Polish hussars during entry into Kraków, detail of so-called Stockholm Roll, 1605. During the so-called "transition period" of the mid-16th-century, heavy hussars largely replaced armoured lancers riding armoured horses, in the Polish Obrona Potoczna cavalry forces serving on the southern frontier. Being far more expendable than the heavily armoured lancers of the Renaissance, the Serbo-Hungarian hussars played a fairly minor role in the Polish Crown victories during the early 16th century, exemplified by the victories at Orsha (1514) and Obertyn (1531).
Soon, recruitment also began among the Poles. The first hussar formation was established by the decree of the Sejm (Polish parliament) in 1503, which hired three Hungarian banners. A historical reconstruction of a Winged Hussar, 2013. As the Ottoman raids on the southeastern frontier intensified, the so-called Rascian Reform (1500–1501) during the reign of John I Albert solidified the role of an early hussar in Polish ranks. However, it is possible that they were in service much earlier and their contribution was not well-documented. The oldest reference of hussars in Polish records dates to the year 1500, when the Rascians were employed by Grand Treasurer Andrzej Kościelecki to serve under the banner of the royal household. In the 15th century, the hussars based on those of Matthias Corvinus were adopted by some European armies to provide light, expendable cavalry units. Mercenary lancers of Serb origin, known as the Rascians, were frequently hired to counter Ottoman sipahi and deli cavalry. Hussars originated in mercenary units of exiled Serbian warriors from Hungary. The etymology of the word hussar stems from the Serbian word gusar meaning "wanderer/brawler". History Entrance of winged Polish hussar delegates in La Rochelle, France, in 1573, following the Siege of La Rochelle (1572–1573) and their offering of the Polish throne to the Duke of Anjou. From their last engagement in 1702 (at the Battle of Kliszów) until 1776, the obsolete hussars were demoted and largely assigned to ceremonial roles. Their military prowess peaked at the Siege of Vienna in 1683, when hussar banners participated in the largest cavalry charge in history and successfully repelled the Ottoman attack. The hussar formation proved effective against Swedish, Russian, and Ottoman forces, notably at the Battles of Kircholm (1605), Klushino (1610), and Khotyn (1673). The Polish hussar differs greatly from the light, unarmored hussars that developed concurrently outside Poland. Following the reforms of king Stephen Báthory ( r. 1576–1586), the Polish military officially adopted the unit and transformed it into heavy shock cavalry, with troops recruited from the Polish nobility. The early hussars were light cavalry units of exiled Serbian warriors who came to Poland from Hungary as mercenaries in the early 16th century.
The wings were traditionally assembled from the feathers of raptors, and the angel-like frame was fastened onto the armour or saddle. It was customary to maintain a red-and-white colour scheme, and to be girded with tanned animal hide. The hussar dress was ostentatious and comprised plated body armour ( cuirass, spaulders, bevors, and arm bracers) adorned by gold ornaments, a burgonet or lobster-tailed pot helmet and jackboots as well as versatile weaponry such as lances, long thrusting swords, sabres, pistols, carbines, maces, hatchets, war hammers, and horseman's picks. The hussars ranked as the elite of Polish cavalry until their official disbanding in 1776. Their epithet is derived from large rear wings, which were intended to demoralize the enemy during a charge. The Polish hussars ( / h ə ˈ z ɑːr s/ Polish: husaria ), alternatively known as the winged hussars, were a heavy cavalry formation active in Poland and in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1503 to 1702.
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