Sipahi

Ottoman Cavalry of the 14th to 19th Century

Sipahi of the Ottoman Army.

Sipahi (Persian, «soldier, horseman»), a feudal-like Central Asian vassal, timarli sipahi (timariot), entitled to the income of a fief of land in return for military service to the sultan. The term was later applied to regular salaried Kapikulu Sipahi household cavalry as well, and led to the English term Sepoy. In the Ottoman Empire, Sipahi were the nobel vassal cavalrymen who, along with their Cebeli auxiliaries, formed the cavalry. Later it was the name of the irregular Ottoman cavalry which developed at the same time as the Janissaries and formed the core of the Ottoman cavalry. In the early 19th Century, the Sipahi were replaced by regular cavalry. Following the French occupation of Algeria, the three regiments of Sipahis raised on 2nd July 1845 were called Spahis in the French army.

Sipahi Miniatures

  • Ottoman Sipahi Command, 28 mm Assault Group REN066
  • Ottoman Sipahis with swords, 28 mm Assault Group REN065
  • Ottoman Sipahis with lances, 28 mm Assault Group REN067
  • Ottoman Sipahis with pistols, 28 mm Assault Group REN171
  • Ottoman Sipahis of the Porte Command, 28 mm Assault Group REN107
  • Ottoman Sipahis of the Porte with lances, 28 mm Assault Group REN106
  • Ottoman Sipahis of the Porte with swords, 28 mm Assault Group REN108
  • Armoured Sipahi Cavalry (15th Century), 25 mm Old Glory OXT-01
  • Unarmoured Sipahi Cavalry (15th Century), 25 mm Old Glory OXT-02
  • Armoured Sipahi with unarmoured Horses (16th Century), 25 mm Old Glory OXT-10
  • Armoured Sipahi with armoured Horses (16th Century), 25 mm Old Glory OXT-11
  • Sipahi Ulufèly (Kapikulu) with lance and shield, 15 mm Legio Heroica TUR03
  • Sipahi Toprakli (irregular) with lance and shield, 15 mm Legio Heroica TUR04
  • Sipahi Toprakli with bow and shield, 15 mm Legio Heroica TUR05
  • Sipahi Toprakli Command, dismounted, 15 mm Legio Heroica TUR12
  • Sipahi Toprakli with bow and lance, dismounted, 15 mm Legio Heroica TUR11
  • Sipahi Lancers (16th Century), 10 mm Pendraken OT4
  • Sipahi Officer (early 18th Century), 25 mm Minifigs MALC33
  • Sipahi Guidon (early 18th Century), 25 mm Minifigs MALC35
  • Sipahi Trumpeter (early 18th Century), 25 mm Minifigs MALC34
  • Sipahi (early 18th Century), 25 mm Minifigs MALC32
  • Sipahi (18th Century), 25 mm RSM S9-101
  • Sipahi Lancer, 25 mm Dixon OTC1
    • Cavalry horse, armoured, 25 mm Dixon OTH1
  • Armoured Sipahi Cavalry with pistols (17th and early 18th Century), 25 mm Old Glory OXT-24
  • Turkish Cavalry (17th Century), 1:72 Zvezda 8054
  • Ottoman Sipahi (18th Century), 15 mm Old Glory SYO-07
  • Sipahi Horsemen (18th and early 19th Century), 15 mm atoufigs TUC 04
  • Sipahi Lancers (Napoleonic Wars), 15 mm Minifigs 3NTC
  • Anatolian Sipahi (Napoleonic Wars), Command, 15 mm Vexillia VXN025
  • Anatolian Sipahi (Napoleonic Wars), 15 mm Vexillia VXN026

Source: Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon, 6. Auflage 1905–1909

Miniatures of the Ottoman Army