This is an interpretation of data drawn from the sources listed in the bibliography, some website comments and various artwork.

A majority of the soldiers in the Persian army were vassals and mercenaries of the nomadic tribes that inhabited the harsh deserts and mountains of Persia. These tribes included Turkic and Afgan warriors. The ethnic Persians enlisted only when required and tended to live in the urban towns and fertile valley regions.

The most successful troops were the mounted bodyguard. They often routed the enemy cavalry from the field but were unable to withstand the advance of musket-armed troops.

Qezelbash Household Guard. These were ethnic Persians which belonged to an old Military Brotherhood. They operated as armored heavy cavalry.

The Qullar were a mounted guard and believed to be comprised of Christian slave soldiers from the Caucus mountain region. They were equipped as the Qezelbash.

The Afgan footguard were selected by Nadir from the best of Afgan captives in 1738. The unit was 4,000 men strong and divided into two regiments of two battalions of 1000 men each.

Persian regular infantry formations were armed with European style muskets. A Persian regiment (2,000 men) consisted of two battalions (1000 men each) of ten companies (100 men each). European officers were used in these units though the regimental and battalion commanders were men trusted by Nadir.

Persian artillery was divided into three types. Heavy siege guns were rare and included captured Turkish guns. The Field gun units which were trained by Europeans. The Camel artillery consisted of small caliber guns transported and fired from the camels.

Nadir Shah and many of his generals are shown wearing red tunics or coats and tribal turbans. Nadir’s turban is white with colored trim. Persian ethnic guard troops are shown wearing long red coats with some wearing a fur hat and others a turban.

The Afgan bodyguard unit may have worn a red caftan with most troops continuing to wear their turbans in tribal colors.

The Qezelbash Household Guard Cavalry unit continued to wear mail armor under a red caftan. Trousers were of various colors. They wore a six-pointed cap over a turban. They were armed with a lance and bow.

The Persian troops of the regular regiments are noted as wearing dark blue coats but I am unsure whether they were the short tunics or long caftans. Tunics would have allowed for facing colors but facings are not recorded. Based on the fact that British importers financed a number of regiments, I speculate that at least some units wore tunics. However, I would lean toward the majority of the regiments wearing caftans. The trousers were almost always red. They wore the traditional pointed black fur cap that continued to be worn during the 1800s. Regimental distinctions were attached in some manner to the fur cap. Regular units were armed with European made muskets. Persian feudal and levy units wore local clothing and were armed with older matchlocks.

Persian Feudal Cavalry were equipped by local sultans so uniforms may have reflected native dress or uniformed in the preference of the sultan. They were mainly armed with both a lance and bow. Mail body-armor was worn.

Artillerymen wore the easier to function in single-breasted Dark blue coat with baggy red? trousers and knee- high boots. I am unsure about the clothing colors.

The Uzbeg, Turcoman and Afgan warriors wore mainly clothing associated with their specific tribe. A brief description of the dominant tribes is given below. The main clothing colors are also listed. Many of the tribes were independent giving nominal allegiance to the rulers who controlled the major trading towns in their region.

BOKHARA

A major Uzbeg Khanate claiming lordship over the smaller Khanates and nomadic tribes in the area. The majority of the people were Uzbegs (60%) but Turcomans (10%), Tajiks (25%), Arabs (2%) and other smaller tribes comprised part of the population. Their control weakened during the 1600s and was effectively diminished by the Persian invasion of 1739-40. The army was organized along feudal lines with each local ruler (beg) being responsible for arming his men and providing each of them with a horse. The Khan maintained a small full time guard/ police force. Persian slaves or deserters often commanded this force. Part of this force were the Klusa Burdar who were mounted infantry armed with matchlock muskets.

The clothing varied from summer to winter. Summer styles included many bright colored variations of flowing robes. Some colors included green, orange, purple, blue, red and stripes. During the winter woolen cloaks of darker colors were worn over the bright robes. Headgear included fur brimmed and turbans wrapped around red skull caps. The turbans were mainly red and striped (red or blue) white turbans for the levy troops. Officers and nobles wore a white turban. The Khan guards may have wore robes and turbans of a similar color. Some cavalry wore mail over their robes, a steel helmet, carried a cane lance and a round shield. Horses saddle blankets were often crimson and very ornate. Flags were rectangle with a wide contrasting border color.

KHIVA

The ruling Khan was generally from the Uzbeg ethnic group. The population was a collection of nomadic tribes including the Uzbeg (25%), Turcoman (25%), Kazakhs (25%) and several other minor ethnic groups. These tribes would frequently raid Persia, Bokhara and each other without regard of the Khan’s wishes. Since raiding was a vital activity virtually every warrior fought from horseback. The army was organized, as could be expected, along feudal lines. Every local beg would provide mounted warriors when asked. Clothing styles were the same as listed among the Bokhara section. The warriors rarely wore turbans preferring a large cylindrical fur hat. Uzbegs’ hats were often over a foot tall. Turcoman hats were shorter but often wider than the Uzbeg version. A unique comment was that footwear tended to be cowhide of a yellowish color.

AFGANS

The Afgans had major clans (Ghilzai or Abdali) controlling the main towns of Kandahar and Kabul. The majority of the Afgans lived in local clan dominated villages with the clan owing allegiance to one of the major clan powers. The army was raised along feudal lines with units varying greatly in size depending on the importance of the village. Every warrior carried a sword. Some carried spears and shields while some used matchlock muskets. The turban was almost universal but some clans wore only a simple skull cap.

A research note. The term Uzbeg is spelled Uzbek or Ozbeg in various sources.

Persia: Central Asia's Powerhouse During the 1700s

Introduction and Bibliography
The Persian Army of the 1700s
Campaigns and Battles 1705-1747