Haras Joumhouri
Encyclopedia
The Algerian Republican Cavalry, also known as the Algerian Republican Guard is a military
corps of the Algerian army
.
an Cavalry
is composed of about 6,000 troops, most of which are cavalry mounted. It finds its roots in the mix of traditions of both the famous Berber
cavalry, especially the Numidian cavalry
and the equally famous Arab
cavalry.
The Republican Cavalry's mission is to offer a stylish official display, mixing the Algerian nation's history
, culture
and traditions with a touch of military discipline and professionalism.
s reflects the national colours and traditions, and consists of green
Algerian trousers known as "saroual", red
shirts known as "kamisa" or "kamidja", and white
long capes known as "burnous" (compare with the Algerian flag
).
The troopers are also equipped with a traditional white hat
bearing the coat of arms
of the Algerian Republican Cavalry, and a sword
. The mounted horses of the Republican Cavalry are all pure blood white-coloured Barbes
and are also equipped with a harness bearing the Cavalry's coat of arms, as well as a triple ponpon (white-red-green) on their heads.
, or during international events where military musical units gather. The musical units play many instruments including the traditional bagpipe. Below is a picture of a mounted Cavalry trooper and a dismounted trooper.
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
corps of the Algerian army
Military of Algeria
The People’s National Army is the armed forces of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria. Algeria has a large and reasonably well-equipped military to counter foreign and domestic threats...
.
History and purpose
The RepublicRepublic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
an Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
is composed of about 6,000 troops, most of which are cavalry mounted. It finds its roots in the mix of traditions of both the famous Berber
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
cavalry, especially the Numidian cavalry
Numidian cavalry
Numidian cavalry was a type of light cavalry developed by the Numidians, most notably used by Hannibal during the Second Punic War. They were described by the Roman historian Livy as "by far the best horsemen in Africa."...
and the equally famous Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
cavalry.
The Republican Cavalry's mission is to offer a stylish official display, mixing the Algerian nation's history
History of Algeria
The history of Algeria takes place in the fertile coastal plain of North Africa, which is often called the Maghreb . North Africa served as a transit region for people moving towards Europe or the Middle East, thus, the region's inhabitants have been influenced by populations from other areas...
, culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
and traditions with a touch of military discipline and professionalism.
Uniform and equipment
The cavalry's uniformMilitary uniform
Military uniforms comprises standardised dress worn by members of the armed forces and paramilitaries of various nations. Military dress and military styles have gone through great changes over the centuries from colourful and elaborate to extremely utilitarian...
s reflects the national colours and traditions, and consists of green
Green
Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
Algerian trousers known as "saroual", red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
shirts known as "kamisa" or "kamidja", and white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
long capes known as "burnous" (compare with the Algerian flag
Flag of Algeria
The national flag of Algeria consists of two equal vertical bars, green and white, charged in the center with a red star and crescent...
).
The troopers are also equipped with a traditional white hat
Hat
A hat is a head covering. It can be worn for protection against the elements, for ceremonial or religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status...
bearing the coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of the Algerian Republican Cavalry, and a sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
. The mounted horses of the Republican Cavalry are all pure blood white-coloured Barbes
Barbes
Barbes may refer to:*Vergina, a town in Greece*A festival in Latvian mythology*Armand Barbès, a French Republican revolutionary*Barbès - Rochechouart , a station on the Paris Metro...
and are also equipped with a harness bearing the Cavalry's coat of arms, as well as a triple ponpon (white-red-green) on their heads.
Musical unit
The Cavalry possesses a musical unit, which plays the national anthem, Qassaman, and other national songs on official occasions such as an official visit by a foreign head of stateHead of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
, or during international events where military musical units gather. The musical units play many instruments including the traditional bagpipe. Below is a picture of a mounted Cavalry trooper and a dismounted trooper.