Spahi :word of Turkish origin. Originally, the “sibahis” were horsemen provided by the tribes subservient to the Ottoman Empire who came to reinforce the numbers of Mamluks (regular troops) when the scale of the operations required it.
They pay themselves on the ground by looting the places where they intervene and , once the operation is completed, rejoin their original tribes.
The Dey of Algiers, deposed upon the arrival of the French, has "Sibahis", the vast majority of whom are Turkish. Finding themselves unemployed, they sided in 1830 under the banner of Youssouf (1) which made them effective and feared troops, contributing to the conquest of Algeria. The word, distorted by the French pronunciation, becomes SPAHI (note:the "P" does not exist in Arabic, it is pronounced sBahi).
Spahis in Algeria
These riders recruited by Youssouf are first called "Mamluks", then two years later "Spahis". Their existence is formalized by three pieces of legislation:
an 1831 law allows generals commanding occupied countries to form military corps composed of natives and strangers. This is the first consecration of skirmishers, spahis and legionnaires.
the order of December 7, 1841 created a single corps of native horsemen. Their employment has thus been regularized for more than ten years by the French expeditionary force in Algeria
the ordinance of July 2, 1845 creates three regiments of spahis:
* the 1st regiment of Algerian spahis in Algiers;
* the 2nd regiment of Algerian spahis in Oran;
* the 3rd regiment of Algerian spahis in Bône.
These formations cover themselves with glory in almost all of the battles that punctuate the conquest of Algeria and contribute largely to the success of the arms of France.
Here are their main victories:
* Constantine in 1836 and 1837;
* The Iron Gates in 1839;
* Le Collo in 1843;
* The capture of the smala of Abdelkader in 1843;
* The battle of Isly in 1844;
* The Aurès in 1846;
* The capture of Zaatcha in 1849;
* The capture of Laghouat in 1852;
* The Hodna in 1864;
* Kabylia in 1871.
Spahis outside Algeria [edit]
1880 - officer of Algerian spahis
1880 - officer of Algerian spahis
Born in Algeria, the spahis model is taken up elsewhere by the French army:
In the Crimea, in 1854, where Yousouf is in charge of setting up squadrons of native horsemen;
* in Tunisia, where the 4th Spahis was formed on October 1, 1886.
* in Morocco, with the participation of Algerian squadrons in the French expansion, then with the creation, in 1912, of ten squadrons of spahis formed with the cavalry tabors of the Sultan of Morocco
* in Senegal, with a sketch in 1843, then effective participation in pacification operations from 1872 to 1881;
* and also during the colonial expansion of the Third Republic where Algerian and Moroccan units took an active part in the campaigns in the Far East, Africa and Madagascar.
First World War
In 1914 there were four regiments of Algerian spahis encased in Médéa, Sidi-Bel-Abbès, Batna and Sfax (in Tunisia). A 5th regiment was created during the general mobilization of August 1914; and a month later, in September, a marching brigade was formed with squadrons from all units. This brigade, commanded by Colonel Martin de Bouillon, is made up of the 1st (Lieutenant-Colonel Schneider) and 2nd (Colonel Couverchel) spahis marching regiments, which in August 1915 are renamed 6th and 7th Algerian spahis. The Algerian spahis fought from the beginning of hostilities. Meanwhile, in Morocco, the French authorities assembled four auxiliary squadrons of Moroccan spahis and sent them to France, where, under the orders of Commander Dupertuis, they formed the Régiment de Marche de Chasseurs Indigènes à Cheval, which became the 1 ° January 1915, the Moroccan Spahis Marching Regiment (depot in Arles). As for the auxiliary squadrons remaining in Morocco, they gave birth to the 2nd regiment of Moroccan spahis, which served as a relief unit for the 1st regiment then in the front line in France, then, from March 1917, for the army of Orient, where he led many battles which, in 1918, took him as far as the Danube and Budapest. In this city, on December 31, 1918, one month after the Armistice, during a raid on the castle of Foth, he captured Marshal von Mackensen and his entire staff.
Between the wars
During this period, the number of spahis regiments is tripled compared to the strength of 1914.
In 1921, there were twelve spahis regiments:
* 5 in Algeria;
* 4 in Morocco;
* 2 in the Levant;
* 1 in Tunisia.
World War II
Many squadrons of spahis constitute the reconnaissance units of the French military formations. In mainland France, when war is declared, there are:
* 1st spahis brigade with the 4th regiment of Moroccan spahis and the 6th regiment of Algerian spahis, stationed in Compiègne.
* 2nd brigade of spahis with the 7th regiment of Algerian spahis and the 9th regiment of Algerian spahis, stationed in Vienne and Montauban.
Thereafter, are added:
* the 3rd Spahis Brigade with the 2nd Moroccan Spahis Regiment and the 2nd Algerian Spahis Regiment.
The most important part in the fighting is taken by the 1st and 3rd brigades in the Belgian Ardennes, the 3rd being annihilated. The 2nd Brigade monitors the Swiss border until June 9; the 9th regiment of Algerian spahis distinguished itself by its resistance from June 18 to 20, in Vercel.
1940 - Moroccan Spahi
After the armistice of 1940, part of the 1st squadron of the 1st RSM, commanded by Captain Paul Jourdier, left Syria clandestinely at the beginning of July 1940, to join the British in Palestine. It is one of the first units of Free France to resume combat:in Eritrea, then in Syria, in El Alamein, in Tunisia; it gradually strengthened to become the 1st Moroccan Spahis Marching Regiment of General Leclerc's famous 2nd Armored Division.
Other regiments were reformed in North Africa as part of the armistice army, then, after the Allied landings in 1942, they became part of:
* of the French expeditionary corps in Italy under the orders of General Juin;
* of the 1st Army of General de Lattre de Tassigny,
Today
1962 announces the end] of these colonial military formations. Today, only the 1st regiment of spahis stationed in Valence remains. He is the custodian of all the traditions of his glorious ancestors and actively participates in the external military interventions carried out by France within the framework of its defense agreements.
Uniformology
Burnous color
At the beginning of the conquest of Algeria, in order to distinguish them in combat, the native horsemen used by the French expeditionary force are dressed in a green burnous, a symbolic color of Islam. As the numbers of these auxiliaries grew and the green dye became rare, the “big blue” of the French army uniforms was adopted. The Arab horsemen refuse these blue burnouses 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 stewardship then refers to the madder color used for the infantrymen's pants. This is how red becomes the traditional color of the burnous of the Algerian spahis.
In 1917, the Moroccan spahis are engaged in the Eastern campaign. Very poorly equipped, to protect themselves from the cold and replace their ragged clothes, they use brown and khaki stewardship blankets in which they carve burnouses. The stewardship offers to provide them with regulatory burnous, but they refuse the madder color and demand midnight blue, which is the color worn by their Berber notables. Satisfaction is given to them. This is how, since 1917, Moroccan spahis have distinguished themselves from Algerians by wearing the blue burnous.
The “toug”
During his career as a formidable swordsman, Youssouf, the "father of spahis", rode a magnificent white stallion that he particularly liked. During a fight, the animal is killed under him. Wanting to keep a memory of this horse, Youssouf had it take its tail and put it on a spear which became his command flag:the “toug”. From this point on, a ponytail is added to all spahis command pennants. Over the years, most French cavalry units would (unduly) adopt this tradition which remains today. As a general rule, the flag and the tail that accompanies it are offered to the officer who leaves his command, a new flag, in all respects identical to the previous one, replaces it.....
The harness of the spahis
The first Arab who used harness was Prophet Ali, a relative of Mohammad. It was a carpet made up of six double sheets of felt, colored in green, red and blue:the “tarar”. Subsequently, this carpet is lined with leather and red silk.
When the sipahis arrive in North Africa, they have Turkish harness with very raised pommels (front of the saddle) and cantles (back of the saddle). These growths are intended to keep the rider in his saddle during charges or frontal collisions with his opponents. The stirrups with a wide and arched floor and convex walls allow the feet to be firmly wedged. They are suspended from braided woolen cords. In this Maghreb which has been Islamized since the 7th century, local riders use Arab harness; over time, it is this last material, easier to find, which gradually replaces the Turkish equipment of the sipahis.