Both sides in this war war very colorful and diverse clothing. Since national costumes were also the main battlefield uniform, confusion arose as to identifying friend and foe. The Greeks note that black crosses were sewed onto the clothing of many irregular Greek troops. As well as white crosses being sewed onto the clothing of regular "government" units. Other forms of battlefield identification are also reported as being used including armbands and scarves. Several writers comment that the Greek national dress varied slightly among the island and regions, so that a person's origin could easily be identified by other Greeks.

Uniform prints of Greek troops from shortly after the war show colors being associated with certain regions. I am not sure that this was the case during the war but the data could help in painting and sorting a wargamer's troops. The colors were of the sash, fermeli (waistcoat) and trousers plus other trimming. The Fustanella (skirt) and shirt was almost always white.The fez and vest were commonly red and richly embrodiered. The colors and regions are:

Black = Macedonia and Upper Greece; Blue = Roumeli; Red = Mani.

The revolutionary banner or flag for the Greeks was the "St Georges's Cross in White on a mid blue field" which can be seen in the canton area of the modern Greek flag. Colored paintings of the war show variations in the color of blue which could be due to available cloth or colors available to the artist.. S Koumoussis gaming guide "Freedom or Death" contains several color plates on Greek flags and data on Turkish flags. Other Greek flags described includes a mid-blue St George's Cross on white field (favored by southern groups), 3 horizontal bars black = top/white = middle /red = bottom with a red orthodox coss in the middle w/ letters in each cross's quarter TU (upper left), T Omega (upper right). NI (lower left), KA (lower right). The Spartan leaders tended to use a white field with a short mid-blue cross centered which has letters in each corner I upper left/ X upper right / N lower left/ K lower right. Greek islands and Admirals each had their own flag design. Turkish flags tended to have a red field with one to crecents opened to the fly side and colored either white, yellow or gold.

In regards to the uniform of the Ottoman forces, I am still researching the Ottomans but dress including the Janissaries would have been virtually the same as that worn during the Napoleonic Wars and earlier. many of the troops brought to Greece by their commanders would have worn the dress associated with the area of their origin. This could have been Moldavian, Rumanian, Bulgarian, or dress from Asia Minor and other parts of the Empire. The Egyptian troops wore regimental uniforms with some paintings showing a red tunic and fez, plus tan or white baggy pants. The Albanian national dress would have many similarities to the Greek dress. Pro-Turkish Greek would have worn their regional dress but I am not sure about battlefield identity markings.

More Greek War of Independence: 1821-33

Introduction
Glossary of Terms and Key Units
Listing of Notable Units and Expeditionary Forces
Notes on Uniforms
Greek Revolutionary War Personalities
Wargaming Notes

Chronology of Key Events

1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829-33