Painted panel of a cassone called the Conquest of Trebizond

[Druzhina]

I was interested to read that the painted panel of a cassone called the ’Conquest of Trebizond’ does not represent an imagined final battle between Trebizondians on the left and Ottomans on the right (there was no battle before the capture of Trebizond), but, instead it is a battle between Ottomans on the left (near the image of Constantinople) and Timurids or Turkmen on the right (near Trebizond).

None of the Ottomans seem to wear the ak börk sleeve cap typical of Janissaries, see a woodcut of The Battle of Zonchio (Navarino), 1499 and many latter illustrations of Ottoman Janissaries, but there is also the kuka worn by senior janissary officers and solaks:

Çeverbaşı. Colonel of the Janissaries. Distinctive high white head-dress (kuka) with gold brim and very large plume (süpürge sorguçlu) at top and a smaller plume in a holder.


Solak. Wears the distinctive high white head-dress (kuka) with gold brim and very large fan-shaped plume (süpürge sorguçlu). Two smaller plumes in a holder.
From Hans Sloan's Album, "The Habits of the Grand Signor's Court", SL.5258, Turkey, c.1620

A Turkish Janissary, c. 1480, by Gentile Bellini gives a 15th century European impression of the kuka. See also an Ottoman painting in Khusrau and Shirin, A.H. 904, (1498–99AD) where one rider has a tall white hat with gold rim.

On the cassone a mounted figure & infantryman to left of centre both have white caps that fold over at the top. Although one hat is gold, both hats of two warriors on the far left seem to have a slight folding over of the tip of their hats. A mounted figure on the left wears a pointed white cap with plume.

The gold coloured hats may be based on Peyks. In a painting of the siege of Rhodes Peyks marching before the Sultan wear a thimble-shaped tall cap called a külâh-i peyk, Solaks are beside the Sultan. The külâh-i peyk was often made of brass.

A detail of the left of the ’Conquest of Trebizond’ Cassone.
A detail of the centre of the ’Conquest of Trebizond’ Cassone.
A detail of the right of the ’Conquest of Trebizond’ Cassone.

MIRROR SITE
A painted panel of a cassone called the ’Conquest of Trebizond’

Druzhina
15th Century Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

Interesting. I always thought it represented a battle between Ottomans and Trebizondians.

[Temüjin]

that's interesting, but how do we really know? neither sides looks typcial for the soldiers of either ottomans or timurids, in fact i have trouble telling who is who.

[Druzhina]

It was rather wishful thinking to assume that the Trebizondians were on the left, just because they did not have turbans (ignoring that the main character does) when you would expect them to be on the right where the city is labelled Trebizond. The inscription TANVRLANA seems to be strong evidence. The artist probably only had 3rd hand evidence about what Ottomans looked like, and this was of those seen around the Sultan; and even less knowledge about Timurids or Turkmen. He does seem to have included a left-handed Ottoman archer so may have heard that Solak is associated with 'left'.

In any case it is better to be doubtful about this painting rather than consider it the main source for the appearance of 15th century Trebizondian costume & soldiers.

Druzhina
15th Century Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers