The Winged Hussars: An Eerie and Flamboyant Cavalry That Devasted Their Enemies
The Winged Hussars (known also as the Polish Hussars) were a type of shock cavalry used by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth . The Winged Hussars were formed during the 16 thcentury and were used until the 18 th century when they became obsolete as a result of the advances in military technology . The Winged Hussars participated in many battles and their prowess on the battlefield cemented their reputation as formidable warriors .
Where Did the Winged Hussars Originate?
Although the Winged Hussars were formed in Poland during the 16 th century, their roots are believed to lie abroad at an earlier point of time. One speculation is that the forebears of the Winged Hussars were the light cavalry units from the Balkans that were recruited by the Byzantine Empire during the 10 th century.
In the centuries that followed, the lands of the Byzantine Empire , including the Balkans, were slowly conquered by the Ottomans. According to one story, it was after the Ottoman triumph at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 that the Serbian knights (reportedly known as usars or gusars in Serbian) migrated to Hungary and Poland. Since these states were in conflict with the Turks as well, the remaining Serbian knights saw it as an opportunity for them to exact revenge on the Turks.
The Winged Hussars. (Kawaart / Public Domain )
Who Used the Winged Hussars?
The reality, however, may have been slightly different as the Serbian knights might have served as mercenaries, considering that the state they once served no longer existed. In any case, it was during the early 16 th century that the first instances of Serbian cavalrymen serving in the Polish army are found. At around the same time, the Polish army began to recruit cavalrymen of other nationalities including Hungarians, Lithuanians, and Poles, in order to bolster the number of hussars they could field in battle.
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