The Ottoman army continues to grow with the addition of another unit of sipahis. These figures are from the excellent Assault Group Ottoman range and are meant to be Sipahis of the Porte,
https://theassaultgroup.co.uk/product/ottoman-spahis-of-the-porte-unit-builder/, but with a few changes they are being fielded as standard sipahis or "Timariots". "Sipahi" was the word for soldier in Persian. A "Timar" was an area of land allotted to the sipahi, hence the term "Timariot". The land allotted was intended to provide the sipahi with an income and in return he would provide military service when required. Wealthier Timariots were accompanied by "Cebelus" who were additional men at arms.
I have already completed a unit of the more elite Sipahis of the Porte or Kapikulu Süvarileri as seen here:
http://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-kapikulu-suvarileri-and-more.html and did not want more for the army. The figures in this new unit come with barded horses but on request Pete at The Assault Group very kindly provided all the figures with unbarded Ottoman horses instead. Of course there have been a few weapon swaps. As the original figures don't come with bows and quivers, which were carried by the sipahis, I have added bows and quivers from Essex Miniatures. The photo of the unit from behind shows these additions.
These are really great figures, I particularly love the large Hungarian style shields and all the different helmets they are wearing. From Győző Somogyi's images in "Warriors of the Hungarian Frontier 1526-1686" it is clear that by the mid 16th century Hungarian hussars looked pretty much identical to these sipahis and I am tempted to do another set in the future as such. With Christian motifs on the shields and pennons bearing the St Georges's Cross they would make a superb unit of hussars for the mid 1500s.
The final set of photos show all of the sipahis in a block behind a local Sanjak-bey and some kettle drummers. They are mix of Assault Group, Essex, Old Glory and Warfare miniatures and form quite a formidable array when they are all set up together. Now I just need to do some sipahis who are skirmishing...
Lovely work on them, they look great and the whole lot together look brilliant, what a superb array of cavalry!
ReplyDeleteCheers Donnie - Ottoman armies were predominantly cavalry so I needed a few of these chaps!
DeleteWhat a beautiful sight! Well done, Oli!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jonathan, I really enjoyed painting this unit.
DeleteGreat work, they look very formidable!
ReplyDeleteCheers Cyrus - I hope they are as formidable on the wargames table.
DeleteFantastic Sipahis Oli and interesting background detail...many cultures seem to have had a similar method of funding and raising forces of armed warriors when required.
ReplyDeleteIn Western Europe we had the feudal system of course and the Swedes still had a version if the "land for service " model during the Great Northern War.
Thank you Keith - you are right, the timariot sipahis were essentially like feudal knights.
DeleteThe Sipahi forces are growing Oli, one more step toward being able to field an army purely composed of them!
ReplyDeleteRidiculous as it sounds Tom it is actually the Akinji that I want to be able to field whole armies of - but more to come on that front...
DeleteMan as I recall those Akinji were hard work, it would be a long road, but would look amazing!
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