Spahi
Spahis(French pronunciation:[spa.i]) werelight-cavalryregimentsof theFrench armyrecruited primarily from the Arab and Berber populations ofAlgeria,TunisiaandMorocco.The modern French Army retains one regiment of Spahis as an armoured unit, with personnel now recruited in mainland France.Senegalalso maintains a mounted unit withspahiorigins as a presidential escort: theRed Guard.
Etymology
[edit]The name is the French form of theOttoman Turkishwordsipahi,a word derived fromNew Persiansepâh,سپاهmeaning "army", or "horsemen"; or fromsipari,meaning "warriors".[1]
Early history
[edit]Following the French occupation of Algiers in 1830, detachments of locally recruited irregular horsemen were attached to the regiments of light cavalry assigned to North African service. These auxiliaries were designated aschasseursspahis.Between 1834 and 1836 they were organised into four squadrons of regular spahis.[2]In 1841 the 14 squadrons by then in existence were brought together in a single corps of spahis. Finally, in 1845 three separate Spahi regiments were created: the 1st of Algiers; the 2nd of Oran and the 3rd of Constantine.[3]
The spahi regiments saw extensive service in theFrench conquest of Algeria,in theFranco-Prussian War,inTonkintowards the end of theSino-French War(1885), in the occupation of Morocco andSyria,and in both World Wars. A detachment of Spahis served as the personal escort ofMarshalJacques Leroy de Saint Arnaudin theCrimean Warand were photographed there byRoger Fenton.A contingent of Spahis also participated in the North China campaign of 1860. During theFranco-Prussian Warof 1870-71 one detached squadrons of Spahis formed part of the forces defending Paris, while a provisional regiment comprising three squadrons was attached to theArmy of the Loire.[4]A serious uprising againstFrench rule in Algeriaduring 1871–72 was sparked off by amutinyof the 5th squadron of the 3rd Spahis, who had been ordered to France to reinforce those units already there.[5]
Under the Third Republic, between 1871 and 1914 Spahi units saw active service in Indochina, Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal and Madagascar.[6]
While a visually conspicuous presence in any French military force, the Spahis usually served in small detachments as scouts, skirmishers and escorts. An exception was theBattle of Isly(Morocco) in 1844 when the 1st and 2nd Spahis fought successfully as full regiments.[7]
Recruitment basis
[edit]Prior to 1914 there were four regiments of Spahis in theFrench Army,three based in Algeria and one in Tunisia. During their period as mountedcavalrythe Spahis comprised for the most partArabandBerbertroopers commanded by Frenchofficers.This division was not absolute however and there were always a certain number of French volunteers in the ranks (for example, the later well known lyricistRaymond Assowas a Spahi between 1916 and 1919). About 20% of the rank and file were French and the remainder Arab or Berber. In addition, a fixed number of commissioned positions up to the level ofcaptainwere reserved forMuslimofficers.NCOswere both French and Muslim.
In contrast to the North Africantirailleur(infantry) units the mounted spahis were drawn from "the big tents": i.e. the higher social classes of the Arab and Berber communities. This dated back to the establishment of the corps whenColonel Marey-Monge[8]required that each recruit provide his own horse.[9]
As Spahi units were mechanized during World War II, the proportion of Frenchmen in the ranks increased.
World War I
[edit]Spahis were sent to France at the outbreak of war in August 1914. They saw service during the opening period ofmobile warfarebut inevitably their role diminished with the advent oftrench warfare.DuringWorld War Ithe number of units increased with the creation of Moroccan Spahi regiments and the expansion of the Algerian arm. By 1918 there were seven Spahi regiments then in existence, all having seen service on theWestern Front.In addition a detached squadron accompanied two squadrons ofChasseurs d'Afriqueand served as part of the5th Light Horse Brigadeduring theSinai and Palestine Campaignagainst theOttoman Empire.This composite force of French cavalry was known as the1er Régiment Mixte de Marche de Cavalerie de Levant.[10]In 1918 a "marching regiment" of Moroccan spahis (Régiment de Marche des Spahis Marocains) saw active service in the Balkans, winning the collective distinction of theMédaille militaire.[11]
Between the World Wars
[edit]By 1921 the Spahi regiments had been increased to twelve (from four in 1914) and this became the permanent establishment. During the 1920s mounted Spahi regiments saw extensive active service in theFrench Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon,as well as in Morocco. They continued to perform policing and garrison duties in Algeria and Tunisia, as well as providing detachments based in Metropolitan France. Although mechanisation began in the 1930s of theChasseurs d'AfriqueandForeign Legioncavalry, the Spahis remained an entirely mounted force until after 1942.
World War II
[edit]
In 1939 the Spahis comprised three independentbrigades,each of two regiments and still horse mounted. Each regiment was made up of four sabre squadrons with five officers and 172 troopers in each. Three regiments saw active service in France in 1940.Hermann Balckwas of the opinion that they were the best troops that he met in both world wars.[12]One Spahi regiment (1er Régiment de Marche de Spahis Marocains) distinguished itself in service with the Free French duringWorld War II.Garrisoned inVichy-controlled Syria as part of a mounted cavalry unit some of the regiment crossed the frontier intothe Transjordanin June 1940. After mounted service inEritrea,this detachment was subsequently reorganised and equipped witharmoured carsby the British in Egypt. The expanded and mechanised regiment served in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, and was part of the French forces thatliberated Parisin August 1944.
Post war
[edit]In the course of World War II most Spahi regiments were mechanised, but severalsquadronsremained mounted for patrol work inNorth Africaplus escort and other ceremonial duties in France itself. Until 1961 the annualBastille Dayparade inParisalways featured Spahi cavalry in their traditional dress uniforms, on whiteArabian horses.While Arab and Berber troopers continued to make up the bulk of numbers in the mounted units retained, mechanisation led to French personnel becoming a majority in the armoured regiments.[13]
Armoured Spahi units saw service in both theIndochina Warof 1947-54[14]and theAlgerian Warof 1954-62.[15]The 9th Algerian Spahis remained a mounted regiment throughout the Algerian War, suffering 24 deaths in the course of active service. Except for one mounted platoon per squadron and the regimentalfanfare(trumpeters) the unit was finally mechanized in 1961 and its several hundred horses either sold in Algeria or shipped back to France.
The 6th Spahis had been disbanded in 1956, followed by the 9th in 1961. Following the end of theAlgerian Warin 1962, the 2nd, 3rd 4th and 8th Spahis were also disbanded leaving only one, formerly Moroccan, regiment in existence as the 1st Spahis.[16]
Today
[edit]Today, the French Army retains one Spahi regiment, the1erRégiment de Spahis Marocains;[17]an armoured unit which saw service in theGulf War.The regiment also maintains the traditions of the entire Spahicorpsas it previously existed.
Until 1984, the Regiment was located inSpeyer,West Germany.Their former base there is now theTechnikmuseum Speyer.The 1erSpahis are currently based inValence,the French department ofDrôme,100 km (62 mi) south ofLyon,in theRhoneValley, or what is commonly referred to in France asThe Doors of Provence.
Uniforms
[edit]Throughout most of their history the Algerian and Tunisian Spahis wore a very strikingZouavestyle uniform. It comprised a highArab headdress,a short red jacket embroidered in black, sky blue waist coat (sedria) a wide red sash and voluminous light blue trousers (white in hot weather).[18]The four regiments were distinguished by the differing colours of theirtombeaus(circular false pockets on the front of the jacket). A whiteburnouswas worn together with a red cloak[19](blue cloak for the Moroccan Spahis). French officers wore light bluekepis,red tunics with gold rank braiding and light blue breeches with double red stripes. Muslim officers wore a more elaborate version of thetenue orientaleof the Arab and Berber troopers. French Spahis were distinguished by wearing afezinstead of a white Arabturbanwith itsbrown camel-hair cord.A less obvious distinction was the footwear—shortsabattesor traditional North African boots in redMorocco leatherfor Arab/Berber troopers, conventional black leather for French troopers.[20]
From 1915, in common with other units of theArmée d'Afrique,a more practicalkhakiuniform was adopted for service,[11][21]but the classic red and bluetenue orientalewith white burnous reappeared for parade and off-duty wear in 1927. The mounted squadrons retained for ceremonial duties wore a slightly modified version of this parade uniform, with a plain white turban, until they were disbanded in 1962. The modern 1er Spahis still wear the traditional white burnous and red sash, together with the blue cloaks of the former Moroccan regiments, for full dress. The long-skirted sand-khakigandourahcoat adopted in 1915, appears on occasion as part of the modern ceremonial uniform. Headdress is either a scarletforage capor the standard light blue and redkepiof the French cavalry.[22][23]
Exceptionally for a Frencharmoured cavalryregiment, it uses gold (and not the usual silver) insignia. The "Ordonnance du Roi portant organisation de la cavalerie indigène en Algerie" of 7 December 1841 establishing the Spahis as a regular corps of the French Army specifies this distinction forsous-officers,brigadiersand officers both French and indigenous.[24]
Equipment
[edit]In 1914 spahi armament was the M1822/82sabreof the French light cavalry together with the1892 carbine.All harness was of dark-red red leather, of indigenous North African pattern and manufacture.[25]
Indochinese Spahis
[edit]Short-lived cavalry units designated as "spahis" were raised by theFrench Colonial ArmyinIndochina.The first of these was a squadron of spahis recruited fromCochinchinain 1861 and disbanded in 1871. The second was a small detachment of "Spahis Tonkinese" raised inTonkinin 1883 and disestablished in 1889 for budgetary reasons.[26]
Spahis in other armies
[edit]Senegalese Spahis
[edit]
Senegal maintains a mounted cavalry detachment of spahi origin as its modern presidential security unit and ceremonial guard.
In addition to the North African cavalry, two squadrons of spahis were raised inFrench West Africa.The first spahis in Senegal were an Algerian detachment sent to West Africa in 1843 to deal with an outbreak of tribal conflict. This platoon-sized unit of 25 French and Algerian spahis[27]stayed and began recruiting locally. The new indigenous troopers came from the inhabitants ofSenegaland theFrench Sudanwhile their French officers were seconded from Algerian Spahi regiments. The Senegalese Spahis saw extensive active service in the French West African territories of Tchad, the Sudan and the Congo between 1853 and 1898, as well as serving in Morocco between 1908 and 1919.[28]
The Senegalese Spahis were disbanded in 1928 as an economy measure[29]but provided the cadre around which a newly-raised mountedgendarmeriewas formed. The modernGendarmerie Nationaleof the Republic of Senegal therefore traces its origins to the spahis, and the Red Guard still wears theburnous,fez and red tunic of the French period.
Algerian Republican Guard and Tunisian President's Bodyguard
[edit]The modernRepublican Guard of Algeriaincludes a mounted detachment for ceremonial purposes. This unit is mounted on the same breed of whitebarbsas those utilised by the French spahis prior to 1962 and wear red and green uniforms with white burnouses, which broadly resemble those of their predecessors.
A similar ceremonial mounted unit is maintained as part of the Tunisian President's Bodyguard. Descended from the 4th Tunisian Spahis Regiment the modern unit retains the uniform of the French period but in the red and white of the Tunisian national colours.[30]`
Italian Spahis
[edit]TheItaliancolonial administration ofLibyaraised squadrons of locally-recruited Spahi cavalry between 1912 and 1942. TheItalian Spahisdiffered from their French namesakes in that their prime role was that ofmounted police,tasked with patrolling rural and desert areas. Although they had Italian officers, they were more loosely organised than the regular Libyan cavalry regiments (Savari). They wore a picturesque dress modelled on that of the desert tribesmen from whom they were recruited.[31]
References
[edit]- ^Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)..Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 527.
- ^Schollander, Wendell (9 July 2018).Glory of the Empires 1880-1914.p. 440.ISBN978-0-7524-8634-5.
- ^Lilane and Fred Funcken, page 88, "L'Uniforme et les Armes des Soldats du XIX Siecle" volume 1,ISBN2-203-14324-X
- ^Stephen Shann & Louis Delperier, page 10 "French Army 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War 2: Republican Troops",ISBN1-85532-135-1
- ^R. Hure, page 155,L'Armee d'Afrique 1830–1962,Charles-Lavauzelle 1977
- ^Schollander, Wendell (9 July 2018).Glory of the Empires 1880-1914.p. 441.ISBN978-0-7524-8634-5.
- ^Schollander, Wendell (9 July 2018).Glory of the Empires 1880-1914.p. 440.ISBN978-0-7524-8634-5.
- ^Schollander, Wendell (9 July 2018).Glory of the Empires 1880-1914.p. 440.ISBN978-0-7524-8634-5.
- ^Douglad Porch, pages 71-72 "The Conquest of Morocco",ISBN0-333-44461-2
- ^"1er Régiment Mixte de Cavalerie Du Levant".Australian Light Horse Studies Centre.28 June 2009.Retrieved29 July2020.
- ^abJouineau 2009,p. 59.
- ^https://de.scribd.com/doc/153227108/Balck-InterviewBalck's interview with US Army, page 7.
- ^Jouineau, Andre (2012).Officers and Soldiers of the French Army of the Victory.pp. 40–41.ISBN9-782352-5026-16.
- ^Windrow, Martin (15 November 1998).The French Indochina War 1946-54.p. 16.ISBN1-85532-789-9.
- ^Morgan, Ted (31 January 2006).My Battle of Algiers.pp.72 and 76.ISBN0-06-085224-0.
- ^Robert Huré,L'Armee d'Afrique,Charles-Lavauzelle (1977)OCLC3845831,p. 462
- ^Montagnon, Pierre (2012).L'Armee d' Afrique.p. 431.ISBN978-2-7564-0574-2.
- ^Montagon, Pierre. L'Armee d'Afrique. De 1830 a l'independence de l'Algerie. p. 94. ISBN 978-2-7564-0574-2.
- ^Schollander, Wendell (9 July 2018).Glory of the Empires 1880-1914.pp. 441–445.ISBN978-0-7524-8634-5.
- ^Mirouze, Laurent (2007).The French Army in the First World War (Volume 1).pp. 390–391.ISBN978-3-902526-09-0.
- ^"Notice descriptive des nouveaux uniformes. (Décision ministérielle du 9 décembre 1914 mise à jour avec le modificatif du 28 janvier 1915)"(in French). Paris: Ministère de la Guerre. 1915.Retrieved2021-07-30– via Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
- ^Galliac, Paul (2012).L' Armee Francaise.p. 20.ISBN978-2-35250-195-4.
- ^Coune, Frederic."Kepi. Une coiffure franchise".Tome 2.p. 10.ISBN979-10-380-1340-7.
- ^Pierre Rosiere, p52"Spahis - des spahis algeriens aux gardes rouges de Dakar",ISBN2-901151-15-9
- ^Mirouze, Laurent (2007).The French Army in the First World War (Volume 1).p. 391.ISBN978-3-902526-09-0.
- ^Maurice Rives, page 42, "Les Linh Tap",ISBN2-7025-0436-1
- ^Pierre Rosiere,"Spahis - des spahis algeriens aux gardes rouges de Dakar",ISBN2-901151-15-9p. 60
- ^Pierre Rosiere,"Spahis - des spahis algeriens aux gardes rouges de Dakar",ISBN2-901151-15-9pp. 121-122
- ^Pierre Rosiere,"Spahis - des spahis algeriens aux gardes rouges de Dakar",ISBN2-901151-15-9p. 137
- ^Rinaldo D. D'Ami, page 46 "World Uniforms in Colour", Volume 2, Patrick Stephens Limited 1969, SBN 85059 040 X
- ^Plates I & IV, "Under Italian Libya's Burning Sun", The National Geographic Magazine August 1925
Sources
[edit]- Jouineau, André (2009) [2009].Officiers et soldats de l'armée française Tome 2: 1915-1918[Officers and Soldiers of the French Army Volume II: 1915-18]. Officers and Soldiers #12. Translated by McKay, Alan. Paris: Histoire & Collections.ISBN978-2-35250-105-3.
- Charles Lavauzelle. "L'Armee d'Afrique 1830–1962"
- Paul Oddo. "Calots Rouges et Croix de Lorraine - Les Spahis de Leclerc"
- Pierre Rosiere. "Spahis - des spahis algeriens aux gardes rouges de Dakar"
- Ian Sumner. "The French Army 1914–18"ISBN1-85532-516-0.
- Furlong, Charles Wellington(1914)."Turcos And The Legion: The Spahis, The Zouaves, The Tirailleurs, And The Foreign Legion".The World's Work, Second War Manual: The Conduct of the War:35–37.Retrieved2009-08-16.
External links
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