The Ottomans had a bodyguard/messenger called a Peik who would march before the Sultan. They usually carried a small axe as illustrated in a Peyk by Nicolas de Nicolay (http://warfare.atwebpages.com/Ottoman/byEuropeans/Nicolay-folio_155.htm)
Ottoman miniatures:
Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent during the Siege of Estolnibelgrad in Hungary, 1543 (http://warfare.atwebpages.com/Ottoman/Suleymanname/1543-Siege_of_Estolnibelgrad_in_Hungary-Suleymanname.htm)
Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent during the campaign on Nachivan in the South Caucasus, 1554 (http://warfare.atwebpages.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://warfare.atwebpages.com/Ottoman/1568-Sultan_Selim_riding_between_Kutahya_and_Belgrade.htm)
Departure from the palace of the army for the war, Nusretname, 1578 (http://warfare.atwebpages.com/Ottoman/Nusretname/1578-Departure_from_the_palace_of_the_army_for_the_war-large.htm)
The Ottoman Army at Tiflis, Nusretname, 1578 (http://warfare.atwebpages.com/Ottoman/Nusretname/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://warfare.atwebpages.com/Ottoman/byEuropeans/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://warfare.atspace.eu/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://warfare.atspace.eu/Persia/Shahnama/1522-The_Death_of_Zahhak-f37v.htm)
A royal usher from Dr. Kaempfer's Album of Persian Costumes and Animals (http://warfare.atspace.eu/Persia/Kaempfer-Palace-usher_and_a_royal_ bodyguard.htm) Can anyone supply a transliteration of the Persian caption of the Usher?
Mughal miniatures with a similar character:
Prince Riding Prancing Horse (http://warfare.atspace.eu/Moghul/16thC/Prince_Riding_Prancing_Horse-late_16thC.htm)
Foray to Kuhat, from the Baburnama (http://warfare.atspace.eu/Moghul/Baburnama/Foray_to_Kuhat.htm)
Babur visiting the Urvah valley in Gwalior (http://warfare.atspace.eu/Moghul/Baburnama/Babur_visiting_the_Urvah_valley_in_Gwalior.htm)
Meeting between Babur and Sultan 'Ali Mirza near Samarqand (http://warfare.atspace.eu/Moghul/Baburnama/Meeting_between_Babur_and_Sultan_'Ali_Mirza_near_Samarqand.htm)
Babur and his army emerge from the Khwaja Didar Fort, Baburnama (http://warfare.atspace.eu/Moghul/Baburnama/Babur_and_his_army_emerge_from_the_Khwaja_Didar_Fort.htm)
1502, Babur advancing through the mountains to Kabul (http://warfare.atspace.eu/Moghul/Baburnama/1502-Babur_advancing_through_the_mountains_to_Kabul.htm)
Adham Khan pays homage to Akbar at Sarangpur, 1561, Akbarnama (http://warfare.atspace.eu/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://warfare.atspace.eu/Moghul/Akbar/1535-Flight_of_Sultan_Bahadur-Akbarnama-large.htm)
Prince Akbar Hunting a Nilgae, c.1555 - 1560 (http://warfare.atspace.eu/Moghul/16thC/Prince_Akbar_Hunting_a_Nilgae.htm)
Toda Mongke and His Mongol Horde, from a Chingiznama (History of Genghis Khan), painted 1596 (http://warfare.atspace.eu/Moghul/16thC/Chingiznama-Toda_Mongke_and_His_Mongol_Horde-1596.htm)
What are the names for these Persian and Mughal characters?
Are these related to a Mongol practice?:
Hulāgu and his envoy (ilči) leading his army against the castles of the Assassins (http://warfare.atspace.eu/Persia/13-14C/Diez_Album-p50.htm) includes a footman in front who seems to carry a paiza, a sign that identifies persons on official duty.
Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers (http://warfare2.netai.net/index.htm)
Superb resources. So very colourful and full of life.
Some of those are rather splendid !
Cheers - Phil.