Spoils from the Sultan (part I): Arms and armour captured from the Turks in 1529-1683, in the Military History Museum of Vienna

The chichak type helmet of the Ottoman Grand Visier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha who as a military commander confronted the army of the Habsburgs in 1566, between the two sieges of Vienna (credit: http://www.tforum.info).
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By Periklis Deligiannis
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The two sieges of Vienna by the Ottomans in 1529 and 1683 and the intermediate wars between the Ottoman Empire on the one side and the Habsburg dominions and the Poles on the other, had been remarkably decisive conflicts for the History of Europe. In both sieges of Vienna and the subsequent battles, the Ottomans were finally defeated leaving behind many dead, prisoners and valuable arms and armourand other military items, while the victorious European side paid a heavy toll in casualties as well. Today the most important spoils captured from the Turks are exhibited in the Military History Museum of Vienna. In these posts I present some images of Ottoman arms and armour in this exceptional museum.

Military History Museum Vienna

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A richly decorated battle-axe.

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The helmet and mail-and-plate armour of a Mamluk warrior of the Ottoman army.

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Horsetails, Turkish insignia.

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A military knife or dagger.

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Lower arm protector.

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A Saber

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The decorated hilt of the sword of the Ottoman commander Kasim Bey.

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Sword with scabbard.

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Ottoman Sancak standard.
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CONTINUE READING IN PART II
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Periklis Deligiannis