The Military Costumes of the Ottoman Empire

Introduction by Tamer El-Leithy
Hardcover| 84 pages | 30 illustrations | 22×29 cm | English
2000 | ISBN 9789775864048

English fascination with the Ottoman Empire traces back to the sixteenth century when official commercial relations were established between London and the Sublime Porte in 1580, further solidified by the establishment of a permanent English diplomatic mission in Istanbul in 1583. 

This annotated compilation of plates showcases thirty distinct military ranks and roles within the Imperial Ottoman army during the early nineteenth century. 

The striking images offer a glimpse into the attire of the Ottoman army before the transformative early nineteenth-century military reforms. They reflect the connection between clothing, social status, rank, and authority within Ottoman society, and European fascination with Ottoman attention to attire and public image.

This reissue of The Military Costume of Turkey, originally published by Thomas McLean in 1818, features hand­coloured plates complemented by detailed annotations. 

Tamer el-Leithy holds a PhD in medieval history from Princeton. He is currently assistant professor of history at Johns Hopkins University.