![]() ![]() ![]() Simply put, each company of lancers was composed of multiple retinues (which had two to six similarly armed retainers or pacholiks), and these smaller groups were assembled by their individual towarzysze. This naturally raises the question – how did these companies recruit the hussars? Well, most of these rotas comprised many smaller retinues ( poczet) headed by the towarzysze (companion). This essentially made the rota his extended bodyguard unit that could produce revenues via payments from the state along with war booty. Simply put, the wealthy rotmistrz was tasked with forming up his company of hussars on a contract basis that was stamped by the offices of the monarchy as a ‘letter of recruitment’. These rotas were furnished and commanded by the rotmistrz (‘rota-master’), who usually hailed from the upper sections of nobility (or szlachta) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Each rota of Polish hussars generally consisted of anywhere between 100 to 150 horsemen (the figures did touch 300 on rare occasions for the hetmans and incredibly wealthy nobles). Illustration by Angus McBride.Ī company of troops was known as rota in 16th century Poland. The System of Company and Companions Rotmistrz leading a hussar. In essence, these elite lancers were equipped and trained to fight both the cavalry or infantry force of the enemy. In other words, these companies of cavalrymen, who bridged the gap between heavy lancers and mobile horsemen, formed the first of the famed Polish Winged Hussars that we tend to admire and glorify in the realm of military history. This translated to the adoption of breastplate armor and longer lances along with the eschewing of shields. Additionally, they also employed other nationalities like the fellow Poles, Lithuanians, and Hungarians to bolster the hussar numbers (who were known as usar).Īnd while the original Serbian gusars preferred their light armor and asymmetrical Balkan shields (similar to the Albanian stradiots), the Polish usars adopted the heavy Hungarian style of armor and armaments, comprising mail-shirts, helmets, shields, and lances.īy 1576 AD, the Polish hussars underwent a reform that standardized their equipment and armor, in line with Polish king Stephan Batory’s personal royal guard of hussars. The Polish military of the early 16th-century started to ‘regroup’ and furnish actual cavalry companies from the remnants of the Serbian gusars. The Early Hussars of Poland Battle of Klushino (1610 AD) assault of Polish husaria by Szymon Boguszowicz. Consequently, most of these unorganized yet militarily-effective regiments migrated to Hungary (to serve as the huszár or hussar) and Poland. Many of the cavalrymen, known as gusars in Serbian, continued to operate in the region, even after the demise of the Eastern Roman Empire.Īnd while the majority of such gusars were perceived as unruly, brigand-like groups, they nevertheless did serve and protect Rascia, the medieval Serbian state that was ultimately conquered by the ascendant Ottoman Empire. The Roman Empire recruited light cavalry from the Balkans (especially the Serbs), known as the chonsarioi (possibly derived from cursores, the Roman light cavalry). While popular notions tend to pinpoint the origins of hussars in Hungary, according to historian Richard Brzezinski , the history of hussars possibly harks back to the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) times, circa the 10th century. So without further ado, beyond misconceptions and exaggerations, let us take a gander at 15 things you should know about one of the most successful and spectacular cavalry troops of all time – the Polish Winged Hussars.ġ5th-16th century hussar (probably Hungarian officer). However, at the same time, many of their achievements and visual aspects have taken the route of romanticism (and embellishment), especially fueled by the non-contemporary chroniclers of the 19th century. ![]() Known for their decisive impact on numerous military encounters, like the Battle of Lubieszów (1577 AD), Battle of Pitschen (1588 AD), Battle of Kircholm (1605 AD), Battle of Klushino (1610 AD), and the Battle of Vienna (1683 AD) – which possibly entailed the largest cavalry charge in the history of warfare, the Polish Winged Hussars are rightly held in high regard by military historians and aficionados. Showcasing their stylized yet heavily armored ensembles, partly fueled by the late-16th-century reforms of Stephen Bathory (one of the most successful kings in Polish history), the winged hussars serving under their dedicated banners ( chorągiew) were essentially the elite of the (often victorious) armies of the thriving Eastern European commonwealth. The Polish Winged Hussars epitomized the shock cavalry arm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth between the 16th and 18th centuries. ![]()
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