War flags came into use by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, gradually replacing (but long coexisting with) their traditional tugh or horse-tail standards. During the 16th and 17th centuries, war flags often depicted the bifurcated sword of Ali, Zulfiqar, which was often misinterpreted in Western literature as showing a pair of scissors.[16] A Zulfiqar flag used by Selim I (d. 1520) is on exhibit in Topkapı Palace.[17] Two Zulfiqar flags are also depicted in a plate dedicated to Turkish flags in vol.