"Sipahi" IRL translates literally as "of the sipa", and Wikipedia is correct in listing its origins as "of the army" but originally "of the horse" ("aspa" is horses plural, Wikipedia; asp is horse singular). Thank you, Persian heritage of mine, for occasionally being useful.
So in its most literal translation, Sipahi means soldier. "Knight" is a stretch. Historically, yes, the term is most often synonymous with Ottoman troops, but the word itself has absolutely no connotations or connections with anything of a knightly nature. Cavalryman is closer, given the etymology.
Within the setting of FFXIV, it's my understanding that sipahi are actually supported in lore as having been a thing at one point or another. The gear exists, and the turban is commonly used throughout the Brass Blades who work for Lolorito.
I'd say you're perfectly fine and free to roleplay as a free-roaming asset of Lolorito's. Sipahi isn't too pretentious a term to use in roleplay, though I'd personally avoid anything knight-related. The historical sipahis were comparable to medieval European knights in status only; the similarities ended there.
So in its most literal translation, Sipahi means soldier. "Knight" is a stretch. Historically, yes, the term is most often synonymous with Ottoman troops, but the word itself has absolutely no connotations or connections with anything of a knightly nature. Cavalryman is closer, given the etymology.
Within the setting of FFXIV, it's my understanding that sipahi are actually supported in lore as having been a thing at one point or another. The gear exists, and the turban is commonly used throughout the Brass Blades who work for Lolorito.
I'd say you're perfectly fine and free to roleplay as a free-roaming asset of Lolorito's. Sipahi isn't too pretentious a term to use in roleplay, though I'd personally avoid anything knight-related. The historical sipahis were comparable to medieval European knights in status only; the similarities ended there.
![[Image: 1qVSsTp.png]](http://i.imgur.com/1qVSsTp.png)
