ZOUAVES (Arab. Ztocura), a body of troops in the French army, which derives its name from a tribe of Kabyles, inhabiting the mountains of Jurjura, in the Algerian province of Constantine. Long previous to the invasion of Algiers by the French, these Kabyles had been employed as hired mercenaries in the service of the rulers of Tripoli, Tunis, and Algiers; and after the conquest of the last-named country in 1830, the French, in the hope of establishing a friendly feeling between the natives and their conquerors, took the late dey's mercenaries into their service, giving them a new organization. Accordingly gen. Clausel created, in 1830, two battalions of zouaves, in which each com pany consisted of French and Kabyles in certain proportions, officers, subalterns, and soldiers being selected from either race; the zouaves, though retaining their Moorish dress, were armed and disciplined after the European fashion; and the battalions were recruited by voluntary enlistment. As it was soon found, however, that the system of commingling the two races did not effect the object intended, the French and Kabyles were formed into separate companies; and in 1837 they were divided into three battal ions, and put under the command of a colonel. Their first col. was Lamoriciere, who mainly effected their reorganization, and under whom, as well us his successor, Cavaignac (q.v.), they distinguished themselves in many a bloody conflict with the
Arabs of the south. Gradually, however, the native element was eliminated, and since 1840 they may be considered as French troops in a Moorish dress. In 1852 to 1855 their numbers were greatly augmented, and they now amount to upward of 10,000 men, divided into four regiments of four battalions each. They are recruited from the veterans of the ordinary infantry regiments who are distinguished for their fine "physique" and tried courage and hardihood; clad in a loose jacket and waistcoat of dark-blue cloth ornamented with yellow braid, loose madder-colored trousers, brown cloak, madder-colored Fez cap with a yellow tassel, surronnded by a green turban, a light-blue sash of wool, yellow leather leggings, and white gaiters; and armed with a carbine and sword-bayonet. The uniform of the officers and subalterns is the same as that of the hussars.
When the French and the African elements of the original zouave battalions were separated, the Africans were constituted into a separate body, under the name of Al gerian tirailleurs, a force still recruited in Algiers to form a part (three regiments) of the regular French army. They are better known as Turcos.