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Solakbaşı

Illustration 096 from:

Costumes Orientaux
Recueil de costumes et vêtements de l'Empire ottoman au 18e siècle
Collection of costumes and clothing of the Ottoman Empire in the 18th century
Owned by Joseph Gabriel Monnier

Solak bachi : commandant des Solaks, tirés du corps des janissaires chargés de veiller à la sureté publique de Constantinople
commander of the Solaks, drawn from the corps of janissaries responsible for watching over the public safety of Constantinople

    The Djémaat Ortas 60, 61, 62 and 63 were called Solak, (left-handed). The Solaks or archers, bodyguards of the Sultan, were drawn from these Ortas.
    Previously each of these Ortas provided a hundred men. These guards, whether the Sultan was in Constantinople or that he was in the theatre of war, always walked on foot and to the left of the person of His Majesty.
    The chief of these guards had the title of Solakbaşı and was charged with the mission of holding the Sultan's horse by the bridle whenever His Majesty crossed a bridge, a river, etc.
Source: pp.30-31, État militaire ottoman depuis la fondation de l'Empire jusqu'a nos jours (1882) by A. Djevad Bey