Right - An Ottoman court general a-la suite uniform (around 1900).

Right - The 1876 Aiguillette for Aides-De-Camp to the Sultan - was a unique item of rank insignia, Not only used in its conventional sense, as a working symbol of a staff-officer’s authority, it was also granted as an honour to various officers. The Annuaire oriental du commerce, de l'industrie, de l'administration et de la magistrature (Constantinople 1891) held at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, annually published the full index of the Imperial Ottoman Government and this actually listed, not only the Feriks (or Generals of Division), whom were entitled Aides-de-Camp Honraires, to the Sultan. In the Ottoman Turkish empire the aide-de-camp was considered to be a title of honour; The Annuaire oriental du commerce, (Constantinople 1891), included in this list all the Lieutenants, Captains etc who were also entitled ‘Aides-de-Camp Honraires’.

Above/Right - K: Three Gold Cuff Stars and Crescents: Higher Military Supervisory Commission: The Office of the Khedive of Egypt, as Aides-De-Camp to the Sultan.

• Right - As can be seen, this particular insignia is clearly seen on the uniform of Ottoman General Gazi Ahmed Muhtar Pasha. In 1885, he was the Ottoman official with the title – Commissioner Extraordinary sent to Cairo, Egypt to represent the Sultan’s sovereignty over Egypt [1].

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[1] Oded Peri. Ottoman Symbolism in British-Occupied Egypt, 1882-1909. Middle Eastern Studies. Vol. 41, No. 1 (Jan., 2005), pp. 103-120.

Right - A Portrait of Prince Abdurrahim Efendi, Son of Sultan Abdulhamid II, 1900, by Fausto Zonaro (this is the same boy, who was seven years old at the time, photographed with the rest of his brothers - pictured above).

Above - Each of the sultan's sons in this photograph wears a complete version of the following uniforms:

• Oldest Brother (far left): Captain (possibly Lieutenant) in the 1st Lancers. This is indicated by the double lace cuff chevrons, and the fringeless epaulettes. He is also wearing an early (1900) version of the later 1909 Army officers’ lamb wool kalpak with a top six-point star made of gilt lace.
• Younger Brother (far right): 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Lancers, indicated by the single lace cuff chevrons,and the fringeless epaulettes. Like his older brother (and Prince Efendi) he is also wearing the 1900/1909 Army officers’ lamb wool kalpak.
• Two young brothers (middle): Place Guard Company (see bwlow).

Right - The distinctive Paraderabatte (red button-on chest lapels, with embroidered star-burst) [1].

Each soldier in the regiment had a gold star badge on their cuff, identifying them as Aides-De-Camp to the Sultan.

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[1] A photograph of the 1893 flag for the Hejaz Division (which were the troops occupying the Hajaz province, belonging to the 16th (Hejaz) division of the Turkish army) appears to have a similar star burst to that represented in this picture from Askeri Muze ve Kultur Sitesti Komutanligi. (1986) Osmanli askeri teskilat ve kiyafetleri: 1876-1908 [Ottoman military organization and uniforms] Yayinlari. 

Right - The special uniform (from an 1895 French magazine illustration) of the Imperial Courts' Halberdiers.

• Units like these were a feature of all the various European courts and the time.
• In the Ottoman court, traditionally called the 'Baltadjis', these had been a Janissary regiment whose role (armed with axes) was to clear the Sultan's path, of trees etc on campaign, and to set up his tent.

The function of this guard unit, was that "form a route called the 'holy corridor' for the Sultan to visit the Mosque" [1].

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[1] Jack Cassin-Scott, John Fabb, 1973 Ceremonial Uniforms of the World, Hippocrene Books: Plate 44 description.

Right – A minister's guards uniforms depicted in Fausto Zonaro 1896 painting of the 'British Ambassadors’ Daughter in Palanquin'.

Right - A 'Police des Palais' officer.

Right – the Sultan's landau coach driver.