Flissa FLISSA & YATAGAN °
 
 
  FLISSA YATAGAN (1)
back of the blade straight convex
cutting edge of the blade S tapering to the tip (very sharp-pointed) S (slightly rounded-pointed)
Thickness of the back very thick T blade
Usage slashing & thrusting slashing
Tang flat, but 1/4 is a part of the tang reinforced to serve as hilt flat, but 1/4 looks like reinforced, but is not.
Shape of the hilt dog's head ears as seen in Luristan, ...
french name Flissa (Flyssa, Flissah) coming from the name of a tribe: Iflissen Im Bahr Yataghan
kable name Sekkim or Iskin (knife in Tamazigh) or Khedama (knife in Arab) Utagan, Atayan, Ajennwi, Djenoui, ...(2)
     
(1) Kables could have 3 provenances of Yatagan: acquired from the Turcks, imported blades with local mountings, locally made. In the 2 last cases, it seems that hilts were not eared as turks'ones. Turks' blades were more complexly done (T back & niellage).
(2) Ajennwi or Djenoui: coming from Gênes (Italy): one of the main trade axis with north Africa coast. This denomination gives indication of importation of blades, but is not specific to Yatagan as it it used for all imported blades (Koummya, ...)
     
ORIGINS of Yatagan
  • Egyptian Kopesh - XV° AD
  • Greek Machaira (Marathon - Persian - VI° AD) or maybe earlier (Troie ??)
  • Kopis Alexandre le Grand IV° (by Egypt) or maybe earlier by Philippe II wars against Greeks or Persians.
  • As it is more complex than that, i guess that other influences (caucasus, Luristan, ...) completed the yatagan's design (eared hilt).

ORIGINS of Flissa
     
North track (Greeks)
  • Via the large greek influence on Europe south coast (foundation of Massilia VI°AJC) & contacts with Ibers: Greek Machaira===> Iberian Facalta
  • Via Vandals invasions from Iberia to Africa north coast (VI°): Iberian Facalta ===> Kable Flissa.
South track (Phenicians)
  • Via the large phenician influence on Africa north coast (foundation of Carthago IX°AJC) & the south coast of Iberia (Hamilcar Barca's wars against Ibers-end of III°AJC - foundation of Barca - Barcelone): Phenician "as like" Kopesh ===> Iberian Facalta & Kable Flissa
Ottoman track XVI°
  • Via the control of the Algerian coast harbours: Ottoman Yatagan ===> Kable Flissa
 
Flissa & Yatagan does have the same origin (Kopesh), but may be not issued one from the other.

Arabian invasions of Spain had been done with a large contribution of berber tribes (mostly from actual Marocco & extreme West of Algeria). But, all the Berbers are not Kables and the Flissa is not known as a weapon used by Arabs in Spain.

Kables were conquisted by the french after 1850. Among their weapons, there were both Flissa and Yatagan. Yatagan disappeared rapidly (end of XIX°) and the Flissa a bit later. Today, very few kables knows what is a Flissa. A great shame for a so wonderful weapon!!.