Ottoman coat of arms

Queen Victoria, trying to establish good relations during the Crimean War with the Ottoman Empire, admitted Sultan Abdülmecid I to the Order of the Garter in November, 1856. He was the first non-Christian ruler to be admitted to the Order.

The spiritual home of the Order is St George's Chapel, Windsor. Every knight is required to display a banner of his arms in the Chapel, together with a helmet, crest and sword and an enamelled stallplate.

However, the Ottoman Sultan had no coat of arms. Consequently an English officer of arms, Charles Young (1795-1869), was appointed to create a coat of arms for the Ottoman Empire. Young came to Istanbul and carried out research to establish features which would be suitable to the European arms tradition. He was assisted by the dragoman of the British Embassy, Etienne Pisani (d. 1882).

Like the crescent motif, the coat of arms is very much a product of the Tanzimat era and the associated diplomatic balancing act with European powers.

Abdülmecid I’s successor and brother, Sultan Abdülaziz was also admitted to the Order of the Garter in 1867.

George Housman Thomas (1824-68)
The Investiture of Sultan Abdülaziz with the Order of the Garter, 17 July 1867

The components of the coat of arms as it appeared under Sultan Abdul Hamid  II are described below.

The sun ornament around the Tugra stems from the resemblance, sultan and sun.

Tugra (Seal of the Sultan). The Ottoman Sultan was placed in the seat of honour above the State and his subjects. Alonside the tughra is an additional inscription which translates to 'muslim warrier', a title held by Abdul Hamid II. The tugra, that is to say, the sultan, as seen in the coat-of-arms is the sun lighting up the Ottoman territories.

Below the tughra there is an Arabic inscription: “'The ruler of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Abdul Hamid, who puts his trust in God”.'

The crested turban on the upper section of the shield is a symbol of world dominion, representing the Ottoman throne and its founder Osman Gazi.

The flags - green was a symbol of Islam and represented the Caliphate. The red flag represented the military and secular aspects of the Empire.

Under the rule of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, scales and weapons were added to the coat of arms on the 17th of April, 1882.

The weapons represent the military strength of the Empire

On the right-hand side of the Ottoman coat-of-arms, the following weapons and symbols were depicted from above, respectively:

- Spear

- Single-bladed hatchet

- Double-bladed hatchet

- Spear

- Sword

- Cannon

- War trumpet, armour or Shield

- Sword

- Iron mace

- Cannon balls

On the left-hand section of the Ottoman coat-of-arms, the following weapons and symbols were depicted from above, respectively:

- Spear

- Bayonet-rifle

- Single-bladed hatchet

- Revolver

- Şeşper (six-fold mace) or scepter

In addition, the following symbols appear on the left side.

- Scales of Justice

- The Holy Koran

- Statute books

- Cornucopia

- Anchor representing the navy

In the small group below the central shield, the following symbols were depicted on the shield:

- Zurna (wind instrument)

- Lantern

- Quiver

- Floral motif

- Medals (Nişans) right to left:

Nişan-ı Ali imtiyaz (Order of Honour) 1780* 

Nişan-ı Osmani (Order of Osmanieh) 1861

Nişan-ı iftihar (Order of Glory) 1831

Mecidi Nişanı (Order of the Medjidie) 1851

Şefkat Nişanı (Order of Charity) 1878

*It was revived on 17 December 1878 by Sultan Abdul Hamid II. This was the highest order in the Ottoman Empire. 
© John Dunn.