"Maghrebi Sekhans?" Topic

I am looking for any info on the uniform, if any on the Maghrebi Sekhans?

Time period of 1798-1801.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Robert Henry

You are being very generous using the term "uniform" as according to the Armies of the Ottoman Empire 1775 – 1820, the Maghrebi were some of the poorest and backward people in the empire. Further in the book, European observers described them as poorly equiped.

Still, starving hordes with rusty weapons could be effective.

Cheers,
Robert
18thcenturysojourn.blogspot.com

In regard to appearance, the information that I have is dodgy and some speculation. Most of my research is about the later 1820-30s Greek War of Independence era. Speculation is that the same traditions held for the few decades earlier.

Data from the GWI shows that forces could tell who another force was from by their apearance. Different parts of the balkans had traditional clothing styles and colors. The combination of colors and cap styles can result in a varied attractive force.

Just my opinion but since irregular forces were raised by warlords in a specific area, I would have each Bn/ unit wearing the same styles and colors. But I would have numerous units in different colors to show different warlords and recruitment areas.

On the internet under a search of greek clothing, you can find clothing companies from Greece who specialize in regional clothing in local colors and styles. The color pics are great.

In 15mm, one option would be use the Sekahns from the Old Glory 15mm Age of Reason Ottoman Turk range. Another option would be to use castings from the Minifig/GFI Barbary Pirate range which covers this era.

I received this from Mark Bevis yesterday.

I will most likely go with this unless something else more concrete comes up.

Robert Henry
Demi-Brigades in the Desert
link

------------------------------------------------------------

Moroccans appear to wear the long striped robe – white with vertical dark brown stripes in wide bands, or just plain white. That's how I painted mine anyway, with red sash, red skull cap or white turban, leather strap for powder horn. The references for this are:
Osprey MAA174 Armies of the Ottoman Turks plate C3,
Johnson & Bell, The Ottoman Empire & the Napoleonic wars plate 9 pg.17,
African Arms and Armour, Chsristopher Spring, British Museum Press (1993) ISBN 0-7141-2508-3 pg26 photo
Travels of Ali Bey in Morocco, Tripoli, Cyprus, Egypt, Arabia, Syria and Turkey Between the Years 1803 and 1807, by Ali Bey El Abbassi (1816)

Extract from my book, Tangier to Tehran, on Moroccan dress:

"As with most Arab states, no regulation uniform existed, but national civilian dress was typically worn by soldiers. Traditional Maghrebi dress is a white gown with vertical brown stripes, a white turban or red tarboosh (fez). Shields, where used, were the peculiar heart shaped Adarga type. Moors had a silk or wool sash, a shirt with wide sleeves, enormous white baggy pants; woollen waistcoast or small cloth jacket or caftan robe with buttons; red pointed cap and white turban. Others in white woollen cloth, thickly wrapped around the body, bare legs, yellow slippers. many troops wore plain white robes, and some may have had brown or red fez or cap without a turban."

I have 4 battalions of Moroccan Sekhans in my 15mm Ottoman Napoleonic army, each of 24 figures, plus another 5 battalions in my Moroccan army itself. They look good in their stripey coats.

Mark Bevis