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Ahussar[a] was a member of a class oflight cavalry, originally from the Kingdom of Hungary during the 15th and 16th centuries. The title and distinctive dress of these horsemen were subsequently widely adopted by light cavalry regiments in European armies during the late 17th and 18th centuries. By the 19th century, hussars were wearing jackets decorated with braid plusshako orbusby fur hats and had developed a romanticized image of being dashing and adventurous.
Several modern armies retain the designation of hussars forarmored (tank) units. In addition, a number of mounted units survive which wear historical hussar uniforms on parade or while providingceremonial escorts.
Historically, the term derives from the cavalry of late medievalHungary, underMatthias Corvinus,[3] with mainlySerb warriors.[4][5][6]
Etymologists are divided over the derivation of the wordhussar.[7] Several alternative theories are summarised below:
The hussars reportedly originated in bands ofSerbwarriors,[16] crossing into southern Hungary after theOttoman conquest of Serbia in the late 14th century. Regent-GovernorJohn Hunyadi created mounted units inspired by the Ottomans. His son,Matthias Corvinus, later king of Hungary, is claimed to be the creator of these troops, commonly calledRác[citation needed] (a Hungarianexonym for Serbs). Initially, they fought in small bands, but were reorganised into larger, trained formations during the reign of King Matthias Corvinus.[17]
The medieval Hungarian written sources spoke disparagingly and contemptuously of the light cavalry and the hussars in general, and during battles the texts praised only the virtues, endurance, courage, training and achievements of the knights. No wonder, since during the Middle Ages the Hungarian noble origin soldiers served exclusively as heavy armoured cavalry.[18]
The first hussar regiments comprised the light cavalry of theBlack Army of Hungary. Under Corvinus's command, the hussars took part in the war against theOttoman Empire in 1485 and proved successful against thesipahis (Ottoman cavalry) as well as against the Bohemians and Poles. After the king's death, in 1490, hussars became the standard form of cavalry in Hungary in addition to the heavy cavalry. Their role was limited to irregular warfare, raiding, securing, covering and reconnaissance of main regular forces. According toAntonio Bonfini, this lightly armed cavalry (expeditissimus equitatus) was not allowed to be part of the regular army, when the order of the battle was formed, but was placed outside it in quite separate groups and used to destroy, burn, kill and instil fear in the civilian population, while they rode ahead of the regular army.[19]
The 16th and 17th centuries saw a major change and during theThirty Years' War they fought aslight cavalry and increasingly usedfirearms, instead of more traditional weapons such asbows andspears.[20] TheHabsburg emperors hired Hungarian hussars asmercenaries to serve against the Ottomans and on various battlefields throughout Western Europe.
Early hussars wore armor when they could afford it, as did the later Polish hussars. Hungarian hussars abandoned the use of shields and, at a later date, armor; becoming entirely light cavalry in the first half of the 17th century.[21]
Initially the first units ofPolish Hussars in theKingdom of Poland were formed around 1500.[22]
The Polish heavy hussars of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth were far more manoeuvrable than the heavily armouredlancers previously employed. The hussars proved vital to the Polish–Lithuanian victories at theOrsza (1514), theObertyn (1531) and theBattle of Vienna (1683).
Over the course of the 16th century, hussars inTransylvania andHungary became heavier in character: they had abandoned wooden shields and adopted plate-metal body armour. WhenStephen Báthory, a Transylvanian-Hungarian prince, waselectedKing of Poland in 1576, he reorganised the Polish–Lithuanian Hussars of his Royal Guard along Hungarian lines, making them a heavy formation, equipped with a long lance as their main weapon. Under his reign, the hussars replaced medieval-style lancers in the Polish–Lithuanian army, and they formed the bulk of the Polishcavalry. By the 1590s, most Polish–Lithuanian hussar units had been reformed along the same "heavy", Hungarian model. Due to the same resemblance, the Polish heavy hussars came with their own style, the Polish winged hussars or Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth wingedhusaria.
In theBattle of Lubieszów, in 1577, the "Golden Age" of the husaria began. Up to and including theBattle of Vienna in 1683, the Polish–Lithuanian hussars fought countless actions against a variety of enemies. In the battles ofByczyna (1588),Kokenhusen (1601),Kircholm (1605),Kłuszyn (1610),Trzciana (1629),Chocim (1673) andLwów (1675), the Polish–Lithuanian hussars proved to be the decisive factor, often against overwhelming odds.
Until the 18th century, they were considered the elite of the Commonwealth's armed forces.
Croatian hussar units, often designated simply as"Croats", were raised from the Kingdom of HungaryMilitary Frontier, Croatian-Slavonian and the Kingdom of Dalmatia, Croatia and Slavonia.[23] One notable captain and chief officer of hussars wasPetar Keglević.[24] In 1578,Charles II took command of the Croatian andSlavonian Military Frontier and prepared written orders and rule of service for infantry (Haramije) and horsemen (hussars), using theSerbo-Croatian language.[25][26] The oldest written trace of the surname Husar in Croatia is from 1507 inVinica where Petrus Hwzar (Petar Husar) was mentioned, in a document dated 1598 entitled "Regestum", mention was made of "hussar" atLobor ("Castrum Lobor cum suis pertinentiis portiones magnificorum dominorum Joannis et Petri Keglyewich…“Blasius Hwszar, Inq(uilinus)”. A second reference to "hussar" appeared in 1613 fromKrapina ("desertum JoannesHuszar de vinea cb – qr j”).[27]
Croatian hussars were irregular light horsemen characteristic of the Habsburg-Ottoman border area. Croatian units were not inevitably referred as "Croats" but it was the most commonly used name. In theThirty Years' War other designations used wereWallachen, Uskocken, Raitzen, Granitscharen, Insulaner, Wenden, Polen, Türken i Zigeuner. Amongst the Croatian hussars could be found other ethno-political groups, such as Hungarians, Serbs, Albanians, Romanians, Poles, Vlachs and Cossacks.[28] Croatian hussars participated in thesiege of Magdeburg which was led byJohann Tserclaes[29] as well as the sieges ofHeidelberg,Frankenthal,Manheim,Breitenfeld,Lützen,Nördlingen,Wittstock andBreitenfeld.[30]
Between 1746 and 1750, four Grenz Hussar (border) regiments were established: the Karlovac, the Varaždin, the Slavonian and the Syrmia Regiments. The Croatian-Slavonian Grenz Hussars took part in the campaigns of 1793–94 against Revolutionary France[31] In 1751,Maria Theresa prescribed a distinctive hussar uniform.[32]
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Hussars throughout Europe followed a different line of development than the Polish hussars. During the early decades of the 17th century, hussars inHungary ceased to wear metal body armour; and, by 1640, most were light cavalry. It was hussars of this "light" pattern, rather than the Polish heavy hussar, that were later to be copied across Europe. These light hussars were ideal forreconnaissance and raiding sources offodder and provisions in advance of the army.
In battle, they were used in such light cavalry roles as harassing enemyskirmishers, overrunning artillery positions, and pursuing fleeing troops. In many countries, the hussars and bosniaks actually retained their original Asiatic uniforms. In the late 17th and 18th centuries, many Hungarian hussars sought employment in other Central and Western European countries and became the core of similar light cavalry formations created there. Following their example, hussar regiments were introduced into at least twelve European armies by 1800.[33]
Bavaria raised its first hussar regiment in 1688 and a second one in about 1700.Prussia followed suit in 1721 whenFrederick the Great used hussar units extensively during theWar of the Austrian Succession.[34][unreliable source?]
France established a number of hussar regiments from 1692 onward, recruiting originally from Hungary and Germany, then subsequently from German-speaking frontier regions within France itself. The first hussar regiment in the French army was theHussars-Royaux (Royal Hussars), raised from Hungarian deserters in 1692.[35]
Spain disbanded its first hussars in 1747 and then raised new units of Húsares in 1795. The Húsares de Pavía were created in 1684 by the Count of Melgar to serve in Spanish possessions in Italy and were named after the Spanish victory over the French army at Pavia, south of Milan, Italy. During the battle, the King of France,Francis I, was captured by the Spanish Cavalry. The Húsares de Pavía fought in Italy during theNine Years' War (1692–1695) and theWar of Spanish Succession, it was transferred back to Spain. In 1719, the regiment was sent again to Italy until 1746.
Then, it served in campaigns against Algerian pirates and in the sieges ofOran andAlgiers. During theSpanish War of Independence againstNapoleon (1808–1814), the unit fought the Battles of Bailén, Tudela, Velez, Talavera and Ocaña and the actions of Baza, Cuellar, Murviedro and Alaquàs.
The Húsares de Pavía regiment also was involved in theTen Years' War inCuba, theSpanish–American War (1898), theSpanish Civil War (1936–1939), and in theIfni War (1958). Ifni was a Spanish colony in North Africa that was attacked by irregulars from Morocco. At present, this regiment is named Regimiento Acorazado de Caballería Pavía nr 4 (Cavalry armored regiment Pavia nr 4) and is garrisoned inZaragoza (Spain).
Sweden had hussars from about 1756 and Denmark introduced this class of cavalry in 1762. Britain converted a number of lightdragoon regiments to hussars in the early 19th century.
TheDutch Republic took a Bavarian regiment into service in 1745 (Regiment Frangipani). Several new regiments and corps were raised in 1747 and 1748, but eventually these existed only on paper. One regiment, theStatenhuzaren ('States' Hussars') remained, but was disbanded in 1752. In 1784, two free companies of hussars were raised, which were taken into service after 1787 and would become two full regiments. These would be united into one regiment in 1795, which would be the 2nd Regiment of the Kingdom of Holland in 1806, with a 3rd Hussars being raised that same year, as well as a Guard Hussars Regiment. The Guard Hussars would become the2eme Regiment Chevaux-Legeres Lanciers of the Imperial Guard (The Red Lancers) after 1810; the 3rd was disbanded; the 2nd being incorporated into the French line as the 11eme Regiment.
After regaining independence, the newRoyal Netherlands Army raised two hussar regiments (nrs. 6 and 8). They were disbanded (nr. 8 in 1830), or converted to lancers (nr. 6 in 1841). In 1867, all remaining cavalry regiments were transferred to hussar regiments. This tradition remains to this day, with the last surviving hussar regiment (Boreel's,103rd and 104th reconnaissance squadrons) carrying on the tradition of all Dutch cavalry predecessors.
Russia relied on its nativecossacks along withkalmyks and othernomads to provide irregular light cavalry until the mid-18th century. In 1707, Apostol Kigetsch, a Wallachian nobleman serving Russian EmperorPeter the Great, was given the task to form akhorugv ("banner" or "squadron") of 300 men to serve on the Ottoman-Russian border. The squadron consisted of Christians fromHungary,Serbia,Moldavia, andWallachia.[36] In 1711, prior to thePruth campaign, 6 regiments (4 khorugv's each) of hussars were formed, mainly from Wallachia. Two otherkhorugv, for guerilla warfare, were formed, one Polish and one Serbian, to battle the Ottomans. In 1723, Peter the Great formed a Hussar regiment exclusively from Serbian light cavalry serving in the Austrian army. On 14 October 1741, during the regency of Grand DuchessAnna Leopoldovna, four Hussar regiments, a Serbian (Serbskiy), a Moldavian (Moldavskiy), a Hungarian (Vengerskiy) and a Georgian (Gruzinskiy) were authorized.[36]
After theRusso-Turkish War (1735–39), these Hussar regiments were converted to regular service, voluntarily enlisted and not conscripted as the rest of the Russian army. They were on a level between regular and irregular cavalry. Hussars were recruited only from the nation indicated by the regiment's name, i.e., these regiments were national units in Russian service; all troops (including officers) were national, and commands were given in the respective languages. Each regiment was supposed to have a fixed organization of 10 companies, each of about 100 men, but these regiments were recruited from different sources, so they were less than the indicated strength.
By 1741, the foreign hussars in Russian service had disbanded and reliance for light cavalry functions was again placed on the indigenous Cossack irregulars. In that year new hussar regiments were raised, now drawn from Orthodox Christian communities along the Turkish frontier. The newly raised Russian hussar units had increased to 12 regiments by theSeven Years' War. During the 1750s Serbian and Slovakian Orthodox communities and refugees, plus Poles and Hungarians, provided non-Russian recruits for the expanding hussars who evolved into a semi-regular corps of frontier light horse.[37] In 1759–60, three more Hussar regiments, were raised, the Yellow (Želtiy), the Macedonian (Makedonskiy) and the Bulgarian (Bolgarskiy).
During and afterRákóczi's War of Independence, manyHungarians served in the Habsburg army. Located in garrisons far away from Hungary, some deserted from the Austrian army and joined that ofPrussia. The value of the Hungarian hussars as light cavalry was recognised and, in 1721, two Hussaren Corps were organised in thePrussian Army.
Frederick II (later called "The Great") recognised the value of hussars as light cavalry and encouraged their recruitment. In 1741, he established a further five regiments, largely from Polish deserters. Three more regiments were raised for Prussian service in 1744 and another in 1758. While the hussars were increasingly drawn from Prussian and other German cavalrymen, they continued to wear the traditional Hungarian uniform, richly decorated with braid and gold trim.
Possibly due to a daring and impudent surprise raid on his capital, Berlin, by the hussars of Hungarian generalAndrás Hadik, Frederick also recognised the national characteristics of hisHungarian recruits and, in 1759, issued a royal order which warned the Prussian officers never to offend the self-esteem of his hussars with insults and abuse. At the same time, he exempted the hussars from the usual disciplinary measures of thePrussian Army, such as physical punishments includingcudgeling.
Frederick used his hussars for reconnaissance duties and for surprise attacks against the enemy's flanks and rear. A hussar regiment under the command of Colonel Sigismund Dabasi-Halász helped win theBattle of Hohenfriedberg atStriegau on May 4, 1745, by attacking theAustrian combat formation on its flank and capturing all of its artillery.
The effectiveness of the hussars in Frederick's army can be judged by the number of promotions and decorations awarded to their officers. Recipients included the Hungarian generals Pal Werner and Ferenc Kőszeghy, who received the highest Prussian military order, the "Pour le Mérite"; General Tivadar Ruesh was awarded the title of baron; Mihály Székely was promoted from the rank of captain to general after less than fifteen years of service.
While Hungarian hussars served in the opposing armies of Frederick andMaria Theresa, there were no known instances of fratricidal clashes between them.
Verbunkos (Hungarian pronunciation:[ˈvɛrbuŋkoʃ]; other spellings are Verbounko, Verbunko, Verbunkas, Werbunkos, Werbunkosch, Verbunkoche) is an 18th-centuryHungarian dance and music genre.
The name is derived from theGerman wordwerben that means, in particular, "to enroll in the army"; verbunkos means recruiter. The corresponding music and dance were performed during military recruiting, which was a frequent event during this period, hence the character of the music. The verbunkos was an important component of the Hungarian hussar tradition. Potential recruits were dressed in items of hussar uniform, given wine to drink and invited to dance to this music.
The hussars played a prominent role ascavalry in theRevolutionary Wars (1792–1802) andNapoleonic Wars (1803–15). As light cavalrymen mounted on fast horses, they would be used to fight skirmish battles and for scouting. Most of the great European powers raised hussarregiments. The armies of France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia had included hussar regiments since the mid-18th century. In the case of Britain, four lightdragoon regiments were converted to hussars in 1806–1807.
The hussars of the period created the tradition ofsabrage, the opening of a champagne bottle with a sabre. Moustaches were universally worn by Napoleonic-era hussars; the British hussars were the only moustachioed troops in the British Army—leading to their being taunted as being "foreigners", at times. French hussars also worecadenettes, braids of hair hanging on either side of the face and held in place by pistol balls,[38] until the practice was officially proscribed when shorter hair became universal.
The uniform of the Napoleonic hussars included thepelisse, a short fur-edged jacket which was often worn slung over one shoulder in the style of a cape and was fastened with a cord. This garment was extensively adorned with braiding (often gold or silver for officers) and several rows of buttons. Thedolman or tunic, which was also decorated in braid, was worn under it.[39] The hussar's accoutrements included a Hungarian-style saddle covered by ashabraque: a decorated saddlecloth with long, pointed corners surmounted by a sheepskin.[40]
On active service, the hussar normally wore reinforced breeches which had leather on the inside of the leg to prevent them from wearing due to the extensive time spent in the saddle. On the outside of such breeches, running up each outer side, was a row of buttons, and sometimes a stripe in a different colour. Ashako or furkolpac (busby) was worn as headwear. The colours of the dolman, pelisse and breeches varied greatly by regiment, even within the same army.
The French hussar of the Napoleonic period was armed with a brass-hiltedsabre, acarbine and sometimes with a brace of pistols, although these were often unavailable. A famous military commander in Bonaparte's army who began his military career as a hussar was MarshalNey, who, after being employed as a clerk in an iron works, joined the 5th Hussars in 1787. He rose through the ranks of the hussars in the wars of Belgium and the Rhineland (1794–1798), fighting against the forces of Austria and Prussia before receiving his marshal's baton in 1804, after the Emperor Napoleon's coronation.
In theBritish Army, hussar cavalry were introduced at a later date than in other major European armies. Towards the end of the 18th century, British light dragoon regiments began to adopt hussar style accoutrements such as laced jackets,pelisses andsabretaches. In 1805, four light dragoon regiments were permitted to use the "hussar" name, initially inparentheses after their regimental title and adopted full hussar uniforms. British hussars were armed with, in addition to firearms, the highly regarded1796-pattern light-cavalry sabre.[41]
There were severalRussian regiments of hussars by the time of Napoleonic Wars and extensive use was made of them.
Although theRomanian cavalry were not formally designated as hussars, their pre-1915 uniforms, as described below, were of the classic hussar type. These regiments were created in the second part of the 19th century, under the rule ofAlexandru Ioan Cuza, creator of Romania by the unification ofMoldavia andWallachia. Romania diplomatically avoided the word "hussar" due to its connotation at the time withAustria-Hungary, traditional rival of the Romanian principates. Therefore, these cavalry regiments were called "Călărași" in Moldavia, and later the designation "Roșiori" was adopted in Wallachia. (The word "călăraș" means "mounted soldier", and "roșior" means "of red colour" which derived from the colour of their uniform.) The three (later expanded to ten) Roșiori regiments were the regular units, while the Călărași were territorial reserve cavalry who supplied their own horses.
These troops played an important role in theRomanian Independence War of 1877, on the Russo-Turkish front. The Roșiori, as theirRomanian name implies, wore reddolmans with black braiding while the Călărași wore dark blue dolmans with red loopings. Both wore fur busbies and white plumes. The Roșiori regiments were distinguished by the different colours of their cloth busby bags (yellow, white, green, light blue, light green, dark blue, light brown, lilac, pink and light grey according to regiment). TheRegimentul 1 Roșiori "General de armată Alexandru Averescu" was formed in 1871, while theRegimentul 4 Roșiori "Regina Maria" was created in 1893.
After World War I, the differences between the two branches of Romanian cavalry disappeared, although the titles of Roșiori and Călărași remained. Both types of cavalry served through World War II on the Russian front as mounted and mechanised units.
InArgentina, the 'Regimiento de Húsares del Rey' was created in 1806 to defend Buenos Aires from the British 1806–1807 expeditions. After the revolution in 1810, it became the 'Regimiento Húsares de Pueyrredón' after its founder and first colonel,Juan Martín de Pueyrredón. Today, its traditions and historic name and uniform are kept by the 8th Tank Regiment of the Argentinian Army.
InChile, theRegimiento de Húsares de la Gran Guardia Nacional (Grand National Guard Hussars Regiment) was created byJosé Miguel Carrera, who was himself previously a hussar in the Spanish Army. In 1813, as part of the army of the newly independent Chile, the regiment fought against the Spanish Army until its defeat at the disaster of theBattle of Rancagua. It was dissolved byJosé de San Martín after the Chilean Army fled to Argentina. In addition, the 'Húsares de la Muerte', or 'Death Hussars', were created as a paramilitary corps byManuel Rodríguez after the 'Desastre de Cancha Rayada' (Disaster of Cancha Rayada) on 26 March 1818, during the period known as the Patria Vieja (Old Fatherland).
InPeru, the squadrons ofHussars of the Peruvian Legion of the Guard were created in 1821 by GeneralJosé de San Martín, from officers and troopers of the Squadron of "Hussars of the General's Escort", the former Squadron of Horse-Chasseurs of the Andes, which were included in the new army of the newly independent republic ofPeru.
The 4th Squadron of the Hussars of the Peruvian Legion of the Guard was organized in Trujillo under the command of Peruvian Colonel Antonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente. Originally designated as "Cuirassiers" in 1823, it became the "Hussars of Perú" Squadron in 1824.
It was renamed "Hussars of Junín" for its performance in 1824 at theBattle of Junín, which was one of the Spanish-Peruvian battles which determined the final defeat of Spanish colonial rule.
The Hussars of Junín fought at theBattle of Ayacucho on 9 December 1824, among the liberating forces commanded by Antonio de Sucre against the Royalist Spanish forces commanded by Viceroy José de la Serna. The heroic action of the Hussars of Junín Regiment as part of the light cavalry commanded by GeneralJosé María Córdova was victorious, the battle eventuating in the capitulation of the Spanish forces, affirming the final independence of Peru. For this heroic action, the "Hussars of Junín" Light Cavalry Regiment was declared theLiberator of Perú with an inscription on the regimental flag.
In the United States, theGeorgia Hussars were a cavalry regiment founded before theAmerican Revolution that continues today as part of theGeorgia National Guard. The Hussars served theState of Georgia as part of theConfederate States Army during theAmerican Civil War, and after reconciliation served in Mexico, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and The War on Terror. Another famous Confederate regiment designated as Hussars[citation needed] were the1st Virginia Cavalry, known as theBlack Horse Troop. Their grey uniforms had black facings, and unique rows of braid across the chest.[42]
TheUnion army had two hussar regiments during the Civil War. The3rd New Jersey Cavalry, nicknamed the Butterflies, wore dark blue pelisses with yellow braid, short bluecloaks with red lining, and a distinctive peaklessforage cap similar to the British army.[43] The5th Missouri Cavalry, known as theBenton Hussars, wore sky blue uniforms with dark blue facings and chest braid.[44][45] On campaign, akepi was worn in place of the traditional fur cap.[46] The Benton Hussars served as GeneralCharles S. Hamilton's elite bodyguard, and distinguished themselves at theBattle of Pea Ridge and theBattle of Iuka in 1862.[47][48]
On the eve of World War I, there were still hussar regiments in the British,[49] Canadian, French,[50]New Zealand, Spanish,[51] German,[52] Russian,[53] Dutch,[54] Danish,[55] Swedish, Romanian, and Austro-Hungarian armies. In most respects, they had now become regular light cavalry, recruited solely from their own countries and trained and equipped along the same lines as other classes of cavalry. But Hussars were still notable for their colourful and elaborate parade uniforms, the most spectacular of which were those worn by the two Spanish regiments,Húsares de Pavía andHúsares de la Princesa.
A characteristic of both the Imperial German and Russian Hussars was the variety of colours apparent in their dress uniforms.[56] These included red, black, green, dark and light blue, brown and even pink (the Russian 15th Hussars[57]) dolmans. Most Russian hussar regiments wore red breeches,[58] as did all the Austro-Hungarian hussars of 1914. This rainbow-effect harked back to the 18th-century origins of hussar regiments in these armies and helped regrouping after battle or a charge.
The fourteen French hussar regiments were an exception to this rule – they wore the same relatively simple uniform, with only minor distinctions, as the other branches of French light cavalry. This comprised a shako, light blue tunic and red breeches.[59] The twelve British hussar regiments were distinguished by different coloured busby bags and a few other distinctions such as the yellow plumes of the20th, the buff collars of the13th and the crimson breeches of the11th Hussars.[60]
Hussar influences were apparent even in those armies which did not formally include hussar regiments. Thus, both the BelgianGuides (prior to World War I) and the Mounted Escort, the so-calledBlue Hussars, of the Irish Defence Forces (during the 1930s) wore hussar-style uniforms.
The colourfulmilitary uniforms of hussars from 1700 onwards were inspired by the prevailing Hungarian fashions of the day. Usually, this uniform consisted of a short jacket known as adolman, or later a medium-lengthatilla jacket, both with heavy, horizontalgold braid (sujtás) on the breast and yellow braided or goldAustrian knots (vitézkötés) on the sleeves, a matchingpelisse (a short-waisted over-jacket often worn slung over one shoulder), colourfulriding breeches, sometimes with yellow braided or gold Austrian knots at the front, abusby (kucsma) (a high, fur hat with a cloth bag hanging from one side, although some regiments wore theshako (csákó) of various styles), and high riding boots (oftenHessian boots). Asabretache, an ornate pouch hung from the belt, often completed the accoutrements.[61]
European hussars traditionally wore long moustaches (but no beards) and long hair, with twoplaits hanging in front of the ears as well as a largerqueue at the back, a style known as thecadenette. They often retained the queue, which used to be common to all soldiers, after other regiments had dispensed with it and adopted short hair.
Hussars had a reputation for being the dashing, if unruly, adventurers of the army. The traditional image of the hussar is of a reckless, hard-drinking, womanising,moustachioedswashbuckler.General Lasalle, an archetypal hussar officer, epitomized this attitude by his remarks, among which the most famous is: "Any hussar who is not dead by the age of thirty is a blackguard."[62] He died at theBattle of Wagram at the age of 34.
Arthur Conan Doyle's characterBrigadier Etienne Gerard of the FrenchHussards de Conflans has come to epitomise the hussar of popular fiction – brave, conceited, amorous, a skilled horseman and (according toNapoleon) not very intelligent. Brigadier Gerard's boast that theHussards de Conflans (an actual regiment) could set a whole population running, the men away from them and the women towards them, may be taken as a fair representation of theesprit de corps of this class of cavalry.
Less romantically, 18th-century hussars were also known (and feared) for their poor treatment of localcivilians. In addition to commandeering local food-stocks for the army, hussars were known to also use the opportunity for personallooting andpillaging.[63]
The 1930 operettaViktoria und ihr Husar (Victoria and her Hussar) has been filmed several times.
Hussar armament varied over time. Until the 17th century, it included a cavalrysabre,lance, long woodenshield and, optionally, light, metalarmour or simple leather vest. Their usual form of attack was a rapid charge in compact formation against enemyinfantry orcavalry units. If the first attack failed, they would retire to their supporting troops, who re-equipped them with fresh lances, and then would charge again.
Apart from thePolish sabre and thelance, Polish hussars were usually equipped with two or morehorse pistols, a small rounded shield, andkoncerz (a long thrusting sword up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in), which was used during mounted charges, when the lance was either broken or lost), some even carried amace,horseman's pick, orwar hammer.[64] The Polish hussars abandoned the use of the "Balkan" shield (a large shield of an asymmetric shape) by the 1590s, and most of them were now equipped with metalbreastplates.[22]
Unlike their lighter counterparts, the Polish hussars were used as aheavy cavalry for line-breaking charges against enemy infantry or cavalry units. The famous low losses were achieved by the unique tactic oflate concentration. Until the firstmusketsalvo of the enemy infantry, the hussars approached relatively slowly, in a loose formation. Each rider was at least 5 steps away from his colleagues and the infantry, still using undeveloped muskets, could not aim at any particular cavalryman. Also, if a hussar's horse was wounded, the following lines had time to steer clear of him. After the salvo, the cavalry rapidly accelerated and tightened the ranks. At the moment of the clash of the charging cavalry with the defenders, the hussars were riding knee-to-knee.
Hussars of thePolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth were also famous for the huge wings worn on their backs or attached to the saddles of their horses. Several theories attempt to explain the meaning of the wings. According to some, they were designed to foil attacks by theTatarlasso; another theory maintains that the sound of vibrating feathers attached to the wings made a strange sound that frightened enemy horses during the charge. However, recent experiments performed by Polish historians in 2001, did not support any of these theories and the phenomenon remains unexplained. They might have simply intended as a distinctive feature. The wings were probably worn only during parades and not during combat, but this explanation is also disputed. Because Poland has a large population of devoutCatholics, it seems possible the wings and uniforms were meant to resembleSt. Michael the Archangel.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, hussars of Central and Western Europe retained the use of the sabre. Some cavalrymen such aschasseurs were also armed withfirearms, primarilypistols orcarbines.
Afterhorse cavalry became obsolete, hussar units were generally converted toarmoured units, though retaining their traditional titles. Hussar regiments still exist today, and horses are sometimes used for ceremonial purposes. In theBritish Army (although amalgamations have reduced their number to only two), theFrench Army, theSwedish Army (Livregementets husarer, the Life Regiment Hussars), the Dutch Army and theCanadian Forces, they are usuallytank forces or lightmechanised infantry. The Danish Guard Hussars provide a ceremonial mounted squadron, which is the last to wear the slungpelisse.
In certain German states, notablyRheinpfalz,Mecklenburg-Schwerin andMecklenburg-Strelitz, hussars were sometimes used as amounted police force orgendarmerie. A rare exception to the usual pattern of German police uniforms were those of theMecklenburg-Strelitzsche Districts-Husaren. This gendarmerie corps retained their 19th century-style uniforms until 1905.
The 'RegimientoHúsares de Pueyrredón [es]' (10th Tank Pueyrredon Hussars Regiment) currently serves as an armoured regiment (10th Tank Cavalry Regiment [es] "Husares de Pueyrredón") of theArgentine Army using its revolution-era full dress uniforms worn during formal parades.
TheNational Guards Unit of Bulgaria were established as a hussar regiment in 1879 and served as the personal escort ofAlexander I of Bulgaria. In modern times they serve as the president'shonor guard and security detail, and carryAK-47s andSKS instead of sabres, worn only by officers assigned to the unit.[65]
Regiments in thePrimary Reserve:
| Regiment | Full-dress tunic | Full-dress headdress |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Hussars | Blue with buff collar | Busby, buff bag, white plume |
| 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) | Blue with white collar | Busby, white bag and plume |
| The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) | Blue with white collar | Busby, white bag and plume |
| The Sherbrooke Hussars | Blue with black collar | Wolseley helmet |
Regiments on theSupplementary Order of Battle:
The only remaining hussar unit in theChilean Army is the 3rd Cavalry Regiment "Hussars" (Regimiento de Caballería n.º 3 "Húsares" [es]) inAngol. It forms part of the 3rd Army Mountain Division and is the only horse-mounted regiment remaining in the army, aside from the Presidential Horse Grenadiers. The regiment has a mounted troop and mounted military band. It is named after one of the nation's founding fathers, José Miguel de Carrera, and is informally named "The Hussars of Death", as the successor regiment to Manuel Rodríguez's cavalry unit of that name. The modern regiment has theTotenkopf as its insignia as well as on the regimental camp flag.
Gardehusarregimentet (English: The Guard Hussar Regiment), founded in 1762, is currently a unit with four battalions: an armoured infantry battalion, a light (motorized) reconnaissance battalion and two training battalions. In addition to its operational role, the Guard Hussar Regiment is one of two regiments in the Danish Army (along with theDen Kongelige Livgarde) to be categorised as 'Guards'; in this case, theMounted Squadron perform the same role as theHousehold Cavalry do in the British Army. In mounted parade uniform, the Gardehusarregimentet are the only hussars to still wear the slung and braidedpelisse, which was formerly characteristic of this class of cavalry.
Because of political upheavals such as the French Revolution and the Restoration of 1815, the French hussar regiments do not have the same historical continuity as their counterparts in some other armies.
Hussard noir ('black hussar') was the nickname given to primary-school teachers during theThird Republic, referring to their black coats. Originally written by essayistCharles Péguy in 1913, the phrasehussard noir de la République ('the black knights of the Republic') has a military undertone: It is meant to capture the tense atmosphere of the late 19th century in France, as schoolteachers felt entrusted with a superior mission to actively promoteRepublican andsecular values, among a largely illiterate population still much influenced by the authority of royalist or Catholic powers. The phrase is still commonly used in public discourse, to emphasize the moral and civic role played by schoolteachers (or occasionally, journalists, etc.) in the enlightenment of citizens in ademocracy.
The Mounted Escort, popularly known asBlue Hussars, was an Irish Army unit which was used for state and ceremonial functions and wore bright blue hussar-style uniforms. They were created in 1932 and disbanded in 1948. The name is sometimes used to refer to their successors: the motorcycle unit that has provided presidential escort since then.
TheKing Mindaugas Hussar Battalion of theIron Wolf Mechanised Infantry Brigade is a unit of theLithuanian Land Forces. It is named after KingMindaugas of Lithuania (c. 1203–1263).[66]
TheDutch word for hussar ishuzaar.
Except for the Huzaren van Boreel, the regiments operate in an armoured role in one of the two mechanised brigades of theDutch army, using theLeopard 2 main battle tank. Each of these brigades also has a squadron from the Huzaren van Boreel attached for reconnaissance.There is also a mounted unit for ceremonies:Cavalerie Ere-Escorte. It is linked to the Huzaren Prins Alexander, although riders from other regiments participate as well.
The 1st Light Cavalry Regiment, the "Glorious Hussars of Junín", was until 2012 the horse guards unit of the Peruvian Army, with a history spanning almost two centuries. Raised on August 18, 1821, byJosé de San Martín as the mounted component of thePeruvian Guard Legion, the regiment served in the final battles of theLatin American wars of independence in Junin and Ayacucho, in theGran Colombia–Peru War, in theWar of the Confederation and in theWar of the Pacific.
Following an extended period as part of the Army Education Command, the regiment became the Presidential horse guards regiment in 1987.[67] However, by Ministerial Resolution No 139-2012/DE/EP of 2 February 2012, signed under the administration of PresidentOllanta Humala Tasso, the Field Marshal Domingo Nieto Cavalry Regiment has been reestablished as the official presidential escort, with the main mission of guaranteeing the security of the President of the Republic and theGovernment Palace of Perú inLima.
The Hussars of Junín wear a styliseddress uniform of a blue and red shako, red coat and blue breeches modelled on that worn in 1824 in theBattle of Junín. This uniform is of similar design, but with different colors and braiding, to that worn by the ArgentineRegiment of Mounted Grenadiers General San Martín, which assisted in its raising and in the training of its first troopers.
The Hussars of Junin carry lances and sabers on parade and perform as a ceremonial guard together with the Marshal Nieto Dragoon Guards and the other ceremonial units of the Peruvian Armed Forces and the National Police of Peru. As noted above, The Hussars of Junín no longer serve as the presidential escort but are now based in the Peruvian Army Education Command and still participates in ceremonies and parades, representing the Peruvian Army. The regiment also provides honor guards and escorts for welcoming-ceremonies and other events of national importance. An example of such occasions is the annual ceremony commemorating the 1929 reintegration of the Tacna Region into Peru.
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The Spanish Army still retains one of its historic hussar regiments: theHúsares de Pavía, plus a mechanised cavalry group which commemorates the hussars as a corps:
Historic regiments now disbanded included:
Livregementets husarer (English: 'Life Regiment Hussars'). One of the most distinguished hussar regiments in European history, with roots extending back to 1536. Today, Livregementets husarer, also known as K 3, is the last active hussar regiment in Sweden and trains an airborne battalion and an intelligence battalion and hosts the Swedish Army's Parachute Ranger School and the Armed Forces Survival School.
Presently, the first two regiments and C Sqn RWxY operate in the armoured role, primarily operating theChallenger 2 main battle tank. The Hussar regiments are grouped together with theDragoon andLancer regiments in the order of precedence, all of which are below the Dragoon Guards. A Dragoon regiment, theLight Dragoons, was formed by the amalgamation of two Hussar regiments, the13th/18th Royal Hussars and the15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars, in 1992, reversing the mid-19th-century trend of all existing light-dragoon regiments being converted to hussars. 710 (Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars) Laundry Squadron, RLC is aReserve Operational Hygiene Squadron within165 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC and was formed in April 2014 from 60 Signal Squadron,Royal Corps of Signals.
TheLight Cavalry HAC also wear hussar uniform.
ThePresidential Honor Guard Brigade [es] ofVenezuela wear hussar style full-dress uniforms, thus maintaining the traditions and legacy ofSimón Bolívar's Hussar Troop. This unit was established in 1815, serving under Bolivar during theVenezuelan War of Independence andSpanish American wars of independence. The modern brigade serves as a ceremonial escort to thePresident of Venezuela atMiraflores Palace and attends all state arrival ceremonies conducted there, as well as providing security for the palace complex. The brigade also provides honor guards (i) at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Carabobo Field, Carabobo commemorating the memory of national heroes and the fallen of theBattle of Carabobo; (ii) at the Montana Barracks in Caracas in memory of the lateHugo Chávez; and (iii) at the National Pantheon in Caracas in memory of Bolívar and other national heroes buried there. The brigade also performs public-duty functions as required. Brigade personnel come from all branches of theNational Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela and public security services. The brigade is commanded by a general or flag officer and includes a Presidential mounted escort of platoon size.
One of several likely models for this development were those light hussars of Serbian origin who had first appeared in the Hungarian army of king Matthias Corvinus (the Serbian wordгусар meaning bandit or robber).
One of several likely models for this development were those light hussars of Serbian origin who had first appeared in the Hungarian army of king Matthias Corvinus (the Serbian wordгусар meaning bandit or robber).
