Zouaves, a body of troops in the French army, which derives its name from the Zwawa, a tribe of Kabyles in the Algerian province of Constantine. These Kabyles had long been employed as mercenaries by the deys of Algiers; and after the conquest in 1830 the French took them into their service. At first companies were formed consisting of French and Kabyles in certain proportions, officers, subalterns, and soldiers being selected from either race; but as it was soon found that the system of commingling the two races did not promote the comradeship intended, the French and Kabyles were formed into separate companies. Their first colonel was Lamoricière, under whom and his successor, Cavaignac, they distinguished themselves in many a bloody conflict with the Arabs of the south. Gradually however the native element was eliminated, and since 1840 the Zouaves may be considered as French troops in a quasi-Moorish dress. They now amount to upwards of 10,000 men, divided into four regiments of four battalions each. They are recruited from veterans of the ordinary infantry regiments who are distinguished for their fine physique and tried courage.
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 Algerian Tirailleurs, a force still recruited in Algiers to form a part (also four regiments) of the regular French army. They are usually spoken of as Turcos, and became too well known in the Franco-German war. In 1860 a corps of French soldiers was organised at Rome as Papal or Pontifical Zouaves, under Lamoricière, who were disbanded in 1871.