The Red Kaganate

Last Page Update: March 6, 2001 Contact Copyright Information Main Page Structure of the Red Kaganate Gatherings, Events, . . . Historic Steppes Tribes Legends of the Nomads Flags and other Identifiers Clothing and Apearance Food and related Matters Armour Archery Weapons and Combat Public Forum Resource Links Email: [email protected] Editor: Norman J. Finkelshteyn The Tamgha "The complex system of Turkish tribal tamghas included animals, tridents and various other symbols, though it is possible that the trident itself was a very simplified bow and arrow. It certainly became a military symbol among the Mongols in the 13th and 14th centuries." (Nicolle, Sourcebook) "Turco-Mongol tribal tamga emblems would have a strong influence on later medieval Balkan and Polish heraldry but not in ...Armenia..." (Nicolle, Sourcebook) "...the supposed human forms seen on Muslim banners by various 12th-century Crusaders might have been misunderstood Turkish tribal tamghas..." (Nicolle, Sourcebook) [In Russia] "...the first pagan rulers are believed to have used tribal emblems comparable to the tamgas of the steppe nomads..." (Nicolle, Sourcebook) [Sassanian Iran] "In addition to eagles, dragons, sun and moon, there were various geometric or apparently abstract shapes which had much in common with Central Asian tribal tamghas and were worn on the caps, costume and horse-covering caparisons of the military elite." (Nicolle, Sourcebook) Citations to "Nicolle, Sourcebook" are to - David Nicolle, Medieval Warfare Sourcebook: Christian Europe and its Neighbors, Brokhampton Press, London, 1998.