Zaptié
Encyclopedia
Zaptié was the designation given to locally raised gendarmerie
units in the Italian colonies of Tripolitania
, Cyrenaica
, Eritrea
and Italian Somaliland
between 1889 and 1942.
The word "zaptié" was derived from the Turkish
zapiteh, which was used to refer to the Turkish members recruited for the Cyprus Military Police
during the period of British rule on the island.
The Italian colonial governments in the territories listed above modelled the various zaptié constabulary
forces on Italy
's own carabinieri
. The first of these units was raised in Eritrea in 1882, drawing from existing companies of basci bazuks
(irregular
troops).
Zaptié troopers were armed with 1874 model revolver
s, cavalry
carbine
s, and 1871 model sabre
s. Officers and some non-commissioned officers were Italian, but the rank and file were recruited from the colony in question. As an example, the Somali Zaptié Corps in 1927 numbered 1,500 Somali
and 72 Italian
personnel. Uniforms varied from colony to colony, but usually comprised fezs, red sash
es and khaki
or white clothing. A common feature was the white and red collar insignia
of the carabinieri.
In Italian Somaliland, the zaptié provided a ceremonial escort for the Italian Viceroy
(Governor) as well as the territorial police: there were nearly one thousand of them in 1922, when Benito Mussolini
took control of the Italian government and started a policy of "pacification" and assimilation of the Italian colonies.
Three hundred zaptié took part in the Italian conquest of northern Somalia in 1925. As part of the "colonna Musso", they assisted in the occupation of the Sultanate of Obbia (Hafun and Ordio). Other zaptìé units served with the "colonna Bergesio" in the Elemari region (Gallacaio, Garad and Sinedogò). In 1926 zaptìé served in the Majeerteen Sultanate (Bender Ziada, Candala and Bender Cassim).
Zaptìé detachments participated in the Italian conquest of Ethiopia
in 1936 and in the East African Campaign
of World War II
.
In 1941 in Somalia and Ethiopia 2,186 zaptìé (plus 500 recruits under training) formed part of the Carabinieri
. They were organised in a battalion commanded by Major Alfredo Serranti that defended Culqualber (Ethiopia) for three months until this military unit was destroyed by the Allies
. After heavy fighting the Italian Carabinieri received "full military honors" from the British.
In this battle, Muntaz (corporal) Unatù Endisciau of the LXXII Zaptié (I° Gruppo Carabinieri
) Battalion was the only "soldier of colour" to be awarded the Italian Gold Medal of Military Valor
.
After World War II
a former member of the zaptìé corps, Siad Barre
, became President of Somalia from 1969 to 1991
Gendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
units in the Italian colonies of Tripolitania
Tripolitania
Tripolitania or Tripolitana is a historic region and former province of Libya.Tripolitania was a separate Italian colony from 1927 to 1934...
, Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
, Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
and Italian Somaliland
Italian Somaliland
Italian Somaliland , also known as Italian Somalia, was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy from the 1880s until 1936 in the region of modern-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th century by the Somali Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate, the territory was later acquired by Italy through various...
between 1889 and 1942.
The word "zaptié" was derived from the Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
zapiteh, which was used to refer to the Turkish members recruited for the Cyprus Military Police
Cyprus Military Police
In 1880, an armed gendarmerie force entitled the Cyprus Military Police was created by the British colonial administration of the island. Popularly known as zapitehs, this body numbered about 700, organised in both mounted and foot units. The personnel were predominantly drawn from the Turkish...
during the period of British rule on the island.
The Italian colonial governments in the territories listed above modelled the various zaptié constabulary
Constabulary
Constabulary may have several definitions.*A civil, non-paramilitary force consisting of police officers called constables. This is the usual definition in Britain, in which all county police forces once bore the title...
forces on Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
's own carabinieri
Carabinieri
The Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...
. The first of these units was raised in Eritrea in 1882, drawing from existing companies of basci bazuks
Bashi-bazouk
A bashi-bazouk or bashibazouk was an irregular soldier of the Ottoman army...
(irregular
Irregular military
Irregular military refers to any non-standard military. Being defined by exclusion, there is significant variance in what comes under the term. It can refer to the type of military organization, or to the type of tactics used....
troops).
Zaptié troopers were armed with 1874 model revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
s, 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...
carbine
Carbine
A carbine , from French carabine, is a longarm similar to but shorter than a rifle or musket. Many carbines are shortened versions of full rifles, firing the same ammunition at a lower velocity due to a shorter barrel length....
s, and 1871 model sabre
Sabre
The sabre or saber is a kind of backsword that usually has a curved, single-edged blade and a rather large hand guard, covering the knuckles of the hand as well as the thumb and forefinger...
s. Officers and some non-commissioned officers were Italian, but the rank and file were recruited from the colony in question. As an example, the Somali Zaptié Corps in 1927 numbered 1,500 Somali
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
and 72 Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
personnel. Uniforms varied from colony to colony, but usually comprised fezs, red sash
Sash
A sash is a cloth belt used to hold a robe together, and is usually tied about the waist. The Japanese equivalent of a sash, obi, serves to hold a kimono or yukata together. Decorative sashes may pass from the shoulder to the hip rather than around the waist...
es and khaki
Khaki
This article is about the fabric. For the color, see Khaki . Kaki, another name for the persimmon, is often misspelled "Khaki".Khaki is a type of fabric or the color of such fabric...
or white clothing. A common feature was the white and red collar insignia
Insignia
Insignia or insigne pl -nia or -nias : a symbol or token of personal power, status or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction...
of the carabinieri.
In Italian Somaliland, the zaptié provided a ceremonial escort for the Italian Viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
(Governor) as well as the territorial police: there were nearly one thousand of them in 1922, when Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
took control of the Italian government and started a policy of "pacification" and assimilation of the Italian colonies.
Three hundred zaptié took part in the Italian conquest of northern Somalia in 1925. As part of the "colonna Musso", they assisted in the occupation of the Sultanate of Obbia (Hafun and Ordio). Other zaptìé units served with the "colonna Bergesio" in the Elemari region (Gallacaio, Garad and Sinedogò). In 1926 zaptìé served in the Majeerteen Sultanate (Bender Ziada, Candala and Bender Cassim).
Zaptìé detachments participated in the Italian conquest of Ethiopia
Italo-Abyssinian War
Two conflicts between Italy and Ethiopia are known as the Italo-Abyssinian War:* The First Italo-Abyssinian War of 1895–1896 resulted in a victory for the Ethiopians and internation recognition of their empire by the great powers of the time.* The Second Italo-Abyssinian War of...
in 1936 and in the East African Campaign
East African Campaign (World War II)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1941 in Somalia and Ethiopia 2,186 zaptìé (plus 500 recruits under training) formed part of the Carabinieri
Carabinieri
The Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...
. They were organised in a battalion commanded by Major Alfredo Serranti that defended Culqualber (Ethiopia) for three months until this military unit was destroyed by the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
. After heavy fighting the Italian Carabinieri received "full military honors" from the British.
In this battle, Muntaz (corporal) Unatù Endisciau of the LXXII Zaptié (I° Gruppo Carabinieri
Carabinieri
The Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...
) Battalion was the only "soldier of colour" to be awarded the Italian Gold Medal of Military Valor
Gold Medal of Military Valor
The Gold Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia "....per bassi ufficiali e soldati che avevano fatto azioni di segnalato valore in guerra" .The face of the medal displayed the profile of the king, and on its reverse was a flag...
.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
a former member of the zaptìé corps, Siad Barre
Siad Barre
Mohamed Siad Barre was the military dictator and President of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 1991. During his rule, he styled himself as Jaalle Siyaad ....
, became President of Somalia from 1969 to 1991
See also
- Bands (Italian Army irregulars)Bands (Italian Army irregulars)Bande was in Italian military terminology the name used to designate irregular forces, composed normally of foreigners or colonial natives, with some Italian officers and NCOs in command. These units were employed by the Italian Army as auxiliaries to the regular national and colonial military...
- DubatsDubatsDubats was the designation given to armed irregular bands employed by the Italian Regio Corpo Truppe Coloniali in Italian Somaliland from 1924 to 1941...
- Eritrean AscariEritrean AscariThe Eritrean Ascari were indigenous soldiers from Eritrea who were enrolled as askaris in the "Royal Corps of Colonial Troops" of the Italian Army.-Characteristics:...
- Italian Africa PoliceItalian Africa PoliceThe Italian Africa Police , was the Police of "Italian Africa" from 1 June 1936 and 1 December 1941.-Characteristics:...