first horse division Poles formed almost at the same time as the Polish state.In the second half of the 10th - early 11th century Poland on the map of the Middle Ages was a small state.Most of it took some Slavic tribes.In the north of the kingdom of Poland bordered with Prussia and knightly orders, in the east - with Kievan Rus, in the south - with the Hungarian kingdom.
Historians know about the so-called "Chain squads" of the First Mieszko and Boleslaw the Brave.Due to its strong cavalry kingdom of Poland is not perceived by the Order of the Sword and the Teuton as the enemy.But the neighbors - Lithuanians - to form their own principality had no heavy cavalry compounds, as was the light cavalry, having armed with javelins and clubs.Therefore, they could not stop the Order's heavy cavalry, allowing orders to seize some territory of Slavs and Prussians.
Polish hussars -
irregular cavalry in the Battle of Grunwald July 15, 1410 between the chivalric orders and the Kingdom of Poland in alliance with the Lithuanian principality huge contribution to victory made Tatar cavalry that its pressure broke through the defense of the Crusaders.
During the Thirty Years War with Sweden 1630-1660's Polish Army took in hiring irregular cavalry of the Lithuanians, Tatars, Serbs, Hungarians and other nationalities.They were great warriors who know how to use any convenient circumstance rather than lovers of war with the enemy in orderly rows.However, Sweden, which did not have this type of troops, seriously afraid to communicate with the cavalry to approach the Allies - the Zaporozhye Cossacks.
In the early 16th century, the Polish cavalry was composed of cavalry and light connections heavily armed irregular units, which included the Tatars, Cossacks, Serbs, Lithuanians, Moldovans and other peoples.These military units are proven in many battles and battles.Creation of the Polish cavalry irregular parts on a regular basis has become a matter of time.
Rzeczpospolita - a new formation on the map of Europe
When united Poland and Lithuania, there was a so-called Rzeczpospolita, which is to protect the southern and eastern borders were needed new cavalry units lighter than spear consisting of innate riders.The new system of border defense called "dropped Flow", and its first chief appointed Peter Myshkovskogo.So first came the Polish hussars.At the beginning of the formation of the military units they recruited foreigners, such as the Serbs, and later began to take back and Poles.
hussar often divided into pikemen and musketeers, since the early stages of organizing the defense of the borders is not enough heavy cavalry.Therefore, light hussar connections learned how to fight in close and skirmishing.
little later Hussars become common military units throughout the Commonwealth.The Polish army had them in the structure along with knightly cavalry.Each spear or a friend (from Polish means "ally") had come to the army, along with several archers, called paholikami.They could be from 2 to 14 people or more.There were frequent cases when the spear could come himself, without accompanying.Armament paholiku bought comrade, because weapons have been varied.
In the middle of the 16th century because of the mass distribution in Europe of firearms demand for heavy cavalry plummeted.Therefore, the famous Polish king Stefan Batory, the most intelligent and skillful diplomat, military leader, and began to reform the army, including the cavalry.
origin of the Polish elite cavalry units
Famous among the Polish gentry of the hussar is gradually transformed into cuirassier cavalry.These compounds elite began to take wealthy landowners.Each of them would lead with a 4-paholikov.Polish Winged Hussars had to have a good horse.Going to war, they had to own spear, armor and elbow pads, helmet, a short rifle, saber or sword.As a rule, top armor comrades wore the skins of various animals.In old paintings can often be seen as a winged hussar dressed in leopard skin, leopard, bear, wolf and other animals.
Winged Guard
Comrades and paholiki often worn over the armor design of the wings.It could be the wings of turkey, goose or eagle.First produced small wings, which are mounted on board or on pommel behind.It is believed that during the movement published feathers unpleasant unprepared enemy horses sound.Coney enemy is enraged, refused to obey the orders of the riders - and the enemy line broke up into different parts unsupervised.
In the 17th century hussar uniform changed: wings became big and began attached to the back of armor and hang over the head of the rider.Thanks to this, the wings have additional opportunities - protection from the horseman lasso and cushioning the fall.Some researchers believe that the big wings and animal skins, put on the armor of a warrior, had to demoralize the opponent.This conjecture has historical proof.
One of the participants of the Battle of Vienna in 1683 compared the Polish shelves, particularly the winged cavalry, who led the attack on the Turkish army, with the angelic hosts, descended from heaven to punish sinners.Other historians believe that this tradition comes from distant Asia and has spread to the Ottoman Empire.
formation of Polish hussar units
Hussar banner was an elite army of Rzeczpospolita.Managed banners captain, his assistant was lieutenant governor was standing below, and the smallest was the command post of sergeant.
Winged Guard never had much, as contain one such soldier (horse, armor and weapons) are very expensive.For the money you could buy a thousand guns and charge them 6 or ten-pounder guns.Therefore, in each army corps were no more than two regiments or squadrons of winged hussars (not more than 700-800 people).
equipment Polish hussars
Equipment paholikov still going on by friends, they were armed with various weapons.Horse compounds numbered 50-120 cavalrymen.While in European countries gradually refused copies winged hussars continued to use them.The length of the spear was 6-6.5 meters, and it was a very formidable weapon.
In the 17th century firearms were still primitive.After the shot of Pistol or rifle bullet from a distance rarely hits the target, and to reload it took a lot of time.At the same time the winged hussars managed to overcome the distance to the enemy and his multimeter spear bore the enemy does not have time to reload the weapon and does not have the reach or saber sword, which still could not withstand the long spears and impact force of cavalry.
in many historical battles due to this fact of bloody battles have been won, for example, the Battle of Klushino in 1610 against the Swedes or the battle with the Russian under the Miracle in 1660.
addition to copies have been hussars saber, sword length of 1.7 meters to pierce enemy armor and two pistoles, secured in the holster at the bows of the saddle.
Tunic hussar was very nice, it had a gilded image of the breast on the left - the Mother of God, to the right - a Catholic cross.But in addition to beauty, he had to protect his master.Hussar armor can withstand a direct shot from a musket at a distance of twenty paces, and from the back, they were impenetrable for the direct shot of Pistol.
Disadvantages of Polish hussars
However, without the support of infantry units and winged hussar light cavalry turned out to be an easy prey for the light-horseman, who, being able to maneuver left to the punch line hussar and flank or rear beat him.It thus were defeated Polish troops, which included a hussar of the General Gordon, running Sokolnicki and Baron Odta in the battle of Slobodischem with Zaporizhzhya Cossack regiments.
also the official history of one fact is known as the marshal Wallenstein King Sigismund III prayed he did not send the promised 10000-12000 winged hussars, and the same number of Cossacks.
Polish Hussars as a prototype of the Russian Horse Guards
Polish winged cavalry became the prototype that was created first Russian elite hussar cavalry in the first half of the 17th century.Russian hussar detachment of 735 horsemen was created in 1634.It consisted of three cavalry groups running Khovanskii prince, the prince and captain Mescheretskogo Rila.This detachment had served in Tula.
In the history of the case when in 1654 moved to the Russian side about one thousand winged hussars under the command of Keele.
Poland of the 18th century and the Napoleonic army
At the turn of 18-19 centuries, together with the Polish part of the French troops carried out military campaigns against Italy and Germany.These military formation called the Danube and the Italian legions.They became the base for the creation of the famous Vislskogo Legion.In 1809, the Polish army is replenished by two 18th century Hussars created Marshal Poniatowski in Galicia.But in 1812, Poniatowski commanded a hussar has three divisions.Of course, these were not the winged hussars, terrifying the medieval Europe, and light cavalry.
Polish hussars were also in parts of the Napoleonic troops:
- two Hussars as part of the housing Brune;
- one regiment of hussars in the brigade Syubervi;
- in the years 1813-1814 Polish light cavalrymen were in state of 8th Corps Poniatowski and 4th body Kelerman.
Shelves Polish Army valued among the Napoleonic marshals.For example, building Poniatowski, who advanced to the old Smolensk highway, Field Marshal Kutuzov forced the September 5, 1812 to withdraw from Shevardino redoubt.It was the beginning of the battle of Borodino, in which the Poles were able to successfully take the village Utitsa.
Poland and its cavalry in the XX century
After the defeat of Napoleon and the overthrow in 1814 of Poland on the map of Europe is virtually absent.It was divided into parts between Russia and Austria-Hungary and the Kingdom of Prussia.
Poland gained its independence only in 1917, at the same time she again formed a hussar cavalry regiments.Although in 1914 the Polish hussar of the war against the Russian Empire on the side of Austria.Polish Legion then commanded Pilsudski.These hussars were actively involved in the civil war in Russia in Siberia, with the army of Kolchak.Hussar units were seen in battles with the army Tukhachevsky in 1920.
History of Polish winged hussars ended in 1939, after months of bloody battles and cavalry with sabers against tanks was put capital of Poland - Warsaw.
Interesting historical facts about the winged hussars
Polish hussar cavalry in the 16-19 centuries were two interesting names: in the Commonwealth were called elearami and enemies - volatile hussars, who, because of the wings behind really like flying over a fieldbattle.
volatile Hussars also impressed everyone with his views.Reached funny curiosities.Thus, the troops of Ivan the Terrible, have become near Kazan, came into great confusion when they saw foreign Cossacks - Hussars, festooned with feathers and the skins of various animals, from leopard to bear.Most of the soldiers thought they saw in front of the Indians, not the modern cavalry.
As nowadays almost all children want to become astronauts or paratroopers, and at the beginning of the 19th century almost all the Polish youth wanted to be hussars.But it was an elite unit, to take the very best.They had to have tall and athletic physique, a good cavalry and military training, as well as decent financial resources, as the hussars was beautiful and expensive dress (elite after all!), Include a horse, and sometimes a few horses, have allnecessary equipment and weapons, and last but not least factor - fearlessness.For good reason Lannes, Marshal of Napoleon's army, said at the time that the hussars, who was thirty years old and he is not yet dead, - waste, not the hussar.
memory of winged cavalry
winged hussars, but not gone entirely to the past.For the Polish people, these soldiers were noble, courageous and brave defenders of their country and their land.For its time, the cavalry units were indeed "the ultimate weapon" in solving various military conflicts.
noble and luxury cruise Guards regiments went deep into the memory not only the Poles but also all residents of neighboring states.They were and are national heroes of all generations of Polish youth.
Even now, in our time, exists in the Polish army combat unit helicopter called "Winged Hussars."Recently, these helicopters have been deep modernization and re-equipment of the new anti-tank missiles and fire control systems.This Polish helicopter is one of the world's best fighting aircraft.
