"Ottoman Janissaries Uniform/Dress" Topic

I have noticed in several prints that pictures of Renaissance Janissaries show them in various color uniforms. However it never identifies if they were from various regiments or if the men in the same regiment wore a variety of uniform colors, i.e. their own dress, with the common white headgear. Can anyone advise if each regiment wore a common uniform, or of each soldier wore a different uniform?

Thanks,

Terry

I am not aware that they had regimental distinctions. I would just paint each btn or regiment in similar colors, but different per each regiment.

Mid to darkish blue was a popular color for Janissary coats. Each man was supposed to receive a length of 'Salonika blue' cloth every year to make up a new coat. However the issue wasn't always made, was sometimes commuted for cash, or men were allowed to sell the issue cloth and furnish their own coats.

Miniature paintings from the 1500s show Janissaries in the field wearing patterned cloth coats in many colors, very individualistic. A painting by a European artist of Istanbul Janissaries in the early 19th century running for their pay shows mostly blue coats, with some in red coats. These look like issued uniforms. Janissaries in places like Egypt and Algiers wore local costume.

You have a lot of choices.

I used a theme colour for my units, blues, yellow, and red. However, I used tints and complimentary colours within the same orta; blue to purple, red to orange, yellow to yellow ochre to add variation.

I have added a link to my photos:

link

Cheers,
Robert
18thcenturysojourn.blogspot.com

Only a limited number of Ortas (regiments) wore a uniform blue color. These troops were based in or near Istanbul. I seem to remember they numbered about 12,000. I will have to get you a source later when I am at home. In the later days of the Janissaries, ca. 1775 there were also two Ortas who wore green.

Other than those troops, I don't believe there was any real uniformity as the troops were equipped and supplied locally and often from their own pockets.

Gentlemen, Thank you all for your prompt replies. They are most helpful, and I believe give me the direction I need to go with this.

Robert, I especially enjoyed seeing the pictures of your Ottoman army, and such are always very helpful. Thanks for sharing them.

Anleiher, I look forward to any additional information you might find.

My army lists only allows for 2 units/regiments, and if nothing else, I will go with one i mid blue and the other in either green or yellow. Am I right that the small clothes worn under the over short sleeved/sleeveless coat would be more individual and therefore could be in any colors? Also would the boots also be varied colors – yellow, red, green, black?

Again, sincere thanks,

Terry

Try this site:
ottomanwars · Ottoman Wars Group
link

And here are the References for Napoleons Campaign in Egyptian and Holy Land that I have used for painting and organizing my Ottoman army. Note there is also info on the French British and Mameluke army's as well.

PS if you would like a copy of my uniform guide I have put together contact me at badbobalbino@aol.com

Robert Henry

References for Napoleons Campaign in Egyptian and Holy Land

Books on Napoleon's Campaign in Egyptian and Holy Land:

* Napoleons Egyptian Campaigns 1798-1801, MAA 79, Michael Barthorp, Osprey Pub. Ltd. 1978, ISBN 0-85045-126-4

* French Soldiers in Egypt 1798-1801, Warrior 77, Terry Crowdy, Osprey Pub. Ltd. 2003, Terry Crowdy, ISBN 1-84176-628-3

* Bonaparte in Egypt, J. Christopher Herald, 1962

* Uniforms of the French Revolutionary Wars 1789-1802, Phillip J. Haythornthwaite, Blanford Press 1981 ISBN 0-4137-0936-7

* Napoleonic Uniforms Vol. 1, John R. Elting, Macmillan Pub. Co.1993, ISBN 0-02-897115-9

* The Ottoman Empire and the Napoleonic Wars 1792-1815, William E. Johnson, Nelson Enterprises 1988.

* The Crescent Among the Eagles, Johnson, William E., Nafziger Press, 1994. ISBN 1585450065

* Armies of the Ottoman Empire 1775-1820, MAA 314, David Nicolle, Osprey Pub. Ltd. 1998, ISBN 1-85532-697-3

* The Campaigns of Napoleon, David Chandler, MacMillian Pub. Co. 1966, ISBN 0-02-523660-1

* Memoirs of Napoleons Egyptian Expedition 1798-1801, Captain Joseph-Marie Moiret, Greenhill Press, ISBN 1-85367-449-4

* Napoleon In The Holy Land, by Nathan Schur, Greenhill Books March 17, 2006
ISBN-10: 1853673455, ISBN-13: 978-1853673450

* The Blue Nile, Alan Moorhead, Perennial 2000, ISBN 0-06-095640-2

* Guns in the Desert, General Jean-Pierre Doguereau"s, Praeger 2002, ISBN 0-313-32-32512-X

* The French Expedition to Egypt, M.J. Miot, Worly Pub. 1997, ISBN 1-869804-47-3

* Armies of the Napoleonic Era, Otto Von Pivka, Taplinger Pub. Co. INC, 1979, ISBN 0-8008-5471-3

* Napoleon's Mercenaries, Guy C. Dempsey, Greenhill Press 2002, ISBN 1-85367-488-5

* Le Armee Francaise, ETV Services 1998, On Military Matters onmilitarymatters.com

* Journal of the Late Campaign in Egypt by Thomas Walsh, 1803 (Republished by Gregg International Pub. Ltd Westmead 1972 ISBN 0576 171115

* The French Expedition into Syria 1799 by General Berthier, Worley Pub. 1990 by ISBN 1-869804-18-X

* Mirage: Napoleon's Scientists and the Unveiling of Egypt, Nina Burleigh, July 2006, Pub.: Morrow/Avon, William Morrow & Company, ISBN: 0-06-059767-4

* Napoleon in Egypt, Abd al-Rahman al- Jabarti, Markus Wiener Pub., ISBN 1-55876-338-4 (hard cover) ISBN 1-55876-337-6 (paperback)

* Napoleon's Egypt: Invading the Middle East, Juan Cole, Palgrave Macmillan, (August 7, 2007), ISBN-10: 1403964319, ISBN-13: 978-1403964311

* NAPOLEON'S CAMPAIGN IN EGYPT (Vol 1) French Armies, Grant, C. S. Partizan Press, 2006, ISBN: 978-1-8581818-524-8

* NAPOLEON'S CAMPAIGN IN EGYPT (Vol 2) BRITISH & ALLIES, Grant, C. S., Partizan Press, 2007, ISBN: 978-1-8581818-552-1

*The Battle of The Nile, Oliver Warner, Macmillan co.1960, ASIN: B0000CKTIR\

* Abercrombie and Moore in Egypt, First Empire Publishing 2004, ISBN: 0952630435

* Narrative of the British Expedition to Egypt: Carefully Abridged from the … by Sir Robert Thomas Wilson. 1803: link

* State of Egypt, After the Battle of Heliopolis, Reynier, G and J Robinson 1802, link

* A Short History of the Naval and Military Operations in Egypt, 1780 to 1802", Lt.Col. Sir John M. Burgoyne L'Expédition d 'Égypte 1798-1801, par Clément de la Jonquière 1899, ISBN-10: 1421245043, ISBN-13: 978-1421245041 link

* Memoir of a campaign with the Ottoman army in Egypt, from February to July 1800, John Philip Morier, Published by Printed for J. Debrett, 1801, Original from Oxford University, Digitized Nov 9, 2007 link

* The Discovery of Egypt: Vivant Denon's Travels with Napoleon's Army, Terence M. Russell, March 2006, Publisher: Sutton Pub., Limited, ISBN: 0-7509-4145-6

* The Importance of Malta Considered, in the Years 1796 and 1798, Mark Wood, Published by J. Stockdale, 1803, Oxford University, Digitized Oct 1, 2007, link

* Mirage: Napoleon's Scientists and the Unveiling of Egypt, Nina Burleigh, Harper (November 27, 2007), ISBN-10: 0060597674, ISBN-13: 978-0060597672,

* History French occupation, 1798-1801 Sources, Skakowski, A. M. (Adam Mieczysaw), 1877-1951; Zajaczek, Józef, 1752-1826, Cracovie : G. Gebethner, link

* Guerre d'Orient : Campagnes de Égypte et de Syrie, 1798-1799. Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire de Napoléon, dictés par lui-mème à Sainte-Hélène, et publiés par le général Bertrand, Volume 1, Bertrand, Henri-Gratien, comte, 1773-1844, Comon 1847,
link

* Guerre d'Orient: Campagnes de Égypte et de Syrie, 1798-1799. Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire de Napoléon, dictés par lui-mème à Sainte-Hélène, et publiés par le général Bertrand. Volume 2, Bertrand, Henri-Gratien, comte, 1773-1844, Comon 1847,
link

* Final French struggles in India and on the Indian seas : including an account of the capture of the Isles of France and … ; with an appendix containing an account of the expedition from India to Egypt in 1801, Malleson, G. B. (George Bruce), 1825-1898, London : W.H. Allen.
link

* Histoire de l'expédition d'Egypte et de Syri, By Jean-Joseph A. Dupont et Cie, 1826 link

* Napoleon in Egypt, Paul Strathem, Bantam October 21, 2008, ISBN-10: 0553806785, ISBN-13: 978-0553806786

Relation des campagnes du Général Bonaparte en Egypte et en Syrie, Berthier, Louis-Alexandre, 1753-1815, Milan Impr. Rue Neuve,
link

Napoleon in Egypt, Paul Strathern, Pub.: Jonathan Cape, May 3, 2007,
ISBN-10: 0224076817, ISBN-13: 978-0224076814

Napoleon in Egypt. Irene A. Bierman, Ed., Reading, UK: Garnet Publishing Ltd., 2003.
ISBN 0-86372-299-7, ISBN-10: 0863722997, ISBN-13: 978-0863722998

Poesie der Kreigskunst: Oder, Feldzug der Franzosen in Egypten in den Jahren …. 1824: link

Guerre d'Orient. Campagnes d'égypte et de Syrie, 1798-1799: Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire de Napoléon, dictés par lui-même à Sainte-Hélène, et publiés par le général Bertrand. Tome 1 by Napoléon Bonaparte ISBN-10: 1421239108, ISBN-13: 978-1421239101, ISBN-13: 978-0543948502

Mémoires sur L'expédition d'Egypte, par Jean-Gabriel de Niello Sargy, Officier de Correspondance, attaché a l'état-major general, P. Belfond (1984), ISBN-10: 2714416837, ISBN-13: 978-2714416834

Le Directoire et l'expédition d'Égypte: étude sur les tentatives du Directoire pour communiquer avec Bonaparte, le secourir et le ramener – Alfred Boulay de la Meurthe 1885, link

Biographie maritime: ou, Notices historiques sur la vie et les campagnes des marins célèbres français et étrangers
By Joseph François Gabriel Hennequin
Published by Regnault, 1837, link

Web sites with info:

The Napoleon Series:
napoleon-series.org

Histofig:
link

Napoleon.org:
napoleon.org

French Occupation Period:
touregypt.net/hfrench.htm

Museum des ancient costumes Turks of Istanbul.:
link

Description de l'Égypte
descegy.bibalex.org

Funcken, Les armes et uniformes de la période révolutionnaire jusqu'au Consulat (1788 – 1804)
link

The Sultan's Big Guns, by William Johnson.
link

Ottoman Gun Sizes.
link

PAINTING HIGHLANDERS TARTANS.
link

Medicine in Egypt at the time of Napoleon Bonaparte.
link

Flags and Standards:

Warflags: France, Great Briton.
warflag.com

Napflags: France, Great Briton.
link

Histofig: Ottoman.
link

French Flags: Free Flags.
drapeaux.org/Accueil.htm

Military Flags of the World 1618-1900, Terence Wise Blandford Press 1977, ISBN 0-7137-0824-7

Drapeaux of the French Army Line & Light Infantry, 1794-1804
tmg110.tripod.com/frarmy4.htm

Magazine Articles:

* Napoleon in Egypt, By Melanie Sue Byrd, Napoleon Magazine # 13.

* Napoleon in Syria, By John Dunn, Napoleon Magazine # 15.

* Napoleon & the French in Egypt, By Coley E. Cowan, Command Magazine Issue 52

* Battle of the Pyramids, by John Dellinger, Military History Magazine, April 1998.

* Napoleon Saves the Day at Mount Tabor, By James W. Shosenberg, Military History Magazine, April 1999.

* Final French Triumph in Egypt, By Eric Niderost, Military History Magazine, August 1999.

* Striking at Britain Indirectly through an Expedition to Egypt, Introductory Guide the Age of Napoleon.

* Ottoman Empire, by John Dunn, Introductory Guide the Age of Napoleon.

* The French Campaign in Egypt, 1798-1801, Part I, Stephen Ede-Borrett, Wargames Illustrated #34, July 1990.

* The French Campaign in Egypt, 1798-1801, Part II, Stephen Ede-Borrett, Wargames Illustrated #35 August 1990.

* The French Campaign in Egypt, 1798-1801, Part III, Stephen Ede-Borrett, Wargames Illustrated #36, September 1990.

*The British Army in Egypt, Stephen Ede-Borrett, Wargames Illustrated #42, March 1991.

* An Egyptian Episode, Arthur Harman, Miniature Wargames #68, January 1989.

* The Campaign on the Nile 1798-1799, Richard Gilby, Miniature Wargames #75, August, 1989.

* Death on the Nile, Part I, Gary Hughes, Wargames Illustrated #113, February 1997.

* Death on the Nile, Part II, Gary Hughes, Wargames Illustrated #115, April 1997.

* Death on the Nile, Part I, Gary Hughes, Wargames Illustrated #118, July 1997.

* Napoleon In Egypt, Dave Watson, Wargames Illustrated #249, July 2008.

* The Battle of Aboukir 1799, Mark Bevis, Miniature Wargames #144, March 1995.

* Middle East Disaster, The Battle of El Hamad, Egypt, April 21st 1807, Miniature Wargames #173, October 1997.

Every source listed with * in the Reference is in my personal library.

Man
loved the references..
fyi: I am starting to sculpt a line of 20mm Ottomans for my SYW and Napoleonics lines…any suggestions on what to do first?

Outlander Look at what is already available in plastic and fill the gaps, Nizam Cedit and Artillery are the obvious ones.

For the French, Post October-1799 (Known as the Kleber
Ordnance) French uniform with the Helmet and Pouffe.

I'm still using the old 25mm HistoriFigs (Scruby) line for my French in this uniform.

Robert Henry

I have to agree, that is quite a reference list Robert! Obviously you have dedicated yourself to the campaign! I remember those Scruby Egypt figures well, and when he released them I was a poor college student and couldn't afford them, but they are what started my interest in the campaign, and 40+ years later, it's still there!!!

I am using Essex and Minifigs 15 MM for my armies, and can come up with most of the unit's I'd like to do, with some conversion effort. But wish there were some more dedicated figures available in 15 MM.

Terry