Hamidiye Cavalry Regiments

[Tosun Saral]

Hamidiye (Hamidia) Cavalry Regiments
After the Turkish-Russian War of 1877-78 which Turks call as War of 93, in order words War of the year 1293 according to the Turkish calander the Ottoman Turkish Government began some reorganiazation concerning with cavalry regiments. According to this reorganization the number of companies in every Regiment were decreased to 5, 2 Regiments built up a Brigade and 3 a Cavalry Division consisted of 3 Brigades. Furthermore Redif (civilian) Cavalry Units were also established in order to strongfold the eastern borders. The reason for this reorganization was to take measures for the preparation of Armanians for a revolt againts the Empire and for the bands of deserters in the region.
For those reasons the Hamidiye Cavalry Regiments were established on October 20th 1890. All the men were of Kurdish origine. The Cavalry Regiments were named after Sultan Abdulhamid the II. According to Law The Hamidiye Cavalry Regiments have to have 4 or 6 Companies. The number of men in every company was no less then 192 and the number of men in every Regiment was no more then 1152. The time of serving in the Regiment was for soldires 23 years. Every men of tribe between 17 of age to 40 had to serve in the Regiment. Men of the Cavalry Regiment was divided into 3 groups.
1- Those who were between the ages 17-20 were called Efrad-i iptidai ( young soldiers)
2-Those who were between the ages 21- 23 were called Efrad-I Nizamiye (regular soldiers)
3-Those who were between the ages 23-40 were called Efrad-I Redif ( soldiers of reserve)
They were all registered in a book. A coppy of the registration book was kept by the regiments commander and the other copy was kept by the Central Army which was called” Umum hamidiye Askeri Komutanliği” the General Hamidiye Military Command. The Hamidiye Cavalry Regiments were commanded by a Major General. In My 13 1896 the name of the regiments were changed to “Hafif Suvari Alayi” the Light Cavalry Regiment. The boys of the tribes were made lieutanent if they graduated from the War School the Harbiye of who complated a 3 years educatin in a military school. In 1908 there were 64 Hamidiye Cavalry Regiments. 10 Regiments were in karakilise, 9 in Malazgirt, 10 in Mardin, 6 in Urfa, 9 in Hinis, 9 in Ercis, 9 in Van, 2 in Edirne.
In 1910 the Regiments were reorganized by cavalry officer Fahrettin Bey because of ill- dicipline. Fahrettin Bey played a very important role during the Turkish War of Independance in 1919-22 as the commander of Kemalist National Cavalry Corps who defeated the Greek army in August 26 1922 by raiding into their back. He got the surname “Altay” (white foal) and retired as General of the Army. Fahrettin Bey reorganized the regiments into 2 groups. The North group was settled on the Russian Front and the Desert Group, which was settled in the Sotuh, was established against the possible British threat. The name of the Regiments were again changed to “Asiret Suvari Alaylari” the Tribes Cavalry Regiments. The Regiments fought in WW1.
source: Atkolik (Horsecholic) Nr. 4/2006 p.56