Although the weapon may have been in use in [[Safavid Iran]] as early as the 16th century, the earliest foreign eyewitness reports of its use came from the late Safavid period. It first appears in Iranian writings during the reign of [[Shah Abbas I]] ({{reign|1587|1629}}). The ”zamburak”, like other cannons, was used to honor foreign dignitaries.{{sfn|Matthee|1999}} A unit called the ”zamburak-khana” was eventually formed and was commanded by a ”zamburakchi-bashi”. During the late Safavid period, there were 3,000 ”zamburaks”.{{sfn|Floor|2021|p=233}} The [[Afsharid dynasty|Afsharid]] ruler [[Nader Shah]] ({{reign|1736|1747}}) used ”zamburaks” during his [[Nader Shah’s invasion of India|invasion of India]] between 1738–1739.{{sfn|Eskandari-Qajar|2005|p=54}} In a military parade in 1739/40, 1,700 ”zamburaks” were present.{{sfn|Matthee|1999}}
Although the weapon may have been in use in [[Safavid Iran]] as early as the 16th century, the earliest foreign eyewitness reports of its use came from the late Safavid period. It first appears in Iranian writings during the reign of [[Shah Abbas I]] ({{reign|1587|1629}}). The ”zamburak”, like other cannons, was used to honor foreign dignitaries.{{sfn|Matthee|1999}} A unit called the ”zamburak-khana” was eventually formed and was commanded by a ”zamburakchi-bashi”. During the late Safavid period, there were 3,000 ”zamburaks”.{{sfn|Floor|2021|p=233}} The [[Afsharid dynasty|Afsharid]] ruler [[Nader Shah]] ({{reign|1736|1747}}) used ”zamburaks” during his [[Nader Shah’s invasion of India|invasion of India]] between 1738–1739.{{sfn|Eskandari-Qajar|2005|p=54}} In a military parade in 1739/40, 1,700 ”zamburaks” were present.{{sfn|Matthee|1999}}
[[Image:Persian troops – camel artillery LCCN2014680190.jpg|thumb|Photograph of the ”zamburak”, dated 1910]]
[[Image:Persian troops – camel artillery LCCN2014680190.jpg|thumb|Photograph of the ”zamburak”, dated 1910]]
During the early [[Qajar Iran|Qajar]] period, Iran remained behind other powers in weapon technology and usage. Rifles continued to be supplied by the soldiers themselves. Other than the ”zamburak”, the artillery of the nation consisted mainly of weapons captured from the [[Portuguese Empire|Portugese]] in 1622 and from the [[Russian Empire|Russians]] during the 18th-century wars. In {{circa|1800}}, during the reign of [[Fath-Ali Shah Qajar]] ({{reign|1797|1834}}), there were around 1,500 ”zamburaks”. By then, the ”zamburak” had lost its significance and had become outdated. At the suggestion of European military advisors, Fath-Ali Shah disbanded the ”zamburak”, although it was soon restored.{{sfn|Matthee|1999}}
During the early [[Qajar Iran|Qajar]] period, Iran remained behind other powers in weapon technology and usage. Rifles continued to be supplied by the soldiers themselves. Other than the ”zamburak”, the artillery of the nation consisted mainly of weapons captured from the [[Portuguese Empire|Portugese]] in 1622 and from the [[Russian Empire|Russians]] during the 18th-century wars. In {{circa|1800}}, during the reign of [[Fath-Ali Shah Qajar]] ({{reign|1797|1834}}), there were around 1,500 ”zamburaks”. By then, the ”zamburak” had lost its significance and had become outdated. At the suggestion of European military advisors, Fath-Ali Shah disbanded the ”zamburak”, although it was soon restored.{{sfn|Matthee|1999}}
A neighborhood in [[Tehran]] near the Sar-e Qabr-e Agha mausoleum was originally named Goud Zanburkhaneh (“the Zanburkhaneh pit”). According to local folklore, the name arose in the Qajar era because camels and weapons used for the ”zamburaks” were stored there. The camel carrying the ”zamburak” became proverbial during this period. The expression ”mesl-e shotor-e zanburkhaneh ast” (“he/she is like the ”zanburkhaneh” camel”) was used to describe someone acclimatized to loud noises, suggesting that the camel had endured so many blasts on its back that it no longer reacted.{{sfn|Karimi|2020}}
A neighborhood in [[Tehran]] near the Sar-e Qabr-e Agha mausoleum was originally named Goud Zanburkhaneh (“the Zanburkhaneh pit”). According to local folklore, the name arose in the Qajar era because camels and weapons used for the ”zamburaks” were stored there. The camel carrying the ”zamburak” became proverbial during this period. The expression ”mesl-e shotor-e zanburkhaneh ast” (“he/she is like the ”zanburkhaneh” camel”) was used to describe someone acclimatized to loud noises, suggesting that the camel had endured so many blasts on its back that it no longer reacted.{{sfn|Karimi|2020}}
* {{cite book|last=Floor|first=Willem|authorlink=Willem Floor|editor-last=Matthee|editor-first=Rudi|title=The Safavid World|publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]]|year=2021|isbn=978-1138944060|chapter=The Safavid Army: Continuity and Change|pages=224–244}}
* {{cite book|last=Floor|first=Willem|authorlink=Willem Floor|editor-last=Matthee|editor-first=Rudi|title=The Safavid World|publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]]|year=2021|isbn=978-1138944060|chapter=The Safavid Army: Continuity and Change|pages=224–244}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | article = {{lang|fa|بهار شیروانی}} |trans-title= Bahar-e Shirvani | last = Karimi | first = Asghar | url = https://www.cgie.org.ir/fa/article/257515 | encyclopedia = The Great Islamic Encyclopaedia |language=fa| year = 2020 }}
* {{cite encyclopedia | article = {{lang|fa|بهار شیروانی}} |trans-title= Bahar-e Shirvani | last = Karimi | first = Asghar | url = https://www.cgie.org.ir/fa/article/257515 | encyclopedia = The Great Islamic Encyclopaedia |language=fa| year = 2020 }}
* {{Encyclopædia Iranica Online|url=https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/firearms-i-history/|title=Firearms i. History |first=Rudi|last=Matthee|authorlink=Rudi Matthee|year=1999|isbn = 978-0933273719}}{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFMatthee1999}}
https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/firearms-i-history/
[[Category:Military units and formations of the early modern period]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the early modern period]]
| Zamburak | |
|---|---|
An Iranian zamburak by the Belgian typographer Auguste Wahlen, dated 1843
|
|
| Country | Iran |
| Size | 1,500 (c. 1800) |
| Equipment | Cannon |
Military unit
A zamburak (also spelled zanburak; Persian: زنبورک, lit. ‘little wasp‘) was a small cannon mounted on a one-humped or two-humped and fired by its rider, the zamburakchi. This form of artillery was used in the Iranian army in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
History
A zamburak (lit. ‘little wasp‘) was a small cannon mounted on a one-humped or two-humped and fired by its rider, the zamburakchi.[3] Although they could also be used from a moving camel, zamburaks were often fired from a sitting one. Its origin is uncertain. Camels were widely used for transport and as military mounts across Asia, from Anatolia to China, making these areas possible origins of the zamburak.[4] The zamburak represented foreign military technology adapted to local conditions, as it was mounted directly on camels rather than on a carriage, allowing for greater mobility and versatility. Before the introduction of firearms to Iran, the word zamburak had already been used by poets such as Nezami Ganjavi (died 1209) and Amir Khusrow (died 1325) in an expressive way, to describe arrows piercing the enemy’s chest like a beehive.
Although the weapon may have been in use in Safavid Iran as early as the 16th century, the earliest foreign eyewitness reports of its use came from the late Safavid period. It first appears in Iranian writings during the reign of Shah Abbas I (r. 1587–1629). The zamburak, like other cannons, was used to honor foreign dignitaries. A unit called the zamburak-khana was eventually formed and was commanded by a zamburakchi-bashi. During the late Safavid period, there were 3,000 zamburaks. The Afsharid ruler Nader Shah (r. 1736–1747) used zamburaks during his invasion of India between 1738–1739.[7] In a military parade in 1739/40, 1,700 zamburaks were present.
During the early Qajar period, Iran remained behind other powers in weapon technology and usage. Rifles continued to be supplied by the soldiers themselves. Other than the zamburak, the artillery of the nation consisted mainly of weapons captured from the Portugese in 1622 and from the Russians during the 18th-century wars. In c. 1800, during the reign of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (r. 1797–1834), there were around 1,500 zamburaks. By then, the zamburak had lost its significance and had become outdated. At the suggestion of European military advisors, Fath-Ali Shah disbanded the zamburak, although it was soon restored. After Naser al-Din Shah’s visit to Vienna in 1878, Iran started mainly buying weapons from Austria-Hungary, including artillery for the zamburaks.
A neighborhood in Tehran near the Sar-e Qabr-e Agha mausoleum was originally named Goud Zanburkhaneh (“the Zanburkhaneh pit”). According to local folklore, the name arose in the Qajar era because camels and weapons used for the zamburaks were stored there. The camel carrying the zamburak became proverbial during this period. The expression mesl-e shotor-e zanburkhaneh ast (“he/she is like the zanburkhaneh camel”) was used to describe someone acclimatized to loud noises, suggesting that the camel had endured so many blasts on its back that it no longer reacted.
