Red Box 092 1/72 16th-17th c. Osman Akinci

The Akinci were largely Turcoman light cavalry, and when attached to an Ottoman army they performed the classic light cavalry functions such as protecting flanks, gathering information and disrupting enemy activities. In the years before the start of our period (i.e. before the 16th century), they dominated the Ottoman forces, and were widely used on the edges of the Empire – particularly in the West – both as a police force and for conducting and resisting raids to and from neighbouring territory. When used in conjunction with an organised Ottoman army, their raids into enemy territory were designed to disrupt their preparations and gain information useful to the main force. When it came to battle they were used to screen the whole army, attempting to goad the opposition into attacking them and drawing them onto the main army, and of course to attack a vulnerable enemy unit if the opportunity presented itself. When the Ottomans established a standing army the Akinci remained auxiliaries, rarely paid but usually compensated by the promise of plunder. During the 16th century, though there had been perhaps 50,000 of them at the start, they declined in importance compared to the growing sipahi cavalry, and in 1595, after a number of devastating setbacks culminating in the battle of Giurgiu, they were officially disbanded.

Specifications

• Contents: 12 figures and 12 horses
• Poses: 6 poses, 6 horse poses
• Material: Plastic (Medium Consistency)