Polish Winged Hussars? - History Forum ~ All Empires

agreed, steppe cavalry did turn out to be more superior during 18th century and later on, which is why Poland developed its own light cavalry one who could check the Kozaks and other steppe cavalry; Uhlans, and Szwolozery.

I think Hussars was good, but they would be vulnerable against some cavalry like Catphracti or the modern regiment of Dragoons. What do you think?

The spanish are coming!

Well, probably they could beat both as:

Hussars were pretty heavily armoured, but their lances were still about 6 meters long. They had carabines and a pair of pistols, atheir horses were very good. Dragoons wouldn't stand a charge. Cataphractii would need to attack from charge, which would be pointless against Hussars who had longer lances.

DayI-

I think what you presented is totally different from Polish Winged Hussars and it probably has nothing to do with them. It's interesting, though!

No, they were called thae Winged Hussars because their back armour was in the shape of angelic wings.

Well, they are... but their main objective was to protect the back of you, and it frightened the enemy as well.

Still, they didn't go off as you explained before the Turks' ones did.

And some of their manouvers were really similiar to the ones the tartars used, and that made the western european armies unknown to their tactics when they used such...

Hussars carried muskets. They were obligatory. Altough not on horse but it was carried by servant. Hussar was using musket only when was fighting on foots, not on horse. Example: during battle of Chocim (or Khotyn in 1621), after long siege when hussars have eaten their horses, they fought as infantry only with muskets. In the squadron (banner) of hussars were not only hussars but also their servants who were carrying equipment, cooking, etc. As Polish-Lithuanian army often lacked on infantry, hussars were supposed to act as infantry during defence of camp or when besieging enemy camp or fortress or city. One hussar wasnt equal to other. They were divided on comrades (towarzysz) and squires (pocztowy). Every commrade had 2-3 squires who were armed and equipped on his cost and were recuruited from poorer gentry. They all had servants who were carrying their equipment. Its simple, they had too much arms and armours, more than one man and horse could carry.

17th century hussar carbin (pol. bandolet). Maybe not a musket but 115 cm long, caliber 15 mm.

Edited by Mosquito

As you said its more than hussar carried personally. But hussar had his servants with him. Servants were not counted as soldiers but somtimes they were fighting too.

Edited by Mosquito