Although each regiment's uniform was distinctive, the general pattern of dress was the same for all and was based on traditional Hungarian costume. The fur busby was worn by the 1st-3rd Regts., and a black felt mirliton for the remainder. Officers sometimes wore a tricorn hat. Trumpeters wore the mirliton regardless of the headgear of the rest of the regiment. Hussars' hair was gathered into a queue but was kept much shorter than that ofthe dragoons or curassiers. The rank and file had unpowdered hair and were permitted to wear it in twists hanging from the temples, and all with the exception of some musicians, wore moustaches. Officers had powdered hair in ringlets on the side of the head. Regt Dolman Pelise Fur Trim Lace 1 Lt. Green Dk. Green White White 2 Red Dk. Blue Brown White 3 White Dk. Blue White Yellow 4 Lt. Blue White White Diced Blue and White 5 Black Black Black White 6 Lt. Brown Lt. Brown Brown Yellow 7 Yellow Lt. Blue Black White Diced Blue 8 Red Red Black White The numbers against the lace colours on the above chart refer to the number of laces on the breast. Officers lace following the colour of the men was of white or yellow metal. The exception to this was the 2nd. Regiment whose officers wore a gilt lace, whilst that of the men was white. Regt Barrel Sash Collar,Cuffs Breeches Hose 1 Red and White Lt. Green Buff Lt. Green topped White 2 Dk. Blue and White Blue Buff Blue topped White 3 White and Yellow Yellow White Blue topped white 4 Lt. Blue and White Lt. Blue Buff Lt. Blue topped diced Blue and White 5 Red and White Black Buff Black topped White 6 Yellow and White Yellow Buff Lt. Brown topped white 7 Lt. Blue Lt. Blue and white White Lt. Blue topped white 8 Red and White Red Buff Red topped White diced blue The breeches were partially covered by hose, usually of a different colour, this hose or scharawaden to give it it's correct name was intended as a sort of overall and was worn by all ranks, it extended to the upper thigh and was edged with lace or the regimental colour. Until the 1760's, a heart shaped patch of the dolman colour was sewn just above the knee and edged in regimental braid. It is likeley that the scharawaden were not worn in the summer. The barrel sash was worn over the dolman but under the pclisse, when that garment was worn as a jacket. Officers sashes were silver and black. Regt Cap Bag/Cords Cartouche Sabretache 1 Brown Busby Dk. Green/White Red Lt. Green trimmed White 2 Brown Busby Red/White Brown Red trimmed White 3 Brown Busby White/Red Blue Yellow trimmed White 4 Black Mirliton ?/White Brown White trimmed Blue 5 Black Mirliton Yellow Cords and white skull Black Black 6 Black Mirliton blue cords Red Lt. Brown trimmed Yellow 7 Black Mirliton white cords Brown Lt. Blue trimmed white 8 Black Mirliton white cords Brown Red trimmed White diced blue The carbine belt was of white leather and worn over the left shoulder, whilst the cartouche belt was of brown leather and worn over the right shoulder. The cartouche belt of officers was more elaborate, being gilt for the 6th Regiment, white trimmed silver with a red edge for the 1st Regiment; red edged gilt for the 2nd and red edged silver for the 3rd. The sabretache generally bore a crowned 'FR' and wide lace edging in the button colour, however officers sabrelaches were more ornate, usually featuring a white shield bearing a black eagle, with a crown above and trophy ofarms below, in elaborate metallic embroidery. All ranks carried two pistols in holsters beneath the front orthe shabraque. The shabraque had pointed rear corners and no bolster caps, in regimental colooring with vandyked edging, in metallic lace for officers. Regt Shabraque Horse Colors 1 Dk. Green with Lt. Green vandyked border, piped Red Sorrels with white manes and tails 2 Dk. Blue with Red vandyked border, piped White White 3 Dk. Blue with White vandyked border, piped Yellow Sorrels 4 White with Lt. Blue vandyked border, piped Red Piebalds 5 Black with Red vandyked border, piped White Whites, Piebalds, and Isabellas 6 Lt. Brown with Yellow vandyked border, piped Yellow Brown and Piebalds 7 Lt. Blue with Yellow vandyked border, piped White Black 8 Red with Red vandyked border, piped White Brown and Isabella The valise was as shabraque colour with circular ends trimmed in regimental braid. On top of the valise was a folded cloak which was white except for the 1st, 5th, and 6th. regiments whose cloaks were as the dolman colour. Glossary of Terms: Dolman. A tight fitting waist length hussar jacket. Pelisse. A fur edged jacket, usually worn slung over one shoulder. Mirliton. A tall, tapering felt hat with a flying wing of cloth. Sabretache. A satchel carried on slings from the left side ofthe belt. The unornamented reverse side was used as a portable writing desk. Shabroque. An ornamented cloth worn under the saddle. Vandyking. A zig-zag embroidered pattern applied to the edge of the shabraque. Cartouche. Catiridge box usually worn an the left side. The shabraque, illustrated right, is that of a trooper; officers shabraques followed the same pattern except that the piping was silver. In addition a black eagle on a white ground surrounded by a silver wreath appeared on the rear corner and the royal cypher within a wreath, all in silver was worn on the front corner. The trumpeters of the 7th Regiment had reverse colours on their shabraques, i.e. yellow with light blue vandyking. (From left to right): Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 These cuff types were worn as follows: Regimnals Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 6 and 8 were type 2; Regiment No. 1 wore type 1 and Regiment No. 7 wore type 3. Piping was in the lace colour. Detail of the Sabratache worn by all ranks. The trim for officers would have been in metal braid of the appropriate colour. Back to MWAN #92 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1998 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. 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