#zouave

En 14–18, l’armée française utilisait les corps tatoués comme outils de propagande.

Ces cartes postales, éditées au profit des blessés, en sont une illustration saisissante : un Alsacien combattant pour la France.

« Le vieux zouave alsacien GRABENSTATIER, aux tatouages uniques au monde.

La ville de Lyon lui offrit 2000 francs pour obtenir sa dépouille, mais il préféra en faire don à son pays, l’Alsace.

Fort de 14 années de service et portant encore cinq balles non extraites dans le corps, (les médecins pensent qu’il les digère) il repart au feu pour tuer des Boches. »

30 July 1915

Zouaves manning a St. Étienne Mle 1907 machine gun in anti-aircraft role at the St. Etienne Aerodrome, Le Bourget.

Image: IWM (Q 115199)

*my mind*: Historically, France during the 19th century and the first half of the 20th had intensive colonization in North Africa, specifically Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.

One way this was manifested was the creation of troops originating from North Africa who fought for the French, such as Algerian Zouaves (1830-1962, though it should be noted that by 1842, most Zouaves were French, but dressed in a similar way), and Moroccan Goumiers (1908-1956).

Fontaine draws most of its inspiration from 19th century France. Sumeru meanwhile draws from multiple North African, Middle Wastern, and South Asian cultures, with the Eremites drawing more elements from North African culture (for example, to the best of my knowledge, Dehya draws a lot of influence from Amazigh culture).

Fontaine is also the only region outside of Sumeru where eremites appeared (for those curious, it is in one of the world quests, the one about the Melusine artist). The lore also implies that Eremites are the go to if you want to hire quality mercenaries.

Would this mean that Eremites who get hired abroad take on a clothing style that’s a mix of both Fontaine and Sumeru cultures like Zouaves?

Zouaves characters when? Would they count as Fontainian or Sumeruian?

Me: Not much…

Above Left: Zouave, 1870s

La Mode nationale, no. 14, 10 avril 1897, Paris. No. 1. — Costumes de bicyclistes. Bibliothèque nationale de France