"Akinci and Deli" Topic

I am working on some Ottoman figures and I'm a bit confused over these troop types. I understand they are both light cavalry and that the Akinci are around first, being disbanded after a disastrous action in which they were mostly destroyed at the end of the 16th century. Their role is then mostly taken over by the Delis (though the two may have been around simultaneously)

I have a good picture of what the Delis looked like; animal skins, eagle's wings etc, the more outlandish the better. But I am not sure what the Akinci looked like; I have see some suggestion that they look pretty much identical to the Delis, others that they are more conventionally dressed Ottomans (i.e turbans and caftans).

Any views?

There's a pic in Heath's vol 2 of armies of the middle ages.

I found this link on a forum:
link

I seem to remember reading that Delis were often bodyguards of provincial governers. Might have been the Heath book, but I cannot be sure.

Akincis were basically Turks who wanted some loot. Not sure about the disbanded at the end of the 16th century bit though. Hadn't heard that before.

Is this the bit where I confess to having built and sold three Ottoman Turk armies in the past……………

link

Heath's two volumes of "Armies of the Middle Ages" are my favorite WRG publications.

I think any unarmored eastern (Anatolian) sipahi with bow could be used as an Akinji.

May I ask what scale of figures?

Keep in mind that 17th century and latter Dellis have a different look to those of the 16th century.

Illustrations of Ottoman soldiers from the Suleymanname
. Single Combat at the battle of Mohacs, 1526
. The Deli Sinan fighting against the Hungarian Eugene, 1526
. The Akinci leader Turhan Bey brings an opponent of high rank down with a lasso
. Akinci or Deli with lance and sword, fur hat and animal skin, 1540

Druzhina
Ottoman Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Thanks for the thoughts so far. Figures are in 15mm and intended for the middle/later 16th Century.

Ottomans in I Turchi. Codex Vindobonensis 8626 of Bartolemeo von Pezzen dates to 1586-1591.
It has an image captioned 'Pillaging Ottoman Turks' which may be Delis and/or Akinjis.

Druzhina
16th Century Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

For cost and convenience, I'm planning on using GB Plastic Arab Light Cavalry box set to build a few units of early Akinji. Close enough as far as I'm concerned, especially if you stick to certain heads and are willing to make a few minor modifications.

Akinci were cavalry mainly used for raids – where "raids" could mean 15000 of them in a major operation devastating and depopulating whole regions. Their task was reconaissance, foraging and spreading terror (so that enemys would yield rather then fight the main army). They were expected to act independently in units of any size.

Delis were used with the main army and in battle. While still classed as light in European terms they would be the main battle cavalry for the Ottomans, together with the Sipahis.

Afaik there is no good represenation for either in miniature for the early 16th century. For the later era you will find some good minis with TAG in 28mm. I also plan to mix up some GB Arabs with parts of the Fireforges Mongols and Russians and a good deal of Greenstuff to get Ottoman cavalry units for the Mohacs & Vienna campaign.

BTW: The largest battle not fought between Ottomans and Europeans was said to be avoided in 1532, when both Suleyman and Charles assembled armies around 100000 strong. At the Steinfeld a large host of Akinci was trapped when they raided too deep into Austria during this campaign, with some 12000 of them killed. One of the lesser known battles of the era.

Akinjis were commonly used to screen the main battle line, as at for instance, Mohacs, and skirmish with and disorder the enemy first line in preparation for its clash with the spahis.