Russian hussars

Russian hussars
Drawings from the article "Hussars". Military Encyclopedia of Sytin
Active1723–1917
AllegianceRussian Empire
TypeLight cavalry
RoleReconnaissance, skirmish
Colorsvaried by regiment
EquipmentSword, a pair of pistols

Hussars were first recorded in Russia as groups of irregulars in the mid-17th century. Under Peter I, this class of light cavalry began to serve as organized regiments on a semi-permanent basis in 1723 based on Serbian Hussars out of the Habsburg monarchy. Hussar regiments remained a conscious element of the Imperial Russian Army until the Revolution of 1917 when they were finally disbanded.

The hussar regiment was a formation (military unit, regiment) of the light cavalry of the Army of the Russian Kingdom and the Russian Imperial Army of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom and the Empire.

The regiments of this type of weapon were intended for reconnaissance, raiding, sentry and liaison services. In the campaign, the subunits of the hussar regiment invariably were part of the vanguard and rearguard, hiding the movement of the main troops of the active formation, conducting reconnaissance of the enemy's actions. And in combat, fighting or battle, they were entrusted with pursuing the retreating (fleeing) enemy, and if their troops failed, to cover the withdrawal of the main troops. Hussar regiments were indispensable for actions on enemy lines of communication in the "parties".