Kilij

For the Seljuk sultans of Rûm, seeKilij Arslan.

Various kilij from the Hellenic War Museum (Athens, Greece)

Ottoman kilij 19th century; this type with a short, broad blade is known as a "pala"; 27 in (69 cm) blade, 33 in (84 cm) total.

Akilij(fromTurkishkılıç,literally "sword" )is a type of one-handed, single-edged and curvedscimitarused by theSeljuk Empire,Timurid Empire,Mamluk Empire,Ottoman Empire,and other Turkic khanates ofEurasian steppesandTurkestan.These blades developed from earlierTurko-Mongol sabersthat were in use in lands controlled or influenced by theTurkic peoples.

History

The upper sword appears to be an exaggerated parade piece or executioner's sword, the second down is typical of a later kilij, the third has the characteristics of an earlier kilij and the lowest one possibly has a later European-style blade. Imperial Armoury, Topkapi, Istanbul

Etymology

Most ofTurkologistsandlinguistsincludingBican ErcilasunandSevan Nişanyanthink that it is derived from the Turkic rootkıl-which means "to forge" or "to smith", with the diminutive suffix-ıçwhich createskıl-ıç(roughly "ironwork", i.e. "sword" ). Also one of the earliest mentions of the word was also recorded askılıç(altun kurugsakımın kılıçın kesipen,anOld Turkicphrase from theOrkhon Inscriptionswhich was erected in 735 AD) in the age ofTurkic Khaganate,instead of the other suggested Old Turkic reconstructed form ofkırınç.However, according toTurkish Language Association,the Turkish root verbkır-which means "to kill"with the suffix-inçmakeskır-ınç(instrument for killing) becomeskılınç,thenkılıç,which is apparently not based on the earliest attested forms of the word.

The kilij became the symbol of power and kingdom. For example,Seljukrulers carried the nameKilij Arslan(kılıç-arslan) means "sword-lion".

Origins

The Central Asian Turks and their offshoots began using curved cavalry swords beginning from the lateXiongnuperiod.The earliest examples of curved, single edged Turkish swords can be found associated with the late Xiongnu andKök-Turkempires.These swords were made ofpattern weldedhigh carbon crucible steel, generally with long slightly curved blades with one sharp edge. A sharp back edge on the distal third of the blade known asyalmanoryelmanwas introduced during this period.

Vienna, Treasury of the German Order. Ottoman sabres (17th century)

A BritishHussargeneral with a scabbarded kilij of Turkish manufacture (1812).

In the Early Middle Ages, the Turkic people of Central Asia came into contact with Middle Eastern civilizations through their shared Islamic faith. TurkicGhilmanslave-soldiers serving under the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates introduced kilij-type sabers to all of the other Middle Eastern cultures. Previously, Arabs and Persians used straight-bladed swords such as the earlier types of the Arabsaif,takobaandkaskara.

During Islamizaton of the Turks, the kilij became more and more popular in the Islamic armies. When the Seljuk Empire invaded Persia and became the first Turkic Muslim political power in Western Asia, kilij became the dominant sword form. The Iranian (Persian)shamshirwas created during the TurkicSeljuk Empireperiod of Iran/Persia.

Evolution of the Ottoman kilij

The kilij as a specific type of sabre associated with theOttoman Turksstarts to appear historically from primarily the mid 15th century. One of the oldest known examples is attributed toÖzbeg Khan,khaghanof theGolden Horde,from the early 14th century, and is currently on display in theHermitage Museumin St Petersburg.The oldest surviving examples sport a long blade curving slightly from the hilt and more strongly in the distal half. The width of the blade stays narrow (with a slight taper) up until the last 30% of its length, at which point it flares out and becomes wider. This distinctive flaring tip is called ayalman"false edge", and it greatly adds to the cutting power of the sword. Ottoman sabres of the next couple of centuries were often of the Seljuk variety, though the native kilij form was also found; Iranian blades (that did not have theyalman) were fitted with Ottoman hilts. These hilts normally had slightly longerquillonsto the guard, which was usually of brass or silver, and sported a rounded termination to the grips, usually made of horn, unlike that seen on Iranian swords (Iranian swords usually had iron guards and the grip terminated in a hook-shape often with a metal pommel sheathing). The finest mechanicalDamascusandwootz steelwere often used in making of these swords. In the classical period of the Ottoman Empire, Bursa, Damascus and the Derbent regions became the most famous swordsmithing centers of the empire. Turkish blades became a major export item to Europe and Asia.

In the late 18th century, though shamshirs continued to be used, the kilij underwent an evolution: the blade was shortened, became much more acutely curved, and was wider with an even deeperyalman.In addition to the flared tip, these blades have a distinct "T-shaped" cross section to the back of the blade. This allowed greater blade stiffness without an increase in weight. Because of the shape of the tip of the blade and the nature of its curvature the kilij could be used to perform the thrust; in this it had an advantage over theshamshirwhose extreme curvature did not allow the thrust.Some of these shorter kilij are also referred to aspala,but there does not seem to be a clear-cut distinction in nomenclature.

After theAuspicious Incident,the Turkish army was modernized in the European fashion and kilijs were abandoned for western-type cavalry sabers andsmallswords.This change, and the introduction of industrialized European steels to Ottoman market, created a great decline in traditional swordsmithing. Civilians in the provinces and county militia (zeybeksin Western Anatolia,bashi-bazouksinthe Balkan provinces), continued to carry hand-made kilijs as a part of their traditional dress. In the late 19th century, SultanAbdul Hamid II's palace guards, the Ertuğrul Brigade, which was composed ofnomadic Turksof Anatolia, carried traditional kilijs as a romantic-nationalistic revival of the earlier Ottoman Turkoman cavalry raiders. This sentiment continued after dethronement of the sultan by the nationalistYoung Turks.High-ranking officer non-regulation dress saber of early 20th century was a modern composite of traditional kilij, "mameluke" and European cavalry saber.

Adoption by Western armed forces

Sabres were known and used in eastern, and to a lesser extent central Europe from the time of the Magyar invasions, beginning in the 9th century (see the so-calledSabre of Charlemagne). Following the Ottoman invasion of Balkans, however, European armies were introduced to the kilij itself. The kilij first became popular with the Balkan nations and the Hungarian hussar cavalry after 15th century. Around 1670, thekarabela(from Turkish wordkarabela:black bane) evolved, based on Janissary kilij sabres; it became the most popular sword-form in the Polish army. During 17th and 18th centuries, curved sabers that evolved from Turkish kilij were widespread throughout Europe.

The Ottomans' historical dominance of the region ensured the use of the sword by other nations, notably the Mamluks in Egypt. During theNapoleonic Wars,the French conquest of Egypt brought these swords to the attention of the Europeans. This type of sabre became very popular for light cavalry officers, in both France and Britain, and became a fashionable sword for senior officers to wear. In 1831 the "Mameluke", as the sword was now called, became a regulation pattern for British general officers (the1831 Pattern,still in use today). The American victory over the rebellious forces in the citadel ofTripoliin 1805 during theFirst Barbary War,led to the presentation of bejewelled examples of these swords to the senior officers of theUS Marines.Officers of the US Marine Corps still use a mameluke pattern dress sword. Although some genuine Turkish kilij sabres were used by Westerners, most "mameluke sabres" were manufactured in Europe; their hilts were very similar in form to the Ottoman prototype, but their blades, even when an expandedyelmanwas incorporated, tended to be longer, narrower and less curved than those of the true kilij.

Terminology

Terminology and names of parts of a classical era Turkish kilij

TheTurkish languagehas numerous terminology describing swords, swordsmithing, parts and types of blades. Below is listed some of the terminology about names of the main parts of a kilij and scabbard in order of the term, literal translation of the Turkish word, and its equivalent in English terminology of swords.

Term	Literal translation	Equivalent in English sword terminology – Meaning
Taban	Base	Overall metal body of the sword that is composed of tang and blade
Namlu	Barrel	Blade
Kabza	Hilt	Hilt
Balçak		Guard
Siperlik	Cover	Quillion
Kabza aşırması		Knuckle bow
Kuyrukortugru	Tail	Tang
Boyun	Neck (of the handle)	Grip
Kabza başı	Head of the handle	Pommel
Kabza tepeliği		Pommel cap
Perçinorçij	Rivet	Rivet
Zıh	Frieze or border	Thin metal border that covers intersections of handle and tang
Ağızoryalım	Mouth	Edge
Sırt	Back	Back
Yiv,olukorgöl	Chamfer, groove or lake	Fuller
Set	Bank	Ridge
Yalman		Double edged end section of the blade
Mahmuz	Spur	Martle
Namlu yüzü	Face of the blade	Flat of the blade
Süvreoruç	Point or tip	Point
Kın	Scabbard	Scabbard
Ağızlık	Mouthpiece	Locket
Çamurluk	Bumper	Chape
Balçak oyuğu	Guard cavity	Section of the locket where handguard fits in
Bilezik	Bangle	Ring mount
Taşıma halkası	Carrying ring	Suspension ring
Gövde	Body	Main part of the scabbard

See also

• Dao (sword)
• Turko-Mongol sabers
• Mameluke sword– a derivative of the kilij
• Pulwar
• Saif
• Shamshir
• Tulwar
• Yatagan– another distinctive Turkish sword
• Sabre
• Szabla
• Scimitar

References

• Stone, G. C. and LaRocca, D. J. (1999).A glossary of the construction, decoration and use of arms and armor in all countries and in all times.Courier Dover Publications.ISBN0-486-40726-8.
• ÖGEL, Bahaeddin, "Türk Kılıcının Menşe ve Tekamülü Hakkında", A.Ü. DTCF Dergisi, 6, 1948
• The Kilij and Shamshir. Turkish and Persian sabersArchived2012-03-21 at theWayback Machine