Considered one of the most effective elite cavalry units in history, Poland’s mounted warriors were renowned for their distinctive armour, fierce tactics and unwavering bravery
Formed in 1503, Poland’s hussars were made up of the nobility of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. One of their most distinctive features were wings that were attached to various parts of the riders’ armour or saddle. Their task during battle was to crash into the enemy and break up its ranks, which enabled other lighter formations of cavalry to then enter the fray. The hussars’ specific armaments, tactics and training enabled the Commonwealth to win a number of victories in battles with Russia, Sweden and the Ottomans.
Though a strong symbol of Polish martial prowess, the original hussars were in fact medieval Serbs, who, after their defeat at Kosovo Pole in 1389, fled to Poland in order to continue the fight against the Turks. The original Serb and Hungarian ‘Usars’ were light cavalry, and their main weapon was the lance. They did not use any protective armour and carried only wooden oval shields. After the reforms of King Stefan Batory, the hussars began to transform into slightly heavier cavalry: they began to use half-armour with reinforced ‘bones’ in the centre of the breastplate, and a larger burgonet or morion helmet with a neck-guard of several plates secured by sliding rivets, and an adjustable leaf-shaped visor.
Arms and armour
The armour usually only weighed around 33lb (15kg), which gave the hussar plenty of manoeuvrability. The oblong shield was replaced by a round Turkish kalkan, which fell out of use in the 17th century. Towards the end of the 1600s, karacena armour appeared in hussar and other armoured formations in Poland. Karacena was a Polish design, based on Sarmatian or Scythian armour, and consisted of iron scales riveted on leather.
It was heavier and more expensive than plate armour, yet at the same time provided less protection, so it was used mainly by commanders and as parade armour. In addition, the hussars usually wore an exotic leopard, tiger or lion pelt over their left shoulder, or (as often depicted in surviving paintings) underneath the saddle or wrapped around the hips. Wolf, brown bear and lynx pelts were reserved for leaders and veterans.
A hussar’s main weapon was a particularly long lance that measured between 14.8-20.3ft (4.5-6.2m). It was hollowed out in the middle, making it l
