album-p50.htm)
MIRROR SITES
Illustrations of Ottoman Costume & Soldiers (http://www.warfare.uhostfull.com/Ottoman/Ottoman.htm)
Illustrations of Persian Costume & Soldiers (http://www.warfare.uhostfull.com/Persia/Persia.htm)
Illustrations of Moghul Costume & Soldiers (http://www.warfare.uhostfull.com/Moghul/Moghul.htm)
Hulāgu and his envoy (ilči) leading his army against the castles of the Assassins from the Diez Album. (http://www.warfare.uhostfull.com/Persia/14/Diez_Album-p50.htm)
Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers (http://www.warfare2.netai.net/index.htm)
I have had a reply from RaiTo at militaryphotos.net forum:
QuotePeyk is persian in origin. Peykis means Messenger or someone who delivers.
In modern Iran we still call delivery workers as "peyk`is". and their service as "Peyk".
In Ancient Persia, Peykis would deliver the Post (Systematic Post Networks is a ancient persian invention, even the word is Persian).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail
"Post is derived from the Persian language or Farsi word "Post" (پست), which refers to sending a message to which an answer is expected, while a one way message was named "payam" in that same language. According to Persian history or mythology, mail was instated and used by people who weren't Hakhai or Hakha Manesh, now better known as Achaemenid."
Druzhina
Persian Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers (http://www.warfare2.likamva.in/Persia/Persia.htm)
Very nice....I'll have to come back and have a longer look a bit later !
Cheers - Phil
Some Delis
(http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu205/jchaos79/Medieval%20WM/delis2.jpg)
(http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu205/jchaos79/Medieval%20WM/delis.jpg)
Again, criticisim, improvement, historical accurancy, opinion?