Ottoman Empire: Flags depicted in various sources

20th century

Last modified: 2013-08-10 by ivan sache
Keywords: crescent (white) | star: 8 points (white) | kapudan pasha |
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• Flags in Siegel's charts (1912)
• Flags in National Geographic (1917)

See also:

• Ottoman Empire

Flag in Siegel's chart (1912)

Flag of the Kapudan Pasha - Image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 24 October 2008

The flag of Kapudan Pasha, showed on chart #63, fourth row, second column, is purple with a white crescent and eight-pointed star.
According to Wikipedia the Kapudan Pascha was the admiral of the highest rank in the Ottoman Navy, that is some kind of Admiral of the Fleet. Furthermore he was member of the state's High Council, having the rank of a Minister of the Navy. He was also Governor of maritime provinces like Rhodes, Cyprus (1570-1703) and Crete.
The word "kapudan" was derived from Latin capitanus (captain), derived from caput (head). The word pasha is derived either from Turkish baş ağ, with baş meaning "head" and ağ "lord", "chief" or, as "padishah", from Persian pati (lord), which seems to be of Sanskrit origin, and shah (king).

Klaus-Michael Schneider, 24 October 2008

Siegel notes: Mit einen gezackten Wimpel darüber., with a forked pennant over it.

Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 25 October 2008