Zouave

Zouaves called themselves the members of historical infantry units. The name goes back to the Kabyle tribe of Zuauas in the district Zuaua ( Zuavia ) in the Algerian province of Constantine, who already presented during the Ottoman Empire mercenary troops, who were famous for their bravery.

History

At the beginning of the conquest of Algeria, France was on 1 October 1830 corps of Zouaves on, which was under the command of General Clauzel. The term Zouave was soon widely used for in North Africa recruited mercenaries. The Zouaves wore showy is leaned against Turkish- oriental costumes uniforms.

In the Crimean War to Zuavenregimenter recorded several times from (among others at the battles of Alma, Inkerman and Malakoff ) and founded the legendary reputation of these units.

This led at times other countries to adopt Zuaveneinheiten which, however, did not consist of North Africans, but only took over the colorful costumes of the French models. So put the Union States and the Confederate American Civil War various Zuavenregimenter on; Also in Brazil, the Papal States and Turkey, there were corresponding troops.

The Zouaves developed in the late 19th century to a regular infantry troops of the French army with elite character. The Zouave regiments, much of the conscript European residents of French North Africa was drafted, but also French from the mother country. As a result of the Algerian independence was solved the last Zouave units in 1963.

Zouaves in pictures

Zouaves of the Papal States ( 1860-70 )

Polish Zouave - F. Roche Brune (1863 )

French Zouave (1888 )