1er Hussards is a light cavalry regiment in the game M&B Warband: Napoleonic Wars. We're dedicated to recreating light cavalry action in a historically accurate manner that best replicates the tactics utilized during the Napoleonic Wars. In addition to providing a unique and authentic in-game experience, our core leadership will also be working on delivering research into the period for members to read, and interaction with some of the leading members in the field of Napoleonic research. Much more than a gaming hub to bring people of like-mind together, the 1er Regiment de Hussards wishes to be part of a wider learning experience as well.
Teamspeak:
1er Régiment de Hussards
ts25.gameservers.com:9152
--------------------------------
Recruiting
Individuals who wish to join should go to our website (still in development) at
http://www.1erhussards.enjin.com and sign up. You must be 16 years of age, and be willing to create a character which meets the requirements for historical accuracy. Add
https://steamcommunity.com/id/pete80/ on steam, and/or join our group at:
https://steamcommunity.com/groups/1erHuss. New recruits must make a character that is historically viable. This means you must be groomed according to the standards of the period in which we play. Hussars prided themselves on their moustache, and as such this is a requirement. It is also strongly recommended that you have the dual braids of hair on each side of the head, as this was unique to the French hussar tradition as well. Also a requirement is the creation of a French name. "PwnSwordz" is not acceptable.
--------------------------------
Ranking:
Our ranking system will follow historical advancement lines, with higher ranks be burdened with increased responsibility and command.
Colonel [Colonel]
Major/[Lieutenant Colonel]
Chef d'Escadron [Major]
Capitaine [Captain]
Lieutenant [First Lieutenant]
Sous Lieutenant [Second Lieutenant]
Marechal-des-logis Chef[Seargent Major]
Marechal-des-logis [Seargent]
Brigadier-Fourrier [Corporal First Class]
Brigadier[Corporal]
Cavalier [Private]
Recruit
--------------------------------
History:
The hussars played a prominent role as cavalry in the Napoleonic Wars (1796–1815). As light cavalrymen mounted on fast horses, they would be used to fight skirmish battles and for scouting. Most of the great European powers raised hussar regiments. The armies of France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia had included hussar regiments since the mid-18th century. In the case of Britain four light dragoon regiments were converted to hussars in 1806–1807.
Hussars were notoriously impetuous, and Napoleon was quoted as stating that he would be surprised for a hussar to live beyond the age of 30 due to their tendency to become reckless in battle, exposing their weaknesses in frontal assaults. The hussars of Napoleon created the tradition of sabrage, the opening of a champagne bottle with a sabre. Moustaches were universally worn by Napoleonic period hussars, the British hussars were the only moustachioed troops in the British Army—leading to their being taunted as being "foreigners" at times. French hussars also wore cadenettes, braids of hair hanging either side of the face, until the practice was officially proscribed when shorter hair became universal.
The uniform of the Napoleonic hussars included the pelisse: a short fur edged jacket which was often worn slung over one shoulder in the style of a cape, and was fastened with a cord. This garment was extensively adorned with braiding (often gold or silver for officers) and several rows of multiple buttons. Under it was worn the dolman or tunic which was also decorated in braid.
On active service the hussar normally wore reinforced breeches which had leather on the inside of the leg to prevent them from wearing due to the extensive time spent in the saddle. On the outside of such breeches, running up the outside was a row of buttons, and sometimes a stripe in a different colour. A shako or fur kolpac (busby) was worn as headwear. The colours of dolman, pelisse and breeches varied greatly by regiment, even within the same army.
The French hussar of the Napoleonic period was armed with a brass hilted sabre, a carbine and sometimes with a brace of pistols, although these were often unavailable. The British hussar was armed, in addition to his firearms, with the 1796 pattern light cavalry sabre.
A famous military commander in Bonaparte's army who began his military career as a hussar was Marshal Ney, who after being employed as a clerk in an iron works joined the 5th Hussars in 1787. He rose through the ranks of the hussars in the wars of Belgium and the Rhineland (1794–1798) fighting against the forces of Austria and Prussia before receiving his marshal's baton in 1804 after the Emperor Napoleon's coronation.
The origins of nomadic life of a light cavalryman began centuries ago in many areas of Europe but none more famous than the light cavalrymen or Hussars of Hungary. Even the word Hussar is derived from the Hungarian Huzza meaning twenty. It was customary for the twentieth man of a village to be pressed into service of the sovereign.
Many modern day French military historians credit the establishment of the corps of Hussards in the French army to a Hungarian, Ladislow Count Bercsenyi (Bercheny in the French spelling). Count Bercheny of Transylvania was the son of the famous general who fought with the Hungarian freedom fighter, General Count Rakoczi. The Rakoczi rebellion was instigated by Rakoczi as well as Count Bercheny senior in an attempt to gain independence from the Hapsburgs for Hungary as well as an independent Transylvania.
Born in 1689, Count Bercheny started his military career, as all well bred Hungarian nobles did at that time, in the "Chavallerie Hongroise". The French army in the early 1700's was in dire need of the dashing Hungarian light cavalrymen that were sweeping through Europe. In 1720, Count Bercheny, an exiled Hungarian noble in Turkey, was given permission by Louis XIV to raise a regiment of hussards under his name. As an exiled Hungarian noble in Turkey, the First Hussards, as well as the traditions of all Napoleonic Hussards were born. Count Bercheny was promoted to the rank of general for his heroism in the War of Polish Succession where the Bercheny Hussards, as well as the other famous Hungarian hussar regiments, gained a lasting reputation. During the War of the Austrian Succession, it was the Bercheny Hussards that covered the retreat of the
French Army from Bohemia. His splendid service and use of light cavalry during this campaign earned him the title of Inspector General of the Hussards under Louis XV.
Finally in 1756 and at 67 years of age, Count Bercheny became a Marshal of France. He died in 1778 after firmly establishing the Hussards as an independent arm of the French cavalry. Under the Napoleonic period, the First Hussards participated in numerous engagements, battles and campaigns. Of note are, Castiglione, Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena as the Emperor's
Horse Guard and with the Franchisi Division in Spain and Portugal culminating its Napoleonic service at Waterloo.
Today the First Hussards are an active parachute regiment stationed in Tarbe, France. Tarbe, in the high pyraneys of southern France, is one of the areas where Napoleon obtained mounts for his light cavalry. It is also the birthplace of the famous French surgeon, Baron Larray. The First Hussards were deployed in Indochina during the
Vietnam era and recently as part of the coalition forces in desert storm.
Regimental Colonels commanding over the First Hussars under the Empire:
Bercheny
Rouvillois
Begougne de Juniac
Merlin
Clary
Timeline:
1700's:
Hussards Royaux raised in Strasbourg by the Baron Kronenburg.
1720:
Raised in Turkey by Colonel Ladislaw Bercheny and later became known as Bercheny's Hussars; the first of the six senior or ancient Hussard regiments. The regiment was comprised of men from the German/French border area of Alcase and Lorraine and consequently all orders were spoken in German.
1791:
Became known as the First Régiment of Hussards.
1793:
Part of the Army of the Ardennes.
1796-1800:
Served in Italy and on the French frontier. The First Hussards were present at the battle of Castiglione and at the battle of Marengo as part of the 5th Brigade totally 120 horses under General Duvignaud.
1805:
With the Grand Armée at Jena (one squadron served as the Emperor's body guard), Eylau, Friedland and Heilsberg.
1808-1813:
With the Armée d'Espagna and du Portugal at Braga, Santilo, Sabugal and Monasterio. Part of the Franchisi Division in Spain and Portugal.
1813:
The First (Elite) Squadron served with the Grand Armée of Germany at Juterbock, Leipzig and Hannau 3rd cavalry corps, Colonel Clary commanding.
1814:
With the Armée d'Italie.
1815:
With the Grande Armée du Norde as part of the Grande Cavalry Reserve under Marshal Grouchy, 1st cavalry corps, Count Pajol commanding, 4th division, Lt. General Soult commanding, 1st brigade, General de Brigade Clary commanding. The regiment was also engaged at Namur. Disbanded in the latter part of that year under the Empire and reactivated as Hussars de Jura.
Show Posts
