Savari

The first Savari units were raised in December 1912, drawn from tribal irregulars or bande recruited by the Italians shortly after their occupation of Tripoli in October 1911.

Prior to this the role of the Savari and other mounted troops had been restricted to patrol and scouting work in the desert frontier regions of the Libyan interior, by the demands of modern mechanised warfare.

Each squadron was distinguished by a distinctively coloured sash and farmula (sleeveless jacket)[6] worn with white or khaki uniforms according to occasion.

Sash and farmula colours were yellow, black, crimson, blue, green, red and orange, worn in various combinations according to the unit.

He was recognized for improving relations with the Libyan populace and charged with organising the equestrian part of the celebrations during which the ornamental “sword of Islam”[7] was unsheathed by Benito Mussolini when visiting Libya in 1937 [8]

Savari of the Italian colonial cavalry performing in Rome, 1926
The Italian empire before WWII is shown in red. Pink areas were annexed/occupied for various periods between 1940 and 1943. Italian concessions and forts in China are not shown.