Originally the name of a soldier belonging to a corps of light
horse raised by Matthias Corvinus, king of Hungary in 1458, to
fight against the Turks. The hussar was the typical Hungarian
cavalry soldier, and, in the absence of good light cavalry in
the regular armies of central and western Europe, the name and
character of the hussars gradually spread into Prussia, France,
etc. Frederick the Great sent Maj. H.J. von Zieten to study the
work of this type of cavalry in the Austrian service, and Zieten
so far improved on the Austrian model that he defeated his old
teacher, Gen. Baranyai in an encounter between the Prussian and
Austrian hussars at Rothschloss in 1741. The typical uniform of
the Hungarian hussar was followed, with modifications, in other
European armies. It consisted of a busby or a high cylindrical
cloth cap, jacket with heavy braiding and a dolman or pelisse,
a loose coat worn hanging from the left shoulder. The hussar regiments
of the British army were converted from light dragoons at the
following dates: 7th (1805), 10th and 15th (1806), 18th (1807,
and again on revival after disbandment, 1858), 8th (1822), 11th
(1840), 20th (late 2nd Bengal European Cavalry) (1860), 13th,
14th and 19th (late 1st Bengal European Cavalry) (1861). The 21st
Lancers were hussars from 1862 to 1897. In 1922, on the reduction
of the cavalry, the 13th and 18th, the 15th and 19th were amalgamated
as the 13th/18th Hussars and 15th/19th Hussars. In 1928 the 11th
were converted into an armoured car regiment, retaining their
title.( The Encyclopædia Britannica Company,14th ed.1929
London, New York)
The embodiment of a Hungarian Huszár (Hussar) was colonel
Michael Kovács (1724-1779). Scarcely had the news of the
American independence movement reached Hungary when Michael Kovács,
a major of Maria Theresa's hussars, approached Benjamin Franklin,
the first Minister to France of the Union, in a letter written
in Latin (dated Bordeaux, January 13, 1777), in which he offered
his sword in defense of the freedom of the United States, writing
prophetically, "fidelissimus ad mortem". He was appointed
colonel in command of the Pulaski Legion, becoming at the same
time first director of training of the United States cavalry.
He died on May 19th 1779 at Charleston fighting at the head of his
troops. A life-size relief of Michael Kovács was unveiled
in the Hungarian Library of New York in 1840; a memorial plaque
and memorial tree was planted in Washington Park of East Chicago
in 1932; a chapel was built by his wife - née Frances Szinyei
Merse - in Szinye in 1780. (Adopted from "The Hungarian Genius,
listed below.)
The typical attire of the huszárs were the tight leggings,
a closely fitted jacket, boots and loose overcoat. These looks
go back further in time than the reign of Matthias Corvinus. It
can be found in the earliest Scythan representations and within
the Sarmatian military attire. Our ancestor's refined tastes were
always expressed in their clothing also. The so called "hussar"
uniforms use the braiding rather heavy handedly; one reason for
this is that the inheritors of these uniforms are unaware of the
meaning of these braidings, which served to convey messages on
the Hungarian uniforms. The attire of the modern western men looks
back to Scythan ancestry also. (Ed.)
