THE SWORD GIRDING CEREMONY in OTTOMAN

Throughout history, the sword, considered to be the symbol of heroism, was regarded as the sign of power by the Ottoman sultans and considered sacred as a representative of justice and peace. Among the Ottoman palace traditions, sword girding had an important place in the enthronement ceremony. This ceremony symbolizes the sovereignty of the ruler like the coronation ceremony of the Western kings. The "Sword Regiment" ceremony which was Initiated by Sultan Murad I, became a tradition and later sword girding was practiced in the enthronement of all the new sultans. In this ceremony, which took place within a certain order and protocol, the sword that belonged to one of the Four Caliphs or one of the sultans, such as Fatih Sultan Mehmed was girded on the new ruler. The sword regiments were generally performed in the presence of the palace officials and public during the first week follow- ing the new sultan's ascension to the throne. Following the morning prayer on the appointed day, the sultan who reached Eyüp by land or sea and was met here by the state officials, was accompanied by those who participated in the ceremony and came to the holy tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, known as Eyüp Sultan by the people of Istanbul. After the ceremony, the sultan visited the tombs of his ancestors. The sacrifice meat and gold coins were distributed to the public throughout the procession. The sword girding ceremony that proclaimed the sovereignty of the Sultan came to an end with the artillery shooting informing the people.




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