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Tableau général de l'Empire othoman. Tome 3
par M. de Mouradgea d'Ohsson, c.1787
212. SERDENGUETCHDI-BAÏRAKDAR, Officier de Volontaires.

Source : Bibliothèque nationale de France
Plate 212: illustrates a type of special force, which d'Ohsson explains only much later in the text (3, 417). Literally, the term serden geçti would mean “one who has renounced his head.” Most of these were volunteers from the Janissaries, and they were the lost souls (enfants perdus) who undertook the most dangerous missions. They formed companies (bayrak, “banner”) of 120 men. The commander of such a bayrak would be known as the Bayrakdar or “standard-bearer.”