An important khula-khud from the property of Ahmet Pasha/Comte de Bonneval. Dating: 17th Century. Provenence: Turkey Emispherical iron cup with a large border divided by a bas-relieved ring, the top is surmounted by a truncated cone with a small faceted cusp; on the front part is a sliding nosepiece with a lance-shaped end and a relieved cartouche; fine mail neck protection with small rings, partly closed, on the borders are triangles with remains of textile decorations; on the skull's and the nosepiece's surface are gold decorations and many cartouches with inscriptions in Arabic.Extremely rare skull from the time of the transition from the turban-style skull to the classical khula-khud, used until the end of the XIX century. Claude Alexandre de Bonneval, a French adventurer born in 1675, came from a noble Limousin family. At the age of thirteen he joined the Royal French Navy. Then, after three years, he joined the land army; here, he rapidly shot up the ladder and got to command a whole regiment. He fought in the campaigns of Italy under the command of Cainat, Villeroy and Vendome; in the Netherlands, he worked for Marshall Luxemburg, by whom he proved his courage and talent. His insolent behavior towards the War Ministry brought him to court martial in 1704, and was sentenced to death. He saved himself by escaping to Germany. Thanks to the influence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, as a general he obtained the command of the Austrian army, fighting in the Spanish Succession War against France first and then against Turkey, where he stood out for his cleverness and courage. He took part in the Battle of Malplaquet on September 11, 1709, and on August 5, 1716 he got wounded during the Battle of Petervaradino. The lawsuit against him in France was forgotten, he could go back to his homeland and marry the daughter of Marshall de Biron in 1717. After a short period, he went back to Austria to fight against the Siege of Belgrade. He had reached a very important position, and that's when his relation with Prince Eugene of Savoy got bad. The Prince sent him to the Netherlands as Commander of Artillery; here, due to his unrespectful behavior, he quarreled with the Marquis di Priero, an Italian nobleman of Savoy origins; the Marquis put him in prison and brought him to court martial. This time, too, he was sentenced to death, but the Emperor changed the punishment to one year in prison, which would be followed by exile. He was brought to Vienna and taken away his possessions, then put in jail in Venice. Disappointed and bitterned by the Emperor's behavior and the court martial, as a revenge he served Sultan Ahmed III. He converted to Islam and took the name of Humbaracht Ahmet Pascià. He was given the task to strengthen the Turkis artillery, which he did successfully. In 1739, as Commander of the Turkish Army in the Balkans, he faced the Austrian Army commanded by George Olivier Wallis around Grocka, where he defeated him. This Turskish victory brought Austria to the Belgrade Treaty of Peace on September 18, 1739; thanks to it, the Ottoman Empire obtained almost all the Balkan territories that belonged to Prince Eugene of Savoy. Claude Alexandre de Bonneval served the Turkish Army in Russia; as a recognition for his services he obtained to govern the Island of Chio. Due to the suspects the Ottoman Government had, he was sent to exile on the coast of the Black Sea for some time. He thought about going back to Europe, but found his death in 1743. . Condition report: good