Hussar: Encyclopedia II - Hussar - History

Hussar - History

Hussar - Light hussars

The word hussar (pronounced huh-ZAR, huh-SAR, or hoo-ZAR; IPA: [hʊ'zɑr]) probably derives from Serbian gusar ("highwayman", or brigand), a type of flamboyant 15th century cavalryman. It is probable that the first light cavalry units of that name were formed by Serbian gentry who sought refuge in Hungary after their defeat in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. Initially fighting in various smaller units, they 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 king's death in 1490 many hussars searched their fortune 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. Also Frederick the Great used hussar units extensively during the War of the Austrian Succession. Great Britain also hired German hussars among their Hessian mercenaries and sent them to America to fight in the American War of Independence. France estabilished Hussar regiments from Hungarian refugees, which were manned by Hungarians. Other powers, like Russia, used only Hungarian officers in their Hussar regiments.

Why were Hungarians so competent at light cavalry tactics? 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, Andrew Hadik, marched secretly and swiftly through the Prussian territory, sacked Berlin and returned without losses! This sneak attack showed how daring and skilled Hungarian Hussars were in such swift operations. Both type of Hussars' tactics were based on the same principle: one quick, deadly strike.

The Polish-Lithuanian Winged Hussars were 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 Mieciem (With Iron And Fire), Potop (The Deluge) and Pan Wolodyjowski.

Hussar - Heavy hussars

Initially the first hussar units in the Polish-Lithuanian Union were formed by the Polish parliament in 1503, which hired three banners of Hungarian mercenaries. 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. When Stefan Báthory, a Transylvanian-Hungarian prince, became king of Poland in 1576 he began to reorganize the Polish hussars of his Royal guard along Hungarian lines, making them 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' Hungarian model. These Polish 'heavy' hussars were known in their homeland as husaria.

With the battle of 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, and rarely lost a battle. In the battles of Byczyna (1588), Kokenhusen (1601), Kircholm (1605), Kłuszyn (1610), Gniew (1626), Chocim (1673) and Lwów (1675), the Polish hussars proved to be the decisive factor often against overwhelming odds.

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. Until 18th century they were considered the elite of Polish armed forces. Because of the fame and prestige that surrounded the hussars, many of them were accepted into nobility. Although by 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.

Hussar - Later development

Hussars outside of Poland 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 cannon positions, and pursuing fleeing troops.

The colourful uniforms of hussars of 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 gold Austrian knots on the sleeves; a matching pelisse (a short-waisted overjacket often worn slung over one shoulder); colored trousers, sometimes with gold Austrian knots at the front; a busby (a high fur hat with a cloth bag hanging from one side); and high riding boots.

Hussars also 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. Less romantically, 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.

On the eve of World War I there were still hussar regiments in the British, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Rumanian and Austro-Hungarian armies. They were notable for their colourful and elaborate parade uniforms, the most spectacular of which were worn by the two Spanish regiments. 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 and the Mounted Escort of the Irish Defence Forces wore hussar uniforms.

After horse cavalry became obsolete, hussar units generally converted to either ceremonial units or armoured units. Hussar units still exist today, especially in the British Army, among others (such as the French 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.

Hussar - 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.

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 this are those dreadful, invincible hussars. King Stefan Batory wrote: "(...) feathers and other embellishment for magnificence and enemies' dread".

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "History", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki