A Janisary in his Common Dress in 1700

by Thomas Jefferys

Take a tour through the visual timeline of the Ottoman Empire through this amazing copperplate engraving from the middle of the 18th century. Created by none other than Thomas Jefferys, the famed geographer, this artwork features one of the Ottoman Sultan’s elite infantry troops called the Janissaries in his ordinary wear.

This artwork does not feature the lavish ceremonial wear or “peacock” uniforms that are popular in lithographic prints in subsequent years. Rather, this illustration depicts the practical sophistication of the Janissary’s wear in the early 18th century. The copperplate engraving highlights the distinctive Keleke (felt cap) adorned with its characteristic trailing sleeve. This design represents the Janissary’s roots as a regiment formed at the table of the Sultan himself.