"Moghul Period Muslim Indian War Elephants" Topic

I have decided to pursue a Moghul period Muslim Indian army, and from my reading/references I can only find that Hindu war elephants were painted. I am trying to find out if Muslim elephants were also painted, as this sure would make for some very pretty looking elements. If anyone has any information or knows that Muslim Indian elephants were also painted I am grateful for the help.

Terry

I don't know if they were painted but definitely were heavily decorated. I would suggest you get Ospreys Mughal India 1501-1761. In the later periods obviously the elephant was not used.

What scale and figs are you using?

Thanks Ashokmarine, I agree, and they will have some decoration. The figure comes with a sort of headband with a tassle I believe. I am doing 15 MM, and specifically the Deccan army of c. 1527. My question comes from reading the WRG book on the late medieval period, volume 2, which shows a Hindu elephant with the face painted with a large pink area edged red and filled with red dots. Something like that looks really cool and can sure add some color to the element.

As a follow on, the DBR army list book, also describes that the Muslims usually fought from Howdahs on their elephants and had troops on foot advance with them to help protect them from enemy foot. Then it says they had a few armored elephnats with 4 arquebusiers, but the way it is worded, that is not clear as to weither the 4 arquebusiers were in a howdah or just on the back of the elephant. To add confusion, most battle paintings I've seen show Moghul elephnats with just a driver and one or two other guys riding on the back of the elephant, and no howdah.

I would love to get the Osprey book on the Moghuls but it is out of print, and I have not been able to find a copy.

Thanks again for the help,

Terry

Terry yes I just looked and the cheapest used copy is $35 USD on Amazon.Quite pricey.

The two prints in the book do not show paint or howdahs.The musket men are not using a howdah.

Just from what I have read I think they would have used both. Just depended on the prince at that time and resources. They even put swivel guns on elephants!

I tried to scan a copy for you cannot get the full picture without damaging the binding. But it does show the elephants and how they look. I can email you what I have if you like.

marinesc2001@yahoo.com

Terry,

Not long ago I considered starting a Moghul project and did some preliminary research and searching of images. Rather out of character, I resisted the impulse to buy yet more figures that I'll never get around to painting. What stuck was respect for their culture and the beauty of Moghul painting.

link

In answer to your question, I've seen little evidence that the Moghuls painted their elephants, although they're still decorated with colorful furniture, tassels, etc. And of course you have the signature fully-armored elephants.

Steve

Elephants in Moghul forces were provided by Imperial troops and by the numerous vassals. Illustrations show a wide range of colours, equipment, armour etc… Basically go to town, the more colour the better.

There were four kinds of elephant:

wild: occasionally used to stampede into an enemy.

trained: standard 'living bulldozer' types still seen working today. Often they were given heavy armour for the head and back when they were used in sieges to push in doors.

war: raised and trained for battle as part of a permanent unit of elephant, driver, crew and infantry 'foot guards' (by Moghul times 8-12 per beast, rather than the 20-30 earlier). Armour was common, towers used when appropriate as were basic fighting platforms.

riding: fast unarmoured elephants with the warrior astride the neck and sometimes a driver/standard bearer on the rump. These died out during the Moghul era (they had been more popular in the South anyhow) but lots of Generals and heroic combats are illustrated fighting in this style (often with a cavalry escort).

nb most surviving elephant illustrations are Moghul period.

Tom..

A few samples below of Moghul elephants. I used Moghul patterns of the Babur era. The cav is persian.

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That's some great painting, excellent brush work, more pictures please!