Seljuk’s hunting interest; Emir-i Shikarlar

The Seljukians didn’t give up the cult of hunting derived from their ancestors, both the sultans of the Great Seljukian State and the Turkey Seljukian State organized glorious hunting ceremonies and prepared meals called as “toy” for their guests. There were rulers called as “Emir-i Şikar (bazdar)” who were merely busy with the hunting activities and they always dealt with all of the duties covering the hunting such as the training of the birds that would participate to the hunting ceremonies.

The history of hunting is old as the human history. The humans have been dealing with many activities to cover their needs and continue their existence till learning the usage of rifle and therefore created many rites.. The hunting was at the centre of Turkish people life related with their geography in which they lived. They cover their needs and continue their life by means of the meat of the hunted animals and made boots from their skins, made clothes and cap from their fur, made arch and musical instruments from their horns and made skiing vehicles from their bones. They also thought the hunting as the most important practice before wars. The Seljukians didn’t give up the cult of hunting derived from their ancestors, both the sultans of the Great Seljukian State and the Turkey Seljukian State organized glorious hunting ceremonies and prepared meals called as “toy” for their guests. There were rulers called as “Emir-i Şikar (bazdar)” who were merely busy with the hunting activities and they always dealt with all of the duties covering the hunting such as the training of the birds that would participate to the hunting ceremonies.

Emir-i Şikar occupied an important place in terms of its location. He was closest to the sultan. Emir-Şikar was responsible for the supply and use of hunting materials and meat which are necessary for hunting ceremonies and entertainments. There were some soldiers under the command of these orders. Because the duties of Emir-i Şikar were not a job for one person. He used to have assistants with Emir-i Şikar. They were also called hunting people. The main task of the hunting people was to care for and train game birds and dogs for use in hunting. Of course, not only birds but also dogs were used for hunting. We can see this even in treaties. As a result of the agreement made with the Mongols in the Kösedağ war, there was also the provision of hunting dogs among the items (Turan 1971: 445). Just as there were officers in the palace who trained the birds, there were also those who trained the dogs. They were called Sekbancı. The officers, called Turnacı, who used to train the dogs that were used to follow and trace the birds. When the Sultan went hunting, whatever kind of bird he wanted, Emir-i Şikar would take that bird from the arms of the officials, called the hunting people, who carried the trained birds in his arms and gave it to the Sultan.