Hussar Polish Hussar Hussar (original Hungarian spelling: huszár or plural huszárok) refers to a number of types of cavalry used throughout Europe since the 15th century. The first hussars were raised by King Matthias I Corvinus of Hungary in 1485 during his war against the Turks. The hussars fought successfully against the Turkish Spahis. The word hussar (pronounced huh-ZAR, huh-SAR, or hoo-ZAR; SAMPA: [hU"zAr]) derives from huszár ("highwayman"), a type of flamboyant 15th century Hungarian cavalryman. Afterward various other countries copied the model and formed light cavalry units of their own. Austrians hired Hungarian hussars to fight against Turkey. Frederick the Great used hussars extensively during the War of the Austrian Succession. Very famous for the hussars use was the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Hussars were an important elite part of its army from the 16th century to its fall in the 17th. Under hetman Jan Karol Chodkiewicz they fought against the army of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and achieved a famous victory in the battle of Kircholm in 1605. Hussar armament included a cavalry saber, lance, and light metal armor. Their common attack was a compact lance charge against infantry units. They were also used for reconnaissance and raiding sources of fodder and provisions in advance of the army. In battle, hussars were used in such light cavalry roles as harassing enemy skirmishers, overrunning cannon positions, and pursuing fleeing troops. They became elite cavalry troops with colorful uniforms. The hussars of later times were similarly colorful. They were known for their colorful uniforms, usually comprised of 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, womanizing, mustachioed 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. Britain hired German hussars among their Hessian mercenaries and sent them to America to fight in the American War of Independence. After horse cavalry became obsolete, hussar units generally converted to either ceremonial units or armored units. Hussar units still exist today, especially in the British Army, among others (such as the Belgian Army and Canadian Forces), usually as tank forces or light mechanized infantry. The ceremonial units are just that: they ceremonially march in parades in traditional uniforms. Current hussar units Canada (Canadian Forces) All Canadian hussar units are in the reserve force and are roled as armored reconaissance. 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) Sherbrooke Hussars 1st Hussars The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) United Kingdom (British Army) The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own and Royal Irish) The King's Royal Hussars External links Hussars Photographs About Polish Hussars on Polish Renaissance Warfare site How the Polish Hussars Fought Polish Winged Hussars FAVORITE ARTICLES: History of the World    History of the United States    History of Europe    Ancient History    History    Military History    World War I    Bombing of Dresden    California    US Constitution    Frank Sinatra    Boston    Marbury v. Madison This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html You may copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license. You must provide a link to http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html To view or edit this article at Wikipedia go to http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussar