The first hussars organized by Russia were raised around 1730. These hussar detachments were assigned to the "Strelitz" companies and were known as a "uhlan or hussar squadron." They were dressed and carried lances like Polish cavalry, but without the famous wings or armor. In the 18th Century the Russian army formed irregular hussar regiments from men recruited from Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, and the Danube principalities of Moldavia and Balakhia. In 1741 the hussars lost their irregular status and joined the regular cavalry of the Russian army. In 1812 Russia had 11 regiments of hussars and a twelfth regiment was added in December of that year. The hussars formed 20% of all the Russian cavalry. Each regiment was formed with ten squadrons, which were organized into two battalions of five squadrons. For campaign duties, the regiment was normally structured with eight active or field squadrons and two depot squadrons. However, in 1812 the depot squadrons were pulled into the field and organized into converged hussar regiments, some of which operated with Wittgenstein's I Corps. The hussar regiments were organized as follows: 1 Colonel 1 Lieutenant Colonel 4 Majors 6 Rotmisters (Captains) 10 Staff Rotmisters (Staff Captains) 20 Porutchiks (1st Lieutenants) 34 Coronets (2nd Lieutenants) 1 Regimental Adjutant 2 Staff Adjutants 1 Quartermaster 1 Paymaster 130 Underofficers (Non-commissioned officers) 1480 Troopers 32 Trumpeters 1 Priest 3 Doctors 2 Assistant Doctors 1 Surgeon 10 Barbers (who also acted as surgeons) 39 Craftsmen 27 Apprentice craftsmen 1432 horses (peacetime) 1582 horses (wartime) A Hussar squadron, organized for field operations, had: 7 Staff officers 13 NCOs 148 Hussars 3 Trumpeters 143 horses The Pavlograd Hussars had a slightly different organization as a result of a special authorization and "honor" bestowed because of their actions at the battle of Sh"ngraben in 1805. They carried two Georgian banners in each squadron and had two more NCOs assigned to each squadron to carry these banners. The manpower for the hussar regiments was drawn from the Ukraine and southern Russia. The recruits were small men, 165-169 cm (5'4" to 5'6") tall. Their horses were also smaller, 142-151 cm (4'7" - 5') tall. In peacetime such a horse would cost 40 rubles, but in time of war they could run as high as 200 rubles apiece. Uniform The familiar hussar uniform, also the national coat of the Magyar and southern Slavic peoples, was established as the "hussar" style of uniform in the 17th Century. It consisted of a dolman, or short cloth jacket embroidered with braid and cords, a pelisse or fur trimmed coat usually worn over one shoulder, and tight Hungarian breeches. Initially the pelisse was the pelt of a wild animal that was thrown over the left shoulder to serve as padding and protect the wearer from a saber strike. Eventually it evolved into a jacket with a fur collar, cuffs and all open edges. Like the dolman, it was embroidered on the collar, sleeves, and lapels. When worn on the shoulder, it was held in place by a special cord or "frog" known as a "mentischket." Both the dolman and pelisse of the Russian hussars were embroidered with 15 horizontal rows of double cords, scrolled in the corners. In addition, three vertical rows of 15 convex metal buttons were sewn onto the lapels, with three buttons on each row of braid. Both the dolman and pelisse had their elbows reinforced with red cloth. The collar and cuffs of the Underofficers or non-commissioned officers (henceforth NCOs) and the staff trumpeters were embroidered with gold or silver lace, to match the buttons. The dolman of the trumpeters had special "shells" on the shoulders formed from yellow or white woolen braid as well as lace on their shoulders and sleeve seams. Initially, the trooper's pelisse was lined with white sheepskin and that of the officers was black. However, as time progressed several regiments adopted the black fur for both troopers and NCOs. The Hungarian style breeches were supported by a red leather belt and embroidered along their outside seam with white or yellow braid. On the front of the thighs they were embroidered with a scroll or Hungarian knots. When on campaign gray cloth riding breeches with 18 buttons down the outer seams were worn over these breeches. The hussars also wore short boots with hard upper sides and iron spurs. The hussars wore a black cloth cravat and a barrel cummerbund of varying colors and two tassels at their waist. In bad weather the hussars wore a gray cloth great coat. It had a stuff collar that stood upright. In winter the hussars wore mittens that were generally home made from the remains of old uniforms. Shako In 1812 the hussars wore the kiwer or 1812 pattern shako covered with waxed leather. It had a black on orange cockade, the colors of St. George. The cockade was held in place using a button of the same color as the regiment's buttons. In 1814, after the end of the wars, the cockade added a white band, silver for the officers. At the peak of the front of the shako was a wooden burdock, covered with white or yellow cloth. The shako cords were made of wicker and the shako was surmounted with a white horse hair plume. The chinscales were formed with 14 brass scales. The shako of the NCOs and staff trumpeters had a black and orange top to their plumes and a black-orange-white tassel on the cords and burdock, which were divided into four parts: top and bottom - black and orange; left and right - white. The trumpeters also had red plumes. When off duty the hussars wore cloth, peakless fatigue or garrison caps. The crown was of the color of the dolman and the cap band was the same color as the collar and facings. In addition, when off duty, the hussars wore a double breasted, high necked Dutch brown tunic covered with buttons. The officers uniforms had gold or silver lace and cords, matching the color of the regimental buttons. Their collars and cuffs were embroidered with gold or silver lace. The cords on their lapels were embroidered with a fringe. The NCOs had a 2.2 cm (about 1") fringe, while the staff officers wore a broader fringe (4.5 cm or 1.77") that had spangles. The uniform of the staff officers also had more embroidery on the cuffs and thighs of their breeches. All of this embroidery and precious metal made a hussar officer's or NCO's uniform quite expensive. As a concession, the NCOs were allowed to substitute orange or white silk for the gold or silver. Off Duty When off duty the officers wore a dark green "walking about" uniform with red tails and epaulets. The collar and cuffs were in the hussar style and of the color of the dolman. They wore green breeches and a cavalry bicorn with a plume made of white cock's feathers. The base of the plume was painted black and orange. The officers also had a dark green woolen jacket with cuffs and collar of the dolman color. They also wore a fatigue cap with a peak, regular hussar breeches of thin wool and buttons of the color of the uniform. Their overcoat was of gray wool and had a short collar and short hooded cape. In 1812 the main weapon of the Russian hussars was the 1809 model light cavalry saber. This saber had an iron hilt with three hops and a steel scabbard. However, the scabbard could be made of wood, covered with leather, and have iron settings. The saber cost 5 rubles. The hilt of an officer's sword was gilded. The hussars had a sword knot made of red leather, while that of the officers was black and orange silk braided cord with a silver tassel. The saber was held to the hussar's sword belt with five straps. Two held the scabbard and three held the sabretache. The sabretache was of red leather and on the outside was covered with woolen cloth that was decorated with the facing colors and crowned imperial cipher of Alexander I. The officer's belt and sabretache were made of red Moroccan leather embroidered with gold or silver lace. That of the NCOs had a two headed eagle embroidered with gold or silver thread. Weapons In addition to the sabers, in 1812 the first rank of hussars was equipped with lances, giving each squadron 64 lances. They had black shafts and no pennants, though there is some indication that some unofficial pennants were carried in some regiments. When the weather was warm, the hussars that carried lances abandoned their pelisse's because they inhibited the use of the lance. The Hussars also carried a carbine, musketoon, and two pistols. The pistols and carbines were of the 1809 pattern (17.78mm bore). The pistol weighed 1.5 kg (about 3 lbs) and the carbine weighed 3 kg (about 6.6 lbs) The carbine and musketoon were carried on the bandoleer and hooked in place with a copper ornament and iron hook. The two pistols were in saddle holsters. The cartridge box or "liadunka" was of red leather and carried on the same bandoleer. The officer's cartridge box was of varnished black leather and had a silver lid decorated with a silver or gold eagle. It was held by a red Moroccan leather strap embroidered with gold or silver lace and a silver ornament. The officers and NCOs wore their bandoleer on the left shoulder, while the troopers wore it on the right. The trumpeters carried only a saber and two pistols. However, at the end of July 1812, because of a desperate shortage of weapons, the hussars gave up their carbines and musketoons to the 1st and 2nd Armies of the West. Only 10 carbines were retained by the squadrons at that time. In November 1812 the carbines were totally abolished and only 16 musketoons were retained in each squadron. The schabraque or horse cloth was of wool and was of the regimental color. The edge was trimmed with an embroidered cord of the color of the regimental buttons. For the officers this was either of gold or silver. During the 1812 campaign the hussars fought with every army Russia fielded against Napoleon. However, in December 1812 they drawn together and formed into three Hussar Divisions, each with four hussar regiments. These hussar divisions continued until well after the Napoleonic wars. Color Uniform Plates: Large (very slow: 196K) Color Uniform Plates: Jumbo (extremely slow: 597K) REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND COMMANDERS Akhtyrsk Hussar Regiment Formed 27 June 1651 as the Akhtyrsk Cherkassi Regiment. On 3 May 1765 became the Akhtyrsk Hussar Regiment Commander - Colonel Dimitry Vasilevich Vasilchikov II (1778-1859) promoted to Major General 12/26/12) Isum Hussar Regiment Formed 27 June 1651 as the Isum Cherkassi Cossack Regiment. On 3 May 1765 became the Isum Hussar Regiment Commander - Lt.-Colonel Iosiph Fracevich Dolon promoted to Colonel 18 November 1812. Soum Hussar Regiment Formed 27 June 1651 as the Soum Cherkassi Cossack Regiment. On 3 May 1765 became the Soum Hussar Regiment Commander - Colonel Nikolav Alexandrovich Kanchielov (1769-?) After 15 July 1812 - Colonel David Artemievich Delianov (1761-?) After 31 October 1812 - Colonel Alexander Nikitch Seslavin (1780-1858) Elizabethgrad Hussar Regiment Formed 22 March 1764 as the Elizabethgrad Uhlan Regiment On 31 March 1801 became the Elizabethgrad Hussar Regiment Commander - Colonel Gerasim Alekseevich Shostakov (1756-1837) Olviopol Hussar Regiment Formed 28 June 1783 from the Serbia and Bulgaria Hussar Regiments as the Ferzen Hussar Regiment On 31 March 1801 became the Olviopol Hussar Regiment Commander - Colonel Daniil Vasilievich Shuhanov (1745-1814) Mariupol Hussar Regiment Formed 28 June 1783 as the Mariupol Light Horse Regiment On 31 March 1801 became the Mariupol Hussar Regiment Commander - Colonel Ivan Mihailovich Vadbolsky (1781-1861) Alexandria Hussar Regiment Formed 28 June 1783 from the Dalmatia and Macedonia Hussar Regiments as the Alexandria Light Horse Regiment. On 31 March 1801 became the Alexandria Hussar Regiment Commander - Colonel Andrev Alexandrovich Efimovich (1773-1823) Pavlograd Hussar Regiment Formed 28 June 1873 from the Dniepr and Ekaterinoslavl Uhlan Regiment as the Pavlograd Light Horse Regiment. On 31 March 1801 became the Pavlograd Hussar Regiment Commander - Spiridon Ernestovich Zevahov (dates unknown) Belorussia (White Russia) Hussar Regiment Formed 15 May 1803 from four squadrons drawn from the Alexandria, Elizabethgrad, Olviopol and Pavlograd Hussar Regiments On 16 May 1803 became the Belorussia Hussar Regiment Commander - Colonel Ivan Kuzmich Davidov (dates unknown) Grodno Hussar Regiment Formed 12 June 1806 from five squadrons drawn from the Alexandria, Isum, Soum, and Olvipol Hussar Regiments. On 13 June 1806 became the Grodno Hussar Regiment Commander - Colonel Fedor Vasilievich Rediger (1783-1856) Major General as of 19 October 1812. Loubna Hussar Regiment Formed 14 March 1807 as the Loubna Hussar Regiment using free Russian and foreign citizens. Commander - Major General Alexey Petrovich Melissino (1759-1813) Source: Valkovich, A.M., "The Russian Military Uniform, Hussars of the 1812 Period", 1992, Moscow, "Prometey", Part 1. Translated from the Russian text by Emmanouil Vovsi with the kind permission of the Russian author. Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 2 No. 14 Back to EEL List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1995 by Emperor's Headquarters This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com