Hussar
Hussar (original
Serbian spelling:
Gussar; via the
Hungarian huszár to the French
hussard) refers to a class of
cavalry, Serbian in origin but subsequently via Hungary imitated throughout Europe. Today for
traditional reasons some military units still have 'hussar' as part of their title.
Light hussars
The word hussar (pronounced
huh-ZAR,
huh-SAR, or
hoo-ZAR;
IPA: , refers specifically to a light cavalryman, and probably derives from Serbian
gussar ("
highwayman", or brigand), a type of flamboyant
15th century cavalryman. The word could also
possibly have been borrowed by the proto-
Magyars (Hungarians), from Turkic equestrian peoples, prior to their arrival in Hungary, as the
Uyghur Turks used this word to denote a soldier, which for an equestrian people would most likely be a cavalryman. The first light cavalry units of that name were those formed by
Serbian gentry who sought refuge in Hungarian
Croatia after their defeat in the
Battle of Kosovo in
1389. The word Hussar is first mentioned in a written document of 1403. Initially fighting in various smaller units, Hungarian hussars were reorganised into a strong, highly-trained and motivated unit during the reign of King
Matthias I Corvinus of Hungary. Under his command the units took part in the war against the
Ottoman Empire in
1485 and proved successful against the Turkish
Spahis. After Matthias' death in
1490 many hussars sought their fortunes as mercenaries in other Central and Western European countries and became the core of similar
light cavalry formations created there. For instance, princes of
Austria hired Hungarian hussars as
mercenaries for wars against their European opponents, while other Hungarian hussars served at home to defend the country against
Turkey.
Serbian origins
It is widely thought that the original hussars were influenced by the traditions of early Magyar light cavalry in terms of weaponry, military tactics and dress. But in fact the hussars originated in Serbia towards the end of the 14th century. Serbian light cavalry traditions in turn were, just like the Magyars, strongly informed by contact with Turkic equestrian peoples.These Serbian gussars fled from
Rascia (
Serbia) under the onslaught of the Turkish
Ottomans after the
Battle of Kosovo in 1389 to neighbouring
Croatia which at that time was part of the Hungarian kingdom, hence the misinterpretation of the hussars having a Hungarian origin. In Hungarian Croatia these Serbs patroled the borders with the
Ottoman Empire and soon became a part of the Croatian and Hungarian tradition of light cavalry.
In the years 1541"1699, during the
Turkish wars, two-thirds of Hungary was overrun by the Turks. To cope with this threat, Hungarians built a strong series of border fortresses and manned them with Hussars, thus keeping Turkish and Tartar raiders away from the hinterland. During these centuries, Hungarians employed
hit-and-run tactics very well. Even more, hussars in many countries were volunteer troops and so they had boosted morale. The most famous operation of light hussars were the
Sack of Berlin in
1757. A Hungarian count,
Andreas Hadik , marched secretly and swiftly through the Prussian territory, sacked Berlin and returned without losses. Both type of Hussars' tactics were based on the same principle: one quick, deadly strike.
Polish heavy 'winged' hussars
 |
Kircholm, a 1925 painting by Wojciech Kossak of the renowed Polish heavy winged hussars at one of their greatest victories |
The Polish hussars, in contrast to Serbian, Croatian and Hungarian ones, developed into heavy armoured cavalry during the second half of the 16th century. Their origin were Serbian hussar mercenaries who served in the Polish army from the end of the 15th century. The Polish Winged Hussars are not as well-known in Western Europe, only after the
Battle of Vienna 1683 " and mainly after the famous films based on the novels of Sienkiewicz: Ogniem i Mieczem (With Fire and Sword), Potop (The Deluge) and Pan Wolodyjowski (Lit. "Sir Wolodyjowski" or "Fire in the Steppe" in the English version).
 |
Polish hussars from the so-called "Stockholm Roll" (1605) |
Initially the first hussar units in the
Polish-Lithuanian Union were formed by the
Polish parliament in
1503, which hired three banners of Serbian mercenaries. There are references though to Serbian hussars in Polish Treasury registers from the year 1500, and they were most probably in Polish service even before that date. Quickly recruitment also began from among Polish and Lithuanian citizens. Being far more manoeuvrable than the heavily armoured lancers previously employed, the hussars proved vital to the splendid Polish victories at
Orsza (1514) and
Obertyn (1531). By the reign of King
Stefan Batory the hussars had replaced medieval-style lancers in the Polish army, and they now formed the bulk of the Polish
cavalry.
Over the course of the 1500s hussars in
Hungary had become heavier in character: they had abandoned wooden shields and adopted plate metal body armour and helmets ( The helmet was of Roman origin and went from the Romans to the Arabs who passed it on to the Turks who in turn passed it on to the Hungarians and Poles. It is actually the origin of the "Papenheimer" helmet that came to England during the Civil War, and was used by
Oliver Cromwell ). WhenStefan Báthory, a
Transylvanian-Hungarian prince, became king of Poland in 1576 he found Polish hussars had developed along Croatian and Hungarian lines, becoming a heavy formation, equipped with a long lance as their main weapon. By the 1590s most Polish hussar units had been reformed along the same 'heavy' Croatian and Hungarian model. These Polish 'heavy' hussars were known in their homeland as
husaria.
With the
Battle of Lubieszów in
1577 the 'Golden Age' of the husaria began. Until the
Battle of Vienna in
1683, the Polish hussars fought countless actions against a variety of enemies. In the battles of
Byczyna (1588),
Kokenhusen (1601),
Kircholm (1605),
Kłuszyn (1610),
Gniew (1626),
Chocim (1673),
Lwów (1675) and the
Battle of Vienna 1683, the Polish hussars proved to be the decisive factor often against overwhelming odds.
 |
Commonwealth Hussar, wings visible. But wings are not fixed historically correct. Painting by Aleksander Orłowski |
As one of the very few units in the Polish standing army (most of other units were formed as
levée en masse), the hussars were well-trained and well-equipped.They were armed with a sabre, a long sword (for fighting infantry from horseback), a warhammer, two pistols, a six meters long lance with a pennant and were further occasionally armed with a carbine or arrows and a bow.Until
18th century they were considered the elite of the Polish armed forces. Because of the fame and prestige that surrounded the hussars, many of them were accepted into
nobility. Although by the 18th century their importance was diminished by the introduction of modern infantry
firearms and quick-firing artillery, the Polish hussars' tactics and armament remained almost unchanged and most inapt. When they finally were disbanded in 1776 their traditions were officially passed on to the
Uhlans. By contrast with the Hungarian hussars, the Polish cavalry sharing this name had little influence outside their homeland and by the final quarter of the 18th century had passed into history.
Hussars in Western Europe
Hussars outside of Eastern and Central Europe followed a different line of development. During the early decades of the 17th century hussars in Hungary ceased to wear metal body
armour; and by 1640 most were now light cavalry. It was hussars of this 'light' pattern rather than the Polish heavy hussar that were copied across Europe. These light hussars were ideal for
reconnaissance and raiding sources of
fodder and provisions in advance of the army. In battle, they were used in such light cavalry roles as harassing enemy
skirmishers, overrunning artillery positions, and pursuing fleeing troops.
Frederick the Great used hussar units extensively during the
War of the Austrian Succession and they were widely utilised in the armies of the various German states.
Great Britain hired German hussars among their
Hessian mercenaries for service in the
American War of Independence. France established a number of Hussar regiments, originally from Hungarian refugees though subsequently recruited from nearer German speaking regions, such as Alsace and Lorraine.
The Hussar Image
The colourful
uniforms of hussars from 1700 onwards were inspired by Hungarian fashions.
This uniform usually comprised a short jacket known as a
dolman, or later a medium-length "Attila" jacket, both with heavy horizontal
gold braid on the breast, and yellow braided or
gold Austrian knots on the sleeves; a matching
pelisse (a short-waisted
overjacket often worn slung over one shoulder); colored trousers, sometimes with yellow braided or
gold Austrian knots at the front; a
busby (a high fur hat with a cloth bag hanging from one side; although some regiments wore
shakos of various styles); and high riding
boots.
European (but not British) hussars traditionally wore long moustaches (but no beards) and long hair, with two
plaits hanging in front of the ears as well as a larger
queue at the back. 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, hard-swearing, womanising,
moustachioed swashbuckler.
Arthur Conan Doyle's character Brigadier Etienne Gerard of the French Hussards de Conflans has come to epitomise the hussar of popular fiction - brave, conceited, amorous, a skilled horseman and (according to
Napoleon) not very intelligent. Brigadier Gerald's boast that the Hussards de Conflans could set a whole population running - the men away from them and the women towards them, may be taken as a fair summary of the espirit de corps of this class of cavalry.
Less romantically, 18th century hussars were also known (and feared) for their poor treatment of local
civilians. In addition to commandeering local food-stocks for the army, hussars were known to also use the opportunity for personal
looting and pillaging.
Hussars in the early 20th Century
On the eve of World War I there were still hussar regiments in the British (including Canadian), French, Spanish, German, Russian, Dutch, Danish, 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. Hussars were however still notable for their colourful and elaborate parade uniforms, the most spectacular of which were those worn by the two Spanish regiments, Husares de Pavia and Husares de la Princesa. A characteristic of both the Imperial German and Russian Hussars was the variety of colours apparent in their dress uniforms. These included red, black, green, dark and light blue, brown and even pink (the Russian 15th Hussars) dolmans. Most Russian hussar regiments wore red breeches as did all the Austro-Hungarian hussars of 1914. This rainbow effect harkened back to the 18th century origins of hussar regiments in these armies.
Hussar influences were apparent even in those armies which did not formally include hussar regiments. Thus both the Belgium Guides (prior to World War I) and the Mounted Escort of the Irish Defence Forces (during the 1930s) wore hussar style uniforms.
After
horse cavalry became obsolete, hussar units were generally converted to
armoured units, though retaining their traditional titles. Hussar regiments still exist today, in the
British Army (although amalgamations have reduced their number to two only), the
French Army, the Swedish Army, the Dutch Army and the
Canadian Forces), usually as
tank forces or light
mechanized infantry. The Danish Guard Hussars provide a ceremonial mounted squadron, which is the last to wear the slung pelisse.
Armament and tactics
Hussar armament varied over time. Until the 1570s in both Poland and Hungary it included a cavalry
sabre,
lance, long wooden
shield and, optionally, light metal
armour. From the 1570s Polish hussars abandoned the use of shields and became more heavily-armoured. Apart from the
sabre and the
lance, they were usually also equipped with one or two pistols and a
koncerz - a long (up to 2 metres)
sword used in the charge when the lance was broken.
 |
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth hussars charge. |
Unlike their lighter counterparts, the Polish hussars were used as a heavy cavalry for line-breaking charges against enemy
infantry or
cavalry. Their usual form of attack was to make a rapid charge in compact formation. If the first attack failed, they would retire to their supporting troops who re-equipped them with fresh lances, and then would charge again. The concentration of lances would eventually break the enemy line, creating gaps that follow-on units could exploit. As panic spread and the enemy fled, they could be cut down with sabres.
Hussars of the Polish Commonwealth were also famous for the huge 'wings' worn on their backs or attached to the saddles of their horses. There are several theories to explain the meaning of the wings. According to some they were designed to foil attacks by
Tatar lassos; another theory has it that the sound of vibrating feathers attached to the wings frightened enemy horses during the charge. However, experiments carried out since the 1970s do not support any of the theories. The most probable explanation is: hussars wings, along with wild predators' fur worn on backs and with lance were for a psychological reason - they were part of
husarias legend, making them mythological creatures; making every enemy sure that these are those dreadful, invincible hussars. King Stefan Batory wrote: "(...) feathers and other embellishment for magnificence and enemies' dread."
Canada
All Canadian hussar units are in the reserve force and are roled as armoured reconnaissance.
*
8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's)*
Sherbrooke Hussars*
The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)*
1st Hussars Denmark
*
Gardehusarregimentet (
English: Guard Hussar Regiment). Founded in
1614, this is the oldest regiment of hussars in the world. It is a mixed armour/infantry unit with seven battalions. In addition to its operational role, the Guard Hussar Regiment is one of two regiments in the Danish Army (along with the
Den Kongelige Livgarde) to be classed as 'Guards'; in this case, the Guard Hussars perform the same role as the
Household Cavalry do in the British Army.
France
*
1er Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes (1er RHP) (1st Hussar Parachute Regiment). Founded in
1720, currently stationed in
Tarbes. Formerly the "Hussards de Bercheny", after the founder, Count Bercheny.
*
2ème régiment de Hussards (2e RH) (2nd Hussar Regiment). Founded in
1735, currently stationed in Sourdun,
Provins arrondissement. Traditionnaly called "Chamborant".
*
3ème régiment de Hussards (3e RH) (3rd Hussar Regiment). Founded in
1764, currently stationed in Immendingen,
Tuttlingen district, Germany. Part of the Franco-German Brigade. Formerly the "Hussards d'Esterhazy".
*
4ème régiment de Hussards (4e RH) (4th Hussar Regiment). Founded in
1791, currently stationed in
Metz.
Netherlands
The
Dutch word for hussar is
huzaar.
*
Regiment Huzaren Prins van Oranje*
Regiment Huzaren Van Boreel (armoured reconnaissance)
*
Regiment Huzaren Prins Alexander*
Regiment Huzaren Van SytzamaExcept for the Huzaren Van Boreel, every regiment operates in the armoured role in one of the three mechanized brigades of the
Dutch army, using the
Leopard 2 main battle tank. Each of these brigades also has a squadron from the Huzaren Van Boreel attached for reconnaissance.
Peru
* Regiment of Hussars of Junin. The regiment was created in 1821 by General Jose de San Martin to protect the then recently independent country of Peru. Today, it guards the entrance of the Peruvian Government House wearing the traditional uniform that dates from 1821.
Poland
Because the Polish word
pancerny initially was used to denote both as a standard adjective meaning "armoured" and a Polish heavy hussar, currently most Polish armoured units are named "Armoured Cavalry" and refer to the hussar tradition of
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Similarly, Polish aero mobile forces refer to traditions of 19th century light cavalry.
*
11 Dywizja Kawalerii Pancernej of
Jan III Sobieski* 6 Brygada Kawalerii Pancernej
* 9 Brygada Kawalerii Pancernej
* 10 Brygada Kawalerii Pancernej
* 15 Brygada Kawalerii Pancernej
* 34 Brygada Kawalerii Pancernej
Romania
*
Regimentul 1 Roşiori "General de armată Alexandru Averescu". Formed 1871.
*
Regimentul 4 Roşiori "Regina Maria". Formed 1893.
In Romania the hussar regiments were known as "Călăraşi" (Moldavia) and "Roşiori" (Wallachia). The three (later expanded to ten) Roşiori regiments were the regular units while the Călăraşi were territorial reserve cavalry who supplied their own horses. These troops played an important role in the Romanian Independence War of 1877 on the Russo-Turkish front. The Roşiori, as their name implies in Romanian, wore red tunics with black braiding while the Călăraşi wore dark blue dolmans with red loopings. Both wore fur busbies and white plumes. The Roşiori 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).
After World War I the differences between the two branches of Romanian cavalry disappeared, although the titles of Roşiori and Călăraşi remained. Both types of cavalry served through World War II on the Russian front as mounted and mechanised units.
The city of Roşiori bears its name due to a hussar unit stationed there in the 17th century by Prince Brâncoveanu.
United Kingdom
Regular units:
*
The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own and Royal Irish)*
The King's Royal HussarsTerritorial Army units:
*
Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (C Squadron, Royal Wessex Yeomanry)
*
Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars (60 Signal Squadron, 36 Signal Regiment)
Presently, both regular regiments operate in the armoured role, primarily operating the
Challenger 2 main battle tank. The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (RGH) is a
Territorial Army unit based in
Cirencester and forms C (RGH) Sqadron,
Royal Wessex Yeomanry as an Armoured Replacement Squadron. The Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars (60 (RBH) Signal Squadron) is a Territorial Army unit based in
Aylesbury with troops in Aylesbury,
Bedford, and
Cambridge.
The hussar regiments have always been grouped together with the
dragoon and
lancer regiments in the order of precedence, all of which are below the dragoon guards. The King's Royal Hussars still retains the crimson trousers of the old 11th Hussars in most orders of uniform.
The Light Dragoons was formed by the amalgamation of two hussar regiments, the
13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) and the
15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars, in
1992.
On Hungarian hussars* Barczy Zoltán & Somogyi Győző,
Magyar huszárok, Budapest: Móra, 1987.
On Polish winged hussars* Richard Brzezinski,
Polish Winged Hussar 1576-1775 (Warrior Series #94), Oxford: Osprey, 2006.
* Zbigniew Bocheński, 'Ze studiów nad polską zbroją husarską' in:
Rozprawy i sprawozdania Muzeum Narodowego w Krakowie, 6, Kraków, 1960
* J. Cichowski & A. Szulczyński,
Husaria, Warsaw, 1977, re-packaged edition Warsaw: Bellona, 2004
* Bronisław Gembarzewski,
Husarze. Ubiór, oporządzenie i uzbrojenie 1500"1775 * Leszek Podhorodecki,
Sławne bitwy Polaków* Radosław Sikora,
Fenomen husarii, Toruń: Adam Marszałek, 2004.
* Radosław Sikora,
Wojskowość polska w dobie wojny polsko-szwedzkiej 1626-1629. Kryzys mocarstwa. Poznań 2005.
* Janusz Sikorski,
Zarys dziejów wojskowości polskiej do roku 1864* Jerzy Teodorczyk, 'Bitwa pod Gniewem 22.IX " 29.IX. 1626, pierwsza porażka husarii' in:
Studia i materiały do historii wojskowości, 12/2, Warsaw, 1966
Memoirs that touch on Polish winged hussars* Jakub Łoś,
Pamiętnik towarzysza chorągwi pancernej* Mirosław Nagielski,
Relacje wojenne z pierwszych lat walk polsko-kozackich powstania Bohdana Chmielnickiego*
Jan Chryzostom Pasek,
Memoirs of the Polish Baroque transl. Catherine S. Leach (Univ. of California Press, 1976)
*
cravate*
Pocztowy*
Reiter*
Towarzysz husarski*
Towarzysz pancerny*
Uhlan*
Hungarian military history site. English section coming*
Hussars Photographs*
About Polish Hussars on Polish Renaissance Warfare site*
How the Polish Hussars Fought*
Polish Winged Hussars*
Two Hussars by Leo Tolstoy (1856)*
The Society of the Military Horse
