Acemi Oglan Troops (Ottomans)

Here is my just completed unit of trainee Janissaries, or Azamoglami, drawn from the Acemi Oglan school. The figures are Hinchliffe with TAG officers and I'm quite pleased with how they have turned out. The castings were also very clean and tidy to work with. As I already have a fair number of Ottomans with firearms I may restrict this unit to garrison service (siege games), there is some evidence they occasionally carried out police duties. Contemporary paintings and prints show members in a uniform coat colour, usually blue, or a multi-range of coat colours. I think a uniform-issue coat seems quite probable if only for financial advantages. MGB

Turkish Janissaries

Have just completed a new unit of Janissaries. This is an early portrayal armed with bills and kalkan (cane) shields. Less uniformed than my other ortas, they are predominantly in shades of green. I think these additional 'blades' will be useful in any siege games. MGB

Ottoman Turkish intervention in Spain 1490-1529

Preoccupied with campaigns elsewhere in the Mediterranean, the Ottomans limited their support for Moorish Spain to coastal raids. Even so, the fear of a large scale intervention must have been a constant concern to all the Christian states on the Iberian Peninsular. It was the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II that sent Admiral Kemal Reis with a fleet to cooperate with the Emir of Granada, Abu Abdullah. During 1490-5 this naval force assaulted Malaga, and even captured Almeria, in addition to raiding the Balearic Islands. Despite the fall of Granada in 1492, the Ottomans continued to terrorize the coastal population with further raids in 1501, during 1513-14, and in 1529. Here are some Ottoman galleys. Constructed of plastic card with wood masts, they are surprisingly robust models. Bold paintwork and exotic cloth coverings were typical for all the states using such vessels. With detachable bombards these galleys can cover quite a few centuries of armed conflict, providing interesting wargame scenarios. Not sure if any Janissaries actually participated on these raids but I've included a yellow-coated orta armed with composite bows (TAG Miniatures). MGB

Solaks, the Sultan's Footguards (Ottomans)

The Solaks were the Ottoman Sultan's personal bodyguard. Recruited from the 60th and 63rd Benluk Janissaries they numbered about 400 men. Where the Sultan went his guards would follow, for they were also entrusted with his personal baggage. Although officially armed with the composit bow they are occasionally depicted on horseback, carrying a lance with a red pennant, but no shield. Another period painting shows some mounted Solaks in advance of the main army, perhaps they also confirmed proposed routes on campaign. Their distinctive headress was exclusive to their corps, although it appears some Janissary officers also wore it. The Solaks certainly received uniform clothing but are also depicted in their own choice of garments. Here are my 28mm Solaks, foot and horse, heavy converts. The other characters are TAG, ESSEX, REDOUBT and some more of my own. MGB