Ottoman Sultan Bayezid “the Thunderbolt”

• Altar Modelling
• Ottoman Sultan Bayezid “the Thunderbolt” figure
• Code: ALT-09-04
• 25mm white metal, model figure. 2 pieces
• Requires assembly and painting. Paint and glue not included in the box.

“...you have sworn not to raise arms against me, I now return this oath to you. When you go back to your country and when you decide to fight against me again, you may invite all sovereigns of Europe into an alliance. The more allies and the bigger the army you may manage to assemble, the bigger chance you will present to me to gain glory. Be sure, you will see me at battlefields all the time, because I was born to fight and win victories. Those attempting to be ahead of me would always fall behind me...”

Sultan Bayezid’s remarks to his prisoner John the Fearless, Count of Nevers. John, among with many other nobles from Europe fell captive to Bayezid at the Battle of Nicopolis in 1396 (1)

2009 marks the anniversary of a very important event in Ottoman history. 620 years ago, in 1389, one of the mightiest and most important sultans of the Ottoman dynasty, Bayezid I, ascended to the Ottoman throne.

Bayezid’s seal as Ottoman Sultan

Born in 1360 as son of Ottoman ruler Murad Hudavendigar. He replaced his father when his father was killed at the battlefield in Kosovo in 1389, making him the only Ottoman sultan to come to throne at battlefield. Due to his speed and courage at battles since his days as sehzade (crown prince) he was nicknamed “thunderbolt”. He is the first Ottoman Sultan to lay siege to the city of Istanbul (1391). He continued Ottoman conquests in Rumelia and continued efforts to control Anatolian beyliks. European powers trying to expel Ottomans from Europe, led by King of Hungary Sigismund and Pope, managed to assemble a massive crusader army, which Bayezid defeated decisively at Nicopolis in 1396. This proved military genius of Bayezid. This great, proud commander suffered a defeat at the Battle of Ankara against another great Turkish commander Tamerlane in 1402. Before being captured, he resisted alone to attackers with his battle axe, killing those trying to approach him. Bayezid lost his life in captivity in 1403. He is buried at his tomb in Bursa.

We wanted a pose that would reflect Bayezid’s character as a great warrior and brave leader. Therefore, we portrayed his last attack at the Battle of Ankara in 1402 where he fought against hundreds of Timurid soldiers with a heavy battle axe alone.

Sultan Bayezid at the final phase of Battle of Ankara in 1402, defending himself bravely. This illustration is commissoned by Altar Modelling to illustrator Miguel Coimbra.
Source: Altar Modelling. All rightts reserved. Cannot be copied of reproduced.

Altar Modelling 25mm figures are produced in compatible with Old Glory (USA) 25mm range figures.

Stages of sculpting the master figure:

Figure comes in two pieces: main body and helf hand holding the axe. Historical resources do not specify whether Bayezid used primarily his right hand or left hand. As maybe known, great warriors were skilled using both hands effectively when it came to weapons.

Sultan Bayezid hunting
Source: Hünername, Doğan Kardeş, İstanbul 1969

Sultan Bayezid breaks the siege at Nicopolis and comes close at night to the besieged castle of Nicopolis and encouarages the castle commander Dogan Bey.
Source: Hünername, Doğan Kardeş, İstanbul 1969

Sultan Bayezid
Source: From Kapıdağlı series, post card

Sultan Bayezid
Topkapı Palace Museum, İstanbul
Source: Hayat Tarih Mecmuası, Ocak 1972

This limited number figure have been released in May 2009, on the 620th anniversary of Sultan Bayezid ascending to the Ottoman throne.

This figure is the first 25mm scale, wargame figure ever produced by a Turkish company at world modelling standards with a theme from vast Turkish political, military, social and cultural history. We do have the honour to be the first.

Click to read the review of Altar's 25mm figures at world's leading wargame magazine "Wargames Illustrated"s August 2009 issue.

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All rights reserved. Pictures and text cannot be used or copied without permission.