Armament

sometimes decorated with a brass crescent.
From 1806, the cahuk replaced the

tarbush which was only worn with the service dress. From 1809 to 1815, the cahuk
evolved: the sides were removed as was the hollow crown; it had now the shape of a
red shako without a peak. The front was decorated with a star surmounting a
crescent or a tricolour cockade. It had a double puff or a pompom. There was also a
cahuk cover.
Dress: there was the banish, a robe with very ample sleeves which disappeared
around 1808 to be replaced by narrower European-style sleeves; the mantanna, a sort
of Greek tunic also had sleeves; sleeveless waistcoats, the fermelet and the yalek.
These various items could be tailored out of different types and colours of cloth.
The very baggy Turkish trousers, called the sharual, were crimson, amaranthine or
white.
A sash belt worn over the rest of the uniform held the kubur, a worked leather
sheath holding two pistols; the Mamelukes were also issued with a mixed grey coat.
The boots were made
The MAMELUKES in 1804
When the Imperial Guard
- 2 Second-lieutenants
was created, the Mameluke
- 2 Trumpeters
Company comprised:
- 8 Maréchaux des Logis
readguarters
(of which two were French)
(French)
- 10 Brigadiers
⁃ 1 Captain Commanding (of which two were French)
⁃ 1 Health Officer
2 Blacksmiths
- 1 Adjudant Sub-Lieutenant
- 83 Troopers
⁃ 1 Maréchal des logis chef
⁃ 1 Fourier
⁃ 1 Veterinary Officer
• I Master-Saddler
⁃ 1 Master-Tailor
⁃ 1 Master-Cobbler
The Company
- 2 Captains
2 First. lieutenants
of different coloured leather and had no spurs. These only appea
In 1807, the following were added to their strength:
⁃ Training Captain
⁃ 1 Second-Lieutenant Gui-don-Bearer
⁃ 4 Tail -Bearer
⁃ 1 Brigadier Trumpeter
⁃ 2 Trumpeters
red in 1809 with the recruitment of non-Eastern Mamelukes.
Towards 1809, the Mamelukes were issued with an imperial
Equipment
blue (sky blue for the trumpeters) forage cap with crimson piping and with a stripe
decorated with a crescent. Towards the end
This was black, red green or white (mostly during campaigns)
of 1812, the yalek and the coat had sleeves. The clothing reports
and comprised a cartridge pouch belt, carbine holder belt, a
mention riding breeches with sheepskin, but this was most like.
kubur a sheath for two pistols) and a sabre cord.
ly distributed to the "French" Mamelukes of the Young Guard.
French-style" uniforms
After 1804, the Mameluke officers and the NCOs wore a so-called "society uniform":
tail-coat exactly the same as that worn by the Chasseurs à Cheval: it was imperial
blue with crimson
Armament
These were especially made by the Versailles Manufacture. It comprised a
blunderbuss (only used on parades), a carbine, two "saddle pistols, two 'side
pistols, one "oriental-style" sab. re, one daqger, a mace and an axe.
distinctives. the mrhacks were decorated with crescents. The waistcoat was crimson
and the "Hungarian-style" trousers were
Harnesses
blue. In this uniform they wore a hat. They were also issued
These were "oriental-style". The saddle comprised very
with a pelisse with gold braid for the officers, yellow for the high half-moon-
shaped cantles and pommels. It was cove-NOs, with riding breeches with sheepskin
with crimson side red with a green cloth saddlecloth, with white and crim-stripes
and a frock-coat. Golden aglets mixed with blue were son braid and tringes. for the
NCOs.
Emblems
The Trumpeters and the Musicians
The Mamelukes had a guidon from 1802, but what it
The trumpeters wore a sky-blue banish. This was not however looked like is not
known. After their unforgettable char-always the case. As well as their oriental
dress, they received ge at Austerlitz, Napoleon granted the Mamelukes an an
identical uniform to that described above but sky blue with
Eagle. In May 1813, the squadron received an 1812-
mixed gold and crimson braid and aglets. The Turkish" musi- model standard. During
parades, the standard-bearer cians were know although not mentioned on the roll. It
com- was accompanied by four tougs. These oriental emblems prised seven musicians:
2 cymbalists, two Jingling Johnnies, consisted of a horse tail hanging from a
shaft. During 2 tambourines and a timpanist. The uniforms were not different the
campaigns the Mamelukes carried a pennant to apparently from those worn by the
ordinary cavalryman.
replace their standard.

Armament

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sometimes decorated with a brass crescent.

From 1806, the cahuk replaced the

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