Why were there "hussars" all across Europe?

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Accepted answer

As legend says, after they lost Battle of Kosovo (1389) Serb units, most notably their light cavalry, have spread to Hungary and then further over Europe.

In Medieval Hungary, these became known as hussars since about 1432 (Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology, p. 306); they were greatly developed by Matthias Corvinus (1443-1490). At the time hussars differed from the heavy cavalry by lack of any armor; their only protection was an asymmetric shield (ibid).

Depiction by Tadeusz Korzon (1932)

Depiction by Tadeusz Korzon (1932).

To avoid a misunderstanding. Specifically in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth the hussars were further developed into heavy "winged" cavalry (1500-1770), and small numbers of similar heavy cavalry were employed in Russia. But the usage of term "hussars" as heavy cavalry is limited only to these countries. In Polish language even the word used for the heavy-cavalry-hussars ("husaria", "husarze") is different than the light-cavalry-hussar ("huzarzy").

For the rest of the Europe, the hussars were the light cavalry. Some Hungarian units became mercenary with other European armies since 1526, when Hungary began to be overridden by Ottomans. Other European hussar units simply mimicked the Hungarian ones. They retained their Balkan-styled uniforms (dolman jacket, tall fur cap), but with time dropped the shield and the long wooden lance in favor of firearms.

Differences from other flavors of light cavalry:

  • lancers - just a general name for any troops using lances
  • dragoons - French origin, historically fought more on foot
  • uhlans - Tatar/Mongol origin, tactically similar
  • cossacks - Cossack (Ukrainian) origin, tactically similar

Also, the English Wikipedia article that you use is of very very poor quality, so in this specific case I wouldn't use it as source.

UPDATE So why the hussars became so popular in respect to the other light cavalry units of each of the nations? I found no direct sources, but many indirect ones, to point to their sexual attractiveness to women caused by Balkan-style flamboyant dress, mustaches, hairdos (Swords Around A Throne pp. 240-241). This would be a major factor as we entered the times when men needed to be recruited, motivated, and in many cases served voluntarily (Hungarian Hussar, p. 8). There was no military advantage over other contemporary light cavalry units (Swords Around A Throne pp. 240-241).

Upvote:1

Hussars were "all purpose" cavalry. They were better trained and equipped than, say, Cossacks (who were mostly used for raids). As such, hussars could do most cavalry jobs (i.e., attack, and above all, pursue broken infantry), using mainly lances.

Later on, more specialized forms of cavalry were developed. Dragoons could use both carbine and sword, and fight on foot, as well as on horse. As such, they were better trained and equipped than hussars, but it was hard to "mass produce," them so they were deployed in relatively small numbers.

Cuirassers were the best trained and equipped (elite) cavalrymen, and were the scarcest of all. But most armies found masses of (non elite) hussars more useful than a handful of elite cuirassers or dragoons.

Upvote:3

Hussars in the Napoleonic era were a reconisence and harassment force. As a general rule, they were not used as the hammer in engagements. Though they and uhlans, a polish form of lancers are light cavalry, the lancers were used as shock troops as seen in the Battle of Somosierra rather than as harassment forces. The use of a dragoon changed through the armies of the Napoleonic era. In the early 1800's Dragoons were constantly being switched from the role of mounted infantry to moderate cavalry. British dragoons were essentially heavy cavalry, differing from hussars because of that. French dragoons (correct me if I'm wrong) were used as mounted infantry and not as cavalry. The hussars were very different from dragoon due to their different roles. Medieval Hussars were heavy cavalry, later varients were light. There really were not that many similarities between the two ages of hussars.

All armies have found the need for scouting. All armies have found that light, fast moving troops tended to be good at it. Out of the need for scouts, and out of the requirements needed for effective ones, all armies created a form of light cavalry all similar to each other. These troops, because so similar, have become known as hussars.

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