Spahis

Spahi is a word of Turkish origin whose most accepted translation is that of “riders”. In the beginning, the “sibahis” are riders provided by the pledged tribes to the Ottoman Empire which come to reinforce manpower of Mamelouks (regular troops) when the extent of the operations requires it.

They are paid on the ground by plundering the places where they intervene and, once the finished operation, join their tribes of origin.

The Dey d' Alger, relieved at the time of the arrival of the French, has “Sibahis”, Turkish in great majority. Being without employment, they line up in 1830 pennies the banner of Yusuf (Youssouf) which is put at the service of France and in fact of the effective and dreaded troops, contributing to the conquest of Algeria. The word, deformed by the French pronunciation, becomes SPAHI (to be noted: the “p” not existing in Arabic, it decides sBahi).

Spahis in Algeria

These riders recruited by Youssouf are initially called “indigenous hunters” then “Mamelukes”, before taking the name of “Spahis”. Their existence is officialized by four legislative texts:

- the law of March 9th, 1831 authorizes the generals ordering the countries occupied to form military bodies made up of natives and foreigners. It is the first dedication of the riflemen, zouaves, hunters indigenous, legionaries… ;
- an ordinance of September 10th, 1834 prescribes the formation in Algiers of a body of indigenous riders under the denomination of spahis regular;
- the ordinance of December 7th, 1841 creates a single body of indigenous riders. Has been thus regularized their employment for more than ten years by the French task force in Algeria;
- the ordinance of July 2nd, 1845 creates three regiments of spahis:

the 1 {{er}} regiment of spahis Algerian in Algiers;
the 2 {{E}} regiment of spahis Algerian with Oran;
the 3 {{E}} regiment of spahis Algerian with Bône.

These formations cover glory in the near total of the combat which enamel the conquest of Algeria and contribute largely to the success of the weapons of France.

Let us quote their principal victories:

Constantine in 1836 and 1837;
the Doors of Iron in 1839;
the Collo in 1843;
the taken of the tribe of Abd El-Kader in 1843;
the Battle of Isly in 1844;
the Aurès in 1846;
the taken of Zaatcha in 1849;
the catch of Laghouat in 1852;
the Hodna in 1864;
the Kabylie in 1871.

Spahis out of Algeria

Born in Algeria, the model spahis is taken again elsewhere by the French Army:

In the Crimea, in 1854, where Yousouf is charged to set up of the squadrons of riders autochtones, the “Bachibouzouk S”;

in Tunisia, where the 4th spahis is formed on October 1st, 1886;
in Morocco, with the participation of Algerian squadrons in the French expansion, then with creation, in 1912, of ten squadrons of spahis trained with the tabors of cavalry of the Sultan of Morocco;
in Senegal, with a draft in 1843, then an effective participation with the operations of pacification of 1872 to 1881;
and also during the colonial expansion of the IIIe Republic where Algerian and Moroccan units take an active share in the campaigns of the Far East, Africa and Madagascar.

First world war

In 1914 exist four Algerian regiments of spahis encasernés with Médéa, Sidi-Beautiful-Abbots, Batna and Sfax (in Tunisia). A 5 {{E}} regiment is created during the general mobilization of August 1914; and a month later, in September, a brigade of walk using squadrons is made up coming from all the units. This brigade, ordered by colonel Martin de Bouillon is composed of 1st (Schneider lieutenant-colonel) and 2nd (colonel Couverchel) regiments of walk of the spahis, which in August 1915 are famous 6 {{E}} and 7 {{E}} spahis Algerian. The Algerian spahis fight as of the beginning of the hostilities.

During this time, with the Morocco, the French authorities join together four auxiliary squadrons of Moroccan hunters and direct them over the France, where, with the orders of the commander Dupertuis, they form the Régiment of Walk of Indigenous Hunters with Horse which becomes, on January 1st 1915, the Régiment of walk of the Moroccan spahis (deposit with Arles). As for the auxiliary squadrons remained in Morocco, they give rise to the 2nd regiment of spahis Moroccan, which is used as unit of changing with the 1st regiment of spahis Moroccan then in first line in France, then, as from March 1917, with the army of the East where it carries out force engagements which, in 1918, involve it until the the Danube and with Budapest. In this city, on December 31st 1918, is one month after the Armistice, at the time of a raid on the Château of Foth, it captures the Maréchal von Mackensen and all its staff.

Inter-war period

During this period, the number of regiments of spahis is triplet compared to manpower of 1914.

In 1921, one counts twelve regiments of spahis:

5 in Algeria;
4 with the Morocco;
2 with the Raising;
1 in Tunisia.

Second world war

Many squadrons of spahis constitute the units of recognition of the French military formations. In metropolis, with the declaration of war are present them:

1st brigade of spahis with the 4th regiment of spahis Moroccan and the 6th Algerian regiment of spahis, stationed with Compiegne.
2nd brigade of spahis with the 7th regiment of spahis Algerian and the 9th Algerian regiment of spahis, stationed with Vienna and Montauban.

Thereafter, are added to it:

the 3rd brigade of spahis with the 2nd regiment of spahis Moroccan and the 2nd Algerian regiment of spahis.

The most significant part in the engagements is taken by 1st and 3rd brigades in the the Belgian Ardennes, 3rd being destroyed. The 2nd brigade supervises the Swiss border until the June 9th; the 9th regiment of spahis Algerian is characterized by its resistance from June 18th to 20th, with Vercel.

After the armistice of 1940, part of the 1st squadron of the 1 {{er}} RSM, ordered by the captain Paul Jourdier, clandestinely leaves the Syria as of at the beginning of July 1940, to join the British in Palestine. It is one of the first units of the free France to take again the combat: in Erythrée, then in Syria, with El Alamein, in Tunisia; it is reinforced gradually to become the 1st regiment of walk of spahis Moroccan of famous the 2 {{E}} Armor-plated Division of the general Leclerc.

Other regiments are reformed in North Africa within the framework of the army of armistice, then, after the allied unloading of 1942, they form part:

of the French task force in Italy with the orders of the general June;
of the 1 {{Re}} Armed with the general of Lattre de Tassigny,

Today

1962 announce the end of these colonial military formations. Today, only the 1 remains {{er}} regiment of spahis stationed to Valence. He is the agent of all the traditions of his glorious ancestors and takes an active part in the military interventions external carried out by France within the framework of his agreements of defense.

Uniformology

Color of the Burnous

At the beginning of the Conquest of Algeria, in order to distinguish them with the combat, the indigenous riders used by the French task force are vêtus of a green burnous, color symbolic system of Islam.

The manpower of these back-up troops increasing and the green dyeing rarefying, one adopts the “large blue” of the uniforms of the French Army. The Arab riders refuse these blue burnous which they give to their slaves in their tribes. Why this refusal? This color is that of the coats of the Jews of the time! The intendance refers then on the color garance used for the pants of the infantrymen. Thus the red, color usual of the burnous of notable and the riders of large tents, becomes the traditional color of the burnous of the Algerian spahis.

Traditional behavior

The uniform of the Algerian spahis will practically not change a 1840 to 1962, at least as regards the behavior of tradition adopted for the ceremonies and catches of weapons after 1915. Of cut “Eastern” or called “with Turkish”, it is composed of particular a cap known as “guennour” made up of a rigid cap of round form, wholesale felt an unbleached inside and red, covered above with “haïck”, large white cotton chèche, fixed by a cord in hair of camel, “kheït”, of ten meters length. In addition to the “cloth burnous” garance, this immense cape with cap whose part to endow is with the color of the regiment, a second “white wool burnous” is worn in lower part of the first. The “bedaïa”, jacket-bolero of form Arab, out of cloth garance, facings of blue handle of sky and black braids, is related to the “kébiya”, Arab blue cloth waistcoat of sky with black braids. The “tombô” of the jacket, left false pocket, is with the color of the regiment. The Arab pants the “sarouel” (known as also “saroual”, “seroual” or “serouel”) are of a very full form and without separation of between-leg. The Arab shoe is consisted of the assembly of the “thémaggs”, high soft boots without red leather sole morocco, accompanied with horse by “khoffes”, surbottes split out of leather red morocco, or service with foot by “sabattes”, kind of moccasins. A red wool belt 40 six meters length centimetres broad, finely striped of blue and white, and! comes to be rolled up around the bottom of the waistcoat and top of the sarouel.

The French riders, cash for approximately 20% of manpower, carry a different hairstyle, made up of a “chechia”, soft cap out of red felt finished by a small silk nipple fringed to the color of the squadron (then dark blue for all worms 1900), and in great behavior until about 1900, of a cap punt out of red felt on which is rolled up a striped white turban of blue and a silk cord finished by four large nipples of passementerie to fringes with the color of the squadron, called “distinctive” (to be noted that this accessory is also carried over the cord in hair of camel by the natives). They replace also the Arab shoe by boots out of black leather of European cut, then after 1900 by the houseaux ones and hobnailed laced boots (also adopted by the indigenous riders thereafter).

Until 1900, the trumpets are characterized by an identical uniform in its cut but of color reversed: jacket and blue waistcoat sky with braids jonquil and facings of scarlet sleeves, “burnous” of blue top sky with braids jonquil and part of scarlet heart, “sarouel” red with braids jonquil. The turbans of the French trumpets white is striped of red, the indigenous trumpets continuing to carry the guennour.

In 1914, the Moroccan, future hunters spahis Moroccan, have a behavior inspired by that of the cavalry of the guard of the Sultan (black guard) and adopted since 1910-1912. A “red felt chechia”, a long jacket with collar folded back out of red cloth, a “sarouel” of Arab form out of blue cloth and the houseaux ones out of fawn-coloured leather with loops of copper carried with hobnailed laced boots compose the broad outlines of them. Badly known today, this behavior comprised also a burnous, undoubtedly in hair of camel and probably of beige color chestnut. The chechia was hidden by a sometimes imposing stacking of chèches of color sands, catechu or dark chestnut. Let us note also this picturesque detail always present at the beginning of the conflict: the traditional “nouaders” of the Berber riders, long tufts of hair dishevelled, lubricated with the butter of camel! who emerged on both sides with the top of the ears… In 1917, the Moroccan spahis are engaged in the East campaign. Very badly equipped, to protect themselves from the cold and to replace their clothing in wrecks, they use covers chestnut and khaki of the intendance in which they cut burnous. The intendance proposes to provide them regulatory burnous, but they refuse the color garance and require the blue harms which is the color carried by their notable Berber. Satisfaction their is given. Thus, since 1917, the Moroccan spahis are distinguished from Algerian while wearing the blue burnous.

In 1930, two years after the zouaves and the riflemen Algerian and Tunisian, the Moroccan spahis, like their companions of the regiments of Moroccan riflemen, perceive a behavior of tradition. That of the spahis will include in their cut and their color the effects of before 1914, with the burnous dark blue whose part of heart is green dark.

At the end of 1914, whereas the metropolitan regiments adopt in the urgency of new effects out of blue cloth horizon, khaki cloth is granted in priority the regiments of the army of Africa and part of the colonial troops. First of all of color going from the yellow mustard to the green excrement of goose, the new behavior relegates the Eastern uniform water effects of exit or catch of weapons. The “sarouel” adopts a less full form and with separated legs, said “breeches cyclist” or “Russian breeches”, the jacket of European cut replace the Arab effects, the white chèche disappear with the beige profit of chèches or sands, leathers of the equipment, houseaux and of the laced boots become fawn-coloured, the chechias, when they are not replaced by the steel helmet Adrian model 1915, are masked by sleeves of fabric sands or catechu…

After these first tests remained under the cloth nickname “mustard” the khaki nuance dark green will spread for all the army after 1922.

The equipment

For the behavior “with Turkish”, belt, suspension brace and dragonne of saber, giberne and streamer, cartridge pouches and brêlage cartridge pouches, strap of snap hook, case of gun (“kobourg”) then of revolver, belt of trumpet…, all the leather equipment of the spahis are of red color and out of squared leather, with loops, buttons, snap hooks out of brass.

The “toug”

During its career of frightening sabror, Youssouf, the “father of the spahis”, has as a mounting a splendid white standard that it affectionate particularly. At the time of a combat, the animal is killed under him. Wanting to have a memory of this horse, Youssouf makes him take the tail and makes it go up on a lance which becomes its commanding officer's pennant: the “toug”. As from this moment, a tail of horse is added to all the commanding officer's pennants of the spahis. With the passing of years, the majority of the units of French cavalry will adopt (unduly) this tradition which remains today. In general, the flag and the tail which accompanies it are offered to the officer who leaves his command, a new flag, in all points identical to the precedent, replaces it…

On this point, the historical origins diverge. The name of “Toug” remains very recent at the spahis, in any case it is never employed a priori until the end of the First World War. This term has been borrowed in the name of the emblem of Turkish command, already present in the Othoman armies for several centuries. As for its paternity which one allots to Youssouf, it is good to recall that several regiments of cavalry of the 18th century, in Europe, was accustomed to decorating their handlebar or standard of such a tail of horse, obvious symbol of their difference of with the infantry. Also let us recall that the Chinese hat, instrument impossible to circumvent of the Turkish military musics, adopted by the “sprees” (musics) of the regiments of the army of Africa, still present at the legion and the 1st regiment of riflemen, were generally decorated of a pair of tails of horse well before the creation of the Algerian spahis.

The harnessing of the spahis

site on the harnessing of the spahis

First Arabic who used a harnessing was the prophet Ali, relative of Mohamed. It was a carpet made up of six double sheets out of felt, coloured in green, red and blue: the “tarar”. Thereafter, this carpet is bordered of leather and red silk.

When the sipahis arrive to North Africa, they have a Turkish harnessing with a “garbous” (pommel before saddle) and a “guéda” (troussequin back of the saddle) very raised. These outgrowths are intended to maintain the rider in its saddle at the time of the loads or the frontal shocks with its adversaries. The clamps with the broad and arched floor and the convex walls, make it possible the feet to be firmly fixed. They are suspended with braided wool cords.

In this Maghreb Islamized since VIIe century, the local riders use Arab harnessing. With time, it is the latter material, easier to find, which gradually replaces the Turkish equipment of the sipahis. The frame is out of wood sheathed of goatskin and covered with a “shirt”, cover out of red leather morocco. the breast piece is out of red squared leather just as the head, which comprises blinkers, essential additional for the use of reins with whip. The carpet of saddle is with 6 thick felt sheets, 4 blue harms and two white. That which is on the top is papered of red leather empiècements. Towards 1870 the étrivières become out of fawn-coloured leather. The spahis arranges part of its equipment of stable in bissac of beige fabric with fawn-coloured leather reinforcements, threaded on the troussequin. Let us note also the Arab bit, very particular, provided with a ring in which the language of the animal is committed, and whose handling in not tested hands can be cruel.

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