A Janisary in his Full Dress in 1700

by Thomas Jefferys

This elegant copperplate engraving from the 18th century depicts the members of the elite infantry of the Ottoman Sultan, giving us a chance to see what those important men looked like in their time. The Janissary in Full Dress shows us in detail how the old medieval warrior has evolved into a complex figure of early-1700s warfare.

The central element in the picture is the Keçe, the large white felt headdress decorated with a hanging sleeve, symbolizing the sleeve of the Bektashi dervish who gave this blessing to the corps. Using detailed lines, Jefferys captures the large silk robe of the soldier along with his Yatagan, which is the curved sword that is placed into a wide belt. This engraving is much more than a simple illustration of dress code—it is an example of "Turquerie", a craze for Eastern clothing in Europe.