83-454: The Troupes coloniales ("Colonial Troops") or Armée coloniale ("Colonial Army"), commonly called La Coloniale , were the colonial troops of the French colonial empire from 1900 until 1961. From 1822 to 1900, these troops were designated as Troupes de marine ("Marine Troops" or just "Marines"), and in 1961 they readopted this name. They were recruited from mainland France and from
166-605: A boycott of Austrian goods, which became known as the "Fez Boycott" due to the near-monopoly the Austrians then held on the production of the hat. Although the headdress survived, the year-long boycott brought the end of its universality in the Ottoman Empire as other styles became socially acceptable. The societal position of the fez as a symbol of tradition led to its ban in Turkey in 1925 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in
249-467: A lambskin hat with colored cloth tops. Albanian levies wore a white version of the fez, resembling their traditional qeleshe . During World War I the fez was still worn by some naval reserve units and occasionally by soldiers when off duty. The Evzones (light infantry) regiments of the Greek Army wore their own distinctive version of the fez from 1837 until World War II . It now survives in
332-574: A paletot which was only worn by them. This garment was worn throughout the First World War, and is useful in positively identifying Troupes Coloniales in photographs, as specifically distinct from troops of the Metropolitan Army who did not wear this garment. As with the rest of the army, they adopted horizon blue uniforms in 1915, subsequent to the notice of 9 December 1914. Towards the end of, and after, World War I khaki became
415-439: A salacco headdress and blue, white or khaki drill clothing based on local patterns. After World War I khaki became the normal dress for indigenous troops, although sashes and fezzes continued to be worn for parade until the 1950s. The modern Troupes de Marine are distinguished in full dress by dark blue kepis with red piping and bronze anchor badges, red sashes and yellow fringed epaulettes. These traditional items are worn with
498-567: A star and crescent on the front irrespective of religion, believing that the symbol predated the introduction of Islam in the Balkans. In 1850, regulations in the newly-autonomous Principality of Serbia concerning uniforms of ministerial officers specified the wear of red fezzes displaying the Serbian coat of arms . The fez was a symbol of Arab nationalist resistance against the Zionism during
581-586: A black tassel attached to the top. The name "fez" may refer to the Moroccan city of Fez , where the dye to color the hat was extracted from crimson berries. However, its origins are disputed. The modern fez owes much of its popularity to the Ottoman era. It became a symbol of the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century. In 1827, Mahmud II mandated its use as a modern headdress for his new army,
664-498: A colonial force, wore fezzes until the 1940s. Bosnian infantry regiments in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire had been distinguished by wearing the fez, from their creation in 1885 until the end of World War I . They wore distinctive light blue or field grey uniforms, with a buckle showing an arm with a scimitar inside a shield as the symbol of Bosniak ethnicity. The primarily Bosniak Muslim 13th Waffen Mountain Division of
747-469: A dilemma: when military developments made numbers a priority, it had to either trust the majority and so risk loss of control, or alternatively to rely on minorities combined with large numbers of expensive European or other non-local troops. The French Army of the Levant provided an example of the latter option. Raised to garrison Syria and Lebanon from 1920 to 1943, this force of about 10,000 men (in 1938)
830-470: A fez—instead of a headdress with brim—was easier because Muslims put their heads to the ground during Salah (daily prayers). The tarboosh was depicted as an element of Turkish clothing as early as around 1460. Mehmed the Conqueror wore a jeweled tarboosh wrapped in a white sarık to signify his right of the conquest of Constantinople. In 1826, Sultan Mahmud II of the Ottoman Empire suppressed
913-494: A high-profile for the overseas territories represented. The end of the colonial empires saw mixed outcomes for colonial troops. Where the transition was a relatively peaceful one the existing colonial units were likely to form the basis of the new national armies. Where there had been extended conflict those locally recruited troops who had remained loyal to their former colonial rulers might find themselves regarded as collaborators and subject to reprisals after independence. This
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#1732773352652996-653: A lack of manpower, especially during and in the run-up to World War II. By the 20th century, colonial troops were often being used outside the boundaries of their territories of origin. Troops from France's North African colonies served in the Crimean War , the Franco-Prussian War , and most notably in the trenches of World War I in France itself. France used African troops in World War II and during
1079-761: A reputation for toughness and professionalism. Whether French or indigenous they were, for the most part, long service regulars and as such comprised a genuine elite. The Marine Infantry , Marine Parachute , Artillery and Engineer units remain as a distinct branch within the modern French Army . Colonial troops Colonial troops or colonial army refers to various military units recruited from, or used as garrison troops in, colonial territories. Such colonies may lie overseas or in areas dominated by neighboring land powers such as Imperial China or Tsarist Russia. Colonial troops have been used by imperial powers whether ancient (such as Carthage and Rome ), or modern (such as Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Denmark,
1162-755: A uniform item of the Mussolini Fascist regime. The Spanish Regulares (formerly Moorish) Tabors stationed in the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla , in North Africa, retain a parade uniform that includes the fez and white cloaks. Filipino units organised in the early days of U.S. rule briefly wore black fezzes, and officers serving with Muslim personnel of the Philippines Constabulary were authorised to wear this headdress from 1909. The Liberian Frontier Force, although not
1245-527: Is used mainly in the countries of the Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan). Tarboosh is considered to be a Turkish word composed of two elements, ter "sweat" and pošu "a light turban cloth". The fez takes its name from the Moroccan city of Fez , due to it being the source of the crimson berry once used to dye the felt. The origins of the hat are obscure. It is either of ancient Greek , Tunisian , Moroccan , or Turkish origin. It
1328-726: The Arab revolt in Palestine between 1936 and 1939 in the British Mandate . Over time, the fez came to be seen as part of an Oriental cultural identity. On the one hand this led to its banning as part of modernising reforms in Turkey (1925) and later in Egypt (1958). On the other hand, the western orientalist perception of it during the 20th century west as exotic and romantic lead to its vogue as part of men's luxury smoking outfit in
1411-563: The Asakir-i Mansure-i Muhammediye . The decision was inspired by the Ottoman naval command, who had previously returned from the Maghreb having embraced the style. In 1829, Mahmud issued new regulations mandating use of the fez by all civil and religious officials. The intention was to replace the turban , which acted as a marker of identity and so divided rather than unified the population. A century later, in 1925,
1494-696: The Balkans , which at the time was still mostly under Ottoman suzerainty. There were variations on the fez in the Balkan states, mainly involving the addition of religious symbols on the front. In semi-independent Montenegro , a client state of the Ottoman Empire that enjoyed complete autonomy, its Orthodox citizens wore their fezzes with a Greek cross on the front. Supporters of the Illyrian movement among South Slavs, especially in Croatia , wore their fezzes with
1577-561: The Battle of Tanga , in East Africa, but two divisions of Indian infantry also fought with distinction in France in a type of war and a climate for which they had been little prepared. The selective recruitment of particular ethnic groups for service in the colonial military was frequently influenced by the perception of their military abilities and loyalty towards the colonial regime. On occasion, these restrictions were overturned due to
1660-760: The East India Company were an early example. By the mid 18th century, these troops were beginning to be directly recruited by the Company, allowing more systematic provisioning, drill and tactics, forming the presidency armies . During the Indian Rebellion of 1857 , or "Sepoy Mutiny", many of the sepoys rebelled against the Company, leading to the end of Company rule in India . After the British government took direct control of British India in 1858,
1743-519: The English-speaking world . The fez ( Turkish : fes , Ottoman Turkish : فس , romanized : fes ) is also known as a tarboosh ( Arabic : طربوش , romanized : ṭarbūš ), also spelt tarboush. The word tarboosh is thought to be a loanword from Persian : Sarpūš (meaning "headdress") via the Turkish language , from Ottoman Turkish تيرپوس ( terpos ), and
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#17327733526521826-500: The Hat Revolution , part of his modernizing reforms . It was banned for similar reasons in 1958 in Egypt by Gamal Abdel Nasser government, with Cairo having been one of the most important centers of production of the fez up until then. Fez production has subsequently resumed in Egypt, but its sale is largely aimed at tourists. The fez was a symbol not only of Ottoman affiliation but also of religious adherence to Islam. It
1909-613: The Indian Army . The relative lack of up-to-date weaponry and training put colonial troops at an initial disadvantage when they faced modern opponents such as the German or Japanese armies of World War II. Even earlier, the African and Indian troops that had been sent to France in 1914 encountered a climate, diet, and general conditions of service greatly different from those with which they were familiar. The Senegalese Tirailleurs of
1992-544: The Philippines employed Filipino troops from the same regions and tribal groups. In the 1830s the original zouaves were volunteers from a tribal group which provided mercenaries for both the Turkish and French rulers of Algeria. Colonial troops may comprise local forces drawn from settlers in colonies where these were numerous. In the 18th century, militia units were raised in colonial America . A large portion of
2075-733: The Rif tribesmen of Morocco). Colonial units could be employed in campaigns or conditions in which the use of conscripts from metropolitan regiments would be politically unpopular. Also, the use of local troops often made the actual colonization more palatable for the locals. Colonial troops could be used to garrison or subdue other territories than those in which they were recruited to avoid problems of conflicting loyalties. For example, Italy used Eritrean askaris in Libya and during both wars with Ethiopia ( 1895 and 1936 ). Indian regiments garrisoned Aden , Singapore , and Hong Kong at various times in
2158-588: The Troupes de la Marine became the Troupes Coloniales in 1900 and photographs of mehariste (camel corps) troopers taken in the 1950s show anchor badges even in the Mauritanian desert far from the sea. In 1961 the title of Troupes de Marine was readopted after a brief period (1958–61) as Troupes d'Outre-Mer (Overseas Forces). As the remaining French African territories became independent in
2241-611: The West African Frontier Force wore a low red version. The Egyptian Army wore the classic Turkish model until 1950. The West India Regiment of the British Army wore a fez as part of its Zouave-style full dress until this unit was disbanded in 1928. The tradition is continued in the full dress of the band of the Barbados Regiment , with a white turban wrapped around the base. While the fez
2324-484: The 1400–1700s version of the mail armor head protector (a round metal plate or skull-cap, around which hung a curtain of mail to protect the neck and upper shoulder). The red fez with blue tassel was the standard headdress of the Turkish Army from the 1840s until the introduction of a khaki service dress and peakless sun helmet in 1910. The only significant exceptions were cavalry and some artillery units who wore
2407-613: The 19th and the early 20th centuries. In the 1950s, the Portuguese used African troops from Mozambique to garrison Goa , and the Dutch had West Africans ( Belanda Hitam ) for service in the East Indies during much of the 19th century. Colonial troops were usually more lightly equipped than their metropolitan counterparts, who were usually given priority when new weaponry was issued. This apparent discrimination sometimes arose from
2490-722: The Cape Malay community in Cape Town, involving thousands of musicians and a wide variety of tunes. A documentary film, The Silver Fez , was made about the competition and released in 2009. Many fraternal orders are known for wearing fezzes. British comedian Tommy Cooper adopted the fez as part of his comic act while serving in Egypt during the Second World War . The hat went on to become Cooper's hallmark and an icon of 20th century comedy. Fans of English rugby team Saracens often wear fezzes to matches, and
2573-629: The Crown following the end of the Indian Mutiny in 1858. The French " Army of Africa " garrisoning Algeria , Morocco , and Tunisia comprised all of these elements. The Dutch had a similar mix of locally recruited and metropolitan troops composing their garrison in the East Indies . While the Sikhs , Punjabis , Marathis , Rajputs , Jats , Baloch , and other " martial races " making up
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2656-719: The French Army had to be withdrawn to southern France for recuperation and training during the harsh winters of the Western Front. All Indian troops, with the exception of some cavalry regiments, were withdrawn from the Western Front in October 1915, to serve in Mesopotamia , Palestine , and East Africa . On the other hand, the regiments of the Indian Army were an army in their own right with responsibilities in
2739-912: The French settler as well as indigenous populations of the empire. This force played a substantial role in the conquest of the empire, in World War I , World War II , the First Indochina War and the Algerian War . The Armée coloniale should not be confused with the units of the French Army generally stationed in North Africa such as the Foreign Legion , the Zouave regiments, the Battalions of Light Infantry of Africa or
2822-539: The Janissaries and began sweeping reforms of the military. The modernised military adopted Western style uniforms and, as headdresses, the fez with a cloth wrapped around it. In 1827, 50,000 fezzes were ordered from Tunis for the sultan's troops. In 1829 the Sultan ordered his civil officials to wear the plain fez, and banned the wearing of turbans . The intention was to coerce the populace at large to update to
2905-1052: The Philippines became independent. These troops including the Philippine Scouts (most notably), the Philippine Constabulary , and eventually the Philippine Army in general. They were usually trained by the US military and initially led by American officers. Philippine colonial soldiers were amongst the first members of the US Army to engage in direct combat against the Japanese during World War II. Colonial troops sometimes served as symbols or icons of imperial power. Representative detachments of Indian and other empire forces came to London to parade as part of coronation or other major celebrations during
2988-523: The SS Handschar , which was recruited from Bosnia, used a red or field grey fez with Waffen SS cap insignia during the latter half of World War II . Their fezzes were decorated on the front with Hoheitszeichen (eagle and Swastika) and the SS Totenkopf (skull and crossbones). Two regiments of the Indian Army recruited from Muslim areas wore fezzes under British rule (although
3071-555: The United States and the United Kingdom. It had also become associated with Ottoman domination across much of the former Ottoman empire and Arab world, though an exception is Morocco , where it became a symbol against French colonisation . Morocco remains one of the last places where the fez is occasionally worn, and remains a favoured part of royal court dress. A version of the fez was used as an arming cap for
3154-519: The United States, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, and Portugal). Sometimes they have been recruited under local leaders, as auxiliaries ; and at other times organized directly by the colonial power. At the beginning of the modern colonial period such troops were predominantly Europeans from the home army of the country concerned, but locally raised "native" troops were soon recruited. The latter normally served in separate units, at first under their own leaders, later under European officers. The sepoys of
3237-522: The West Indies and West Africa, which were notoriously unhealthy for European troops until the early 20th century. "Native" troops were usually recruited from tribal or other groups that had long-established martial traditions. It was not uncommon for colonial armies to favor the races that had shown the fiercest opposition to the initial conquest of a given territory (examples being the Sikhs of India and
3320-502: The actual light infantry or light cavalry roles required of colonial forces, which were intended primarily for low intensity warfare against poorly-armed opponents in difficult terrain. Until World War II , artillery or mechanized units rarely had indigenous troops although the Italian colonial army maintained a number of Eritrean , Somali , and Libyan mule artillery batteries, and there were locally-recruited mountain batteries in
3403-502: The bulk of "native regiments" of the Indian Army were recruited from British subjects, the ten regiments of Gurkha Rifles were recruited from outside British-controlled territory. In Burma, the British recruited primarily from the Hill dwelling minorities such as the Karens , Kachin , and Chin while preventing the plain dwelling majority of Bamar , Rakhine , and Mon people from joining
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3486-481: The club itself describes the fez as "one of the most recognisable club symbols". The pop group Madness have often worn fezzes, as seen in the music video to their 1979 song " Night Boat to Cairo ". In the Disney animated series Gravity Falls , Grunkle Stan , a main character who has a persona "Mr. Mystery", wears a fez which sometimes features a Shriners symbol. In the movie Ali Baba Bujang Lapok , some characters, including Ali Baba , can be seen using
3569-600: The colonial military service; this was due to the perception that they were unsympathetic towards the colonial government. Many colonial powers sought to recruit minority peoples, such as the Ambonese in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), to counterbalance majority populations seen as potentially rebellious, such as the Javanese . Such minority groups, and those with records of loyalty in revolt, were often designated as "martial races"; their supposedly superior fighting qualities propagandized, and their communities rewarded with special status. The colonial power might face however
3652-415: The colony in the Spanish–American War . The demographic composition of the 65th stayed generally the same after 1917 (though composed of US citizens it was no longer be a "colonial" regiment), and went onto to serve with distinction in every major US conflict since. The US Army also organized and trained multiple colonial units during the American colonization of the Philippines from 1901 until 1946 when
3735-445: The conquest of Ethiopia during 1936; Eritrean troops were also used in the occupation of Libya from 1911 to 1935 and a full division of Libyan infantry participated in the Ethiopian campaign. Portugal employed Landim troops from Mozambique in Angola during World War I , also using them in the garrisons of Portuguese India and Macau until the 1950s. During the 19th century, several thousand West African soldiers were recruited under
3818-423: The eve of World War I the Troupes Coloniales consisted of 42,000 French regulars (of whom approximately 13,000 were posted overseas); plus 50,000 African and Indochinese indigenous troops. Two companies of cipahis ( sepoys ) garrisoned Pondicherry and other French enclaves in British India . These were converted to gendarmerie in 1907 but returned to the Troupes Coloniales in 1921. The precise meaning of
3901-426: The fez as a colonial relic. It is, however, still worn by the ceremonial Garde Rouge in Senegal as part of their Spahi -style uniform, and by the Italian Bersaglieri in certain orders of dress. The Bersaglieri adopted the fez as an informal headdress through the influence of the French Zouaves, with whom they served in the Crimean War . The Italian Arditi in the First World War wore a black fez that later became
3984-410: The fez there, where it is also referred to as a kofia (also spelt kofija). especially at prayer times in mosques, at weddings, and at home as a sign of respect when in the company of elderly people. It is also popular with children at madrassas (Islamic schools). However, the last traditional fez-maker in Cape Town retired in March 2022. The "Silver Fez" is a competition of all-male choirs from
4067-477: The fez was outlawed in Turkey as part of Atatürk's reforms . Since then, it has not been a part of Turkish men's clothing. The fez has been used as part of soldiers' uniforms in many armies and wars for centuries, including the Bahawalpur Regiment in Pakistan as late as the 1960s. It is still worn in parts of South Asia , Southeast Asia, the Middle East , North Africa , and in Cape Town , South Africa. It has also been adopted by various fraternal orders in
4150-606: The fez, and the plan was successful. This was a radically egalitarian measure, which replaced the elaborate sumptuary laws that signaled rank, religion , and occupation, foreshadowing the Tanzimat reforms. Although tradesmen and artisans generally rejected the fez, it became a symbol of modernity throughout the Near East, inspiring similar decrees in other nations (such as Iran in 1873). The original centre of production appears to have been in Tunis . To meet escalating demand, skilled fez makers were induced to immigrate from Tunisia to Istanbul , where factories were established in
4233-416: The final period of colonial rule in Africa (approximately 1945 to 1962), the fez was seen only as a full-dress item in French, British, Belgian, Spanish, and Portuguese African units, being replaced by wide-brimmed hats or forage caps on other occasions. Colonial police forces, however, usually retained the fez as normal duty wear for indigenous personnel. Post-independence armies in Africa quickly discarded
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#17327733526524316-567: The forces maintained by Spain and Portugal in Central America and South America until the early 19th century were locally recruited. Units of regulars (Regimiento Fijo) served alongside militia counterparts in Spanish Louisiana and other colonies. Colonial militias in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand formed the origins of the modern armies of these countries. The advantages of locally-recruited troops in colonial warfare were several. They had familiarity with local terrain, language and culture. They were likely to be immune from disease in areas such as
4399-506: The indigenous North African Spahis , Tirailleurs and Goumiers ; all of which were part of the Army of Africa . The North African units date back to 1830 and were brought together as the XIX Army Corps in 1873, forming part of the French Metropolitan Army. Instead the Troupes Coloniales can be divided into: All colonial troops ( la Coloniale or the Colonial) came under a single General Staff. The troupes coloniales were predominantly infantry but included artillery units as well as
4482-399: The late 1950s and early 1960s, the tirailleurs were discharged, usually to join their new national armies. In 1964, the 7th Regiment of Tirailleurs, formed in 1913 as the 7e Régiment de tirailleurs Algériens was redesigned the 170e Régiment d'Infanterie. The various "Tirailleurs Indochinois" regiments were dispersed by the Japanese coup of 10 March 1945 and were not reformed. On 1 May 1994, in
4565-423: The late 19th and 20th centuries. French tirailleurs and spahis paraded in Paris on the 14th July each year until 1962. Until at least the 1930s, British Indian and French, Italian, and Spanish North African regiments were notable for their picturesque uniforms which incorporated native features such as colorful turbans , cloaks, and sashes. Such features were an aid to voluntary recruiting as well as ensuring
4648-401: The local Sri Lankan Malays . The name " songkok " is also used in Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, while in Java, it is called "kopiah"; this headwear is also known widely in Indonesia as "peci", although peci is somewhat different. This hat has been commonly worn in Maritime Southeast Asia since the 19th century, when it was introduced by Muslims from South Asia . The Turkish-style fez
4731-410: The local colonial forces. However it is notable that British forces in Nigeria and other West African territories were under normal circumstances nearly all locally recruited, except for officers, some non-commissioned officers, and a few specialists. Changes in colonial ruler usually meant the continuation of local recruitment - often from the same sources. Both the Spanish and United States rulers of
4814-427: The name of "Belanda Hitam" by the Dutch colonial authorities for military service in the Dutch East Indies . Prior to the passage of the Jones–Shafroth Act in 1917, granting full US citizenship to Puerto Ricans , the US Army 's 65th Infantry Regiment , was made up of Puerto Rican enlistees and a mix of American and Puerto Rican officers. The unit was formed in 1899, immediately following America's annexation of
4897-475: The neighborhood of Eyüp . Styles soon multiplied, with nuances of shape, height, material, and hue competing in the market. The striking scarlet and merlot colors of the fez were initially achieved through an extract of cornel . However, the invention of low-cost synthetic dyes soon shifted production of the hat to the factories of Strakonice , Czech Republic (then in the Austrian Empire). The 1908 Austro-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina resulted in
4980-400: The norm for all colonial troops in contrast to the horizon blue of the metropolitan conscripts. The blue dress uniform was however restored for French personnel who enlisted as volunteers in either the Colonial Infantry or Colonial Artillery, from 1928 to 1939. Tirailleur regiments in Africa wore red fezes and sashes with dark blue, or khaki uniforms until 1914. The Indo-Chinese units wore
5063-461: The parade uniform of the Presidential Guard in Athens. From the mid-19th century on, the fez was widely adopted as the headdress of locally recruited "native" soldiers among the various colonial troops of the world. The French North African regiments ( Zouaves , Tirailleurs , and Spahis ) wore wide, red fezzes with detachable tassels of various colors. It was an off-duty affectation of the Zouaves to wear their fezzes at different angles according to
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#17327733526525146-424: The presence of veterans of the armée d'Afrique, légionnaires, spahis, zouaves and artilleurs, the 170e Régiment d'Infanterie was redesignated as the 1er Régiment de Tirailleurs. It wears the insignia and bears the honors and traditions of the old 1er régiment de tirailleurs Algériens, which was disbanded in 1964. Throughout their changing titles and roles the French Troupes de Marine or Troupes coloniales retained
5229-424: The profession. In Iraq , the Iraqi Sidara replaced the Fez after the country's independence from the Ottoman Empire. In the Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan), the tarboush is still worn, but it is becoming rarer in recent times, and mostly worn by minstrels , or people who work in the tourist industry in historical places. It is still regarded as traditional Syrian headwear. However in Morocco
5312-402: The red epaulettes and red trousers of the line infantry). On colonial service white, dark blue or light khaki uniforms were worn with topees , according to circumstances. Between 1895 and 1905 a light blue/grey ( bleu mecanicien ) uniform was worn for field dress in Africa and Indo China (see photograph opposite). From 1873 onwards, the Troupes Coloniales wore a double-breasted tunic, known as
5395-485: The regiment; French officers of North African units during the 1930s often wore the same fez as their men, with rank insignia attached. (Many volunteer Zouave regiments wore the French North African version of the fez during the American Civil War .) The Libyan battalions and squadrons of the Italian colonial forces wore lower, red fezzes over white skull caps. Somali and Eritrean regiments in Italian service wore high red fezzes with colored tassels that varied according to
5478-509: The sepoys formed the regiments of the Indian Army , some of which survive to the present day in the national armies of India and Pakistan . The French and Portuguese enclaves in the Indian subcontinent also recruited sepoys. In the larger colonial possessions the garrison was likely to comprise both locally recruited and white troops. The latter might be from the home or metropolitan army, from settlers doing their military service or occasionally from mercenaries recruited outside
5561-406: The standard light beige or camouflage dress of the modern French Army on ceremonial occasions. From 1822 to 1900 these troops, both French and indigenous, had been designated as Troupes de Marine , though they were not directly linked to the French Navy . Both services were however administered by the Ministre de la Marine and shared an anchor badge. This insignia continued to be worn after
5644-528: The subsequent Indochina and Algerian Wars . Indian troops served in Europe in large numbers during both World Wars, as well as in the Middle East, Malaya, Burma, and North Africa in World War II. The Regulares (Moorish infantry and cavalry) of Spanish Morocco played a major role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939. Japan recruited levies from Korea and Taiwan during the period of colonial rule in both countries. Italy employed Dubats from Italian Somaliland , together with Eritrean and Libyan units in
5727-519: The tarboush is still worn as part of everyday attire. In Hyderabad , the fez is known as the Rumi Topi , which means "Roman Cap" (by virtue of the Ottoman Empire being seen as the successor state of the Eastern Roman Empire ). The fez was popularised by Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan of princely Hyderabad after he visited Rome. As per Himayat Ali Mirza, the great-grandson of the Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan never wore expensive clothes but used to wear Rumi Topi to camouflage his short physical stature — he
5810-466: The terms "colonial troops", "colonial army", marine troops or "troops of the French colonies" has changed several times since the 18th century: Colony troops: Regular regiments of the Royal Army assigned to colonial service: The European Colonial Infantry and Colonial Artillery regiments were, until 1914, uniformed in a similar style to their metropolitan counterparts (although the former had yellow fringed epaulettes and medium blue trousers instead of
5893-413: The territories of the colonial power concerned. Units of european troops raised specifically for overseas service include those in France ( les marsouins within numerous régiments d'infanterie coloniale ), and in Spain ( Spanish Legion in the 1920s, contiuning the legacy of the Regimiento Fijo a century previous). The european regiments of the British East India Company were placed under the command of
5976-519: The turban was the nearly-universal headdress among Hindu and Muslim sepoys and sowars ). A green fez was worn by the Bahawalpur Lancers of Pakistan as late as the 1960s. In Arab countries, tarboush-making is a profession passed down from parents to children through generations. Producing the hat is tricky and requires a high degree of precision, with many stages in its production cycle. Fewer and fewer people have inherited and continue
6059-682: The unit. German askaris in East Africa wore their fezzes with khaki covers on nearly all occasions. The Belgian Force Publique in the Congo wore large and floppy red fezzes similar to those of the French Tirailleurs Senegalais and the Portuguese Companhias Indigenas. The British King's African Rifles (recruited in East Africa) wore high straight-sided fezzes in either red or black, while
6142-577: The usual support services. At various dates they also included locally recruited cavalry units in Indo-China as well as camel troops in sub-Saharan Africa . Across the French colonial possessions in 1914, a total of up to 25,000 native auxiliaries served as civil guards, militia or gendarmes . While officered and partially administered by the Colonial Army these para-military units did not serve outside their territories of recruitment. On
6225-670: The wider Empire. They were equipped as such, apart from lacking certain specialist capabilities, and took on the Ottomans , the Germans , the Italians and later the Japanese more or less on their own but were sometimes accompanied by a substantial British presence. In the early stages of World War I (November 1914), a British-Indian expeditionary force suffered a major defeat by well-trained and well-led German askaris ( Schutztruppe ) at
6308-428: Was a colorful and picturesque item of uniform, it was in several ways an impractical headdress. If worn without a drab cover, it made the head a target for enemy fire, and it provided little protection from the sun. As a result, it was increasingly relegated to parade or off-duty wear by World War II. However, France's West African tirailleurs continued to wear a khaki-covered version in the field until about 1943. During
6391-487: Was also the main headdress for Christians and Jews during the Ottoman Empire . Jewish men wore the fez and referred to it by the Arabic name "Tarboush", especially if they spoke Arabic ( Egyptian , Syrian and Palestinian Jews ). In southern Asia, the fez had been adopted due to its links with the Ottoman Empire . Through the 19th and early 20th centuries the fez was the preferred headwear for Christians and Muslims in
6474-674: Was introduced to Cape Malays in Cape Town , South Africa, by Sheikh Abu Bakr Effendi , when he moved there from Turkey in 1863 to teach them about their religion. Prior to this, the Dutch East India Company had compelled Muslims in the Cape of Good Hope , mainly brought as slaves from what is now Indonesia , to hide their religious practice, with death as the punishment for practising their faith in public or for attempting to convert anyone. Muslim men have continued to wear
6557-460: Was one of the few people in Pakistan who wore the fez until his death in 2003. In Sri Lanka , the fez was frequently worn by the local Muslim Sri Lankan Moor population. Despite its use declining in popularity, the fez is still used in traditional marriage ceremonies. It continues to be worn by " Qadiriyathun Nabaviyyah " Sufi path followers. The songkok , a variation of the fez, is worn by
6640-753: Was only five feet tall — and advised his son Moazzam Jah to also wear the Rumi Topi. The fez was also a symbol of the support for the Ottoman Caliphate against the British Indian Empire during the Khilafat Movement . Later, it became associated with some leaders of the Muslim League , the political party that eventually created the country of Pakistan . The veteran Pakistani politician Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan
6723-523: Was particularly the case in Algeria in 1962 (see Harkis ) and in Guinea-Bissau during 1973/74. Fez (clothing) The fez ( Turkish : fes , Ottoman Turkish : فس , romanized : fes ), also called tarboosh / tarboush ( Arabic : طربوش , romanized : ṭarbūš ), is a felt headdress in the shape of a short, cylindrical, peakless hat, usually red, typically with
6806-405: Was popular especially during the later period of the Ottoman Empire and its use spread throughout the empire, and much of its popularity derives from this era. Initially, the fez was a brimless red, white, or black bonnet over which a turban was wrapped (similar to a wrapped keffiyeh ). Later the turban was eliminated, the bonnet shortened, and the color fixed to red. Praying while wearing
6889-528: Was predominantly recruited from Alawite , Druze , Kurdish , and Circassian minorities, augmented by North African, Senegalese, and French Foreign Legion units. Following the integration of the HEIC 's european regiments from 1858 onwards, such as the 2nd Bengal (European) Fusiliers , the British Army rotated large numbers of its regular troops through India and other overseas possessions, augmenting
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