Detaille - Chasseurs a pied bugler, full dress, 1885

An Officer of the Imperial Horse Guards Charging

''Chasseur'' ( , ), a

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

term for "hunter", is the designation given to certain regiments of

and Belgian

light infantry Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often foug ...

() or

light cavalry Light cavalry comprised lightly armed and armored cavalry troops mounted on fast horses, as opposed to heavy cavalry, where the mounted riders (and sometimes the warhorses) were heavily armored. The purpose of light cavalry was primarily ...

() to denote troops trained for rapid action.

History

This branch of the

French Army History Early history The first permanent army, paid with regular wages, instead of feudal levies, was established under Charles VII of France, Charles VII in the 1420 to 1430s. The Kings of France needed reliable troops during and after the ...

originated during the

War of the Austrian Succession The War of the Austrian Succession () was a European conflict that took place between 1740 and 1748. Fought primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic and Mediterranean, related conflicts included King George ...

when, in 1743, Jean Chrétien Fischer was authorized by the Marshal de Belle-Isle to raise a 600 strong mixed force of infantry and cavalry. It was called '' Chasseurs de Fischer.'' During the remainder of the 18th century various types of light troops () were employed within the French army, either as independent units or as companies within existing regiments. In 1788, there were 8 battalions of chasseurs, and in March 1793 this was expanded to 21 battalions. The first battalions of Chasseurs raised by 1788 included: * (1st) '' Chasseurs Royaux de Provence'' * (2nd) '' Chasseurs Royaux de Dauphiné'' * (3rd) '' Chasseurs Royaux Corses'' (

Corsica Corsica ( , Upper , Southern ; it, Corsica; ; french: Corse ; lij, Còrsega; sc, Còssiga) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 18 regions of France. It is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of ...

n) * (4th) '' Chasseurs Corses'' (

n) * (5th) '' Chasseurs Cantabres'' ( Cantabrian) * (6th) ''

Chasseurs Bretons The Breton Chasseurs () was a chasseur battalion of the French Royal Army which was created just before the French Revolution. The battalion would see service in the initial stages of the conflict, but the lineage ended after it was amalgamated wi ...

'' * (7th) '' Chasseurs d'Auvergne'' * (8th) '' Chasseurs des Vosges'' * (9th) '' Chasseurs des Cévennes'' * (10th) '' Chasseurs du Gèvaudan'' * (11th) '' Chasseurs des Ardennes'' * (12th) '' Chasseurs du Roussillon''

The were the light infantrymen of the French Imperial army. They were armed the same as their counterparts in the regular line infantry (

fusilier Fusilier is a name given to various kinds of soldiers; its meaning depends on the historical context. While fusilier is derived from the 17th-century French word ''fusil'' – meaning a type of flintlock musket – the term has been used in con ...

) battalions, but were trained to excel in marksmanship and in executing manoeuvres at high speed. From 1840, they wore a long-skirted

frock coat A frock coat is a formal men's coat characterised by a knee-length skirt cut all around the base just above the knee, popular during the Victorian and Edwardian periods (1830s–1910s). It is a fitted, long-sleeved coat with a centre vent at th ...

. After 1850, however the chasseurs adopted a

uniform A uniform is a variety of clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are most often worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, ...

consisting of a short frock coat with slits in the sides on the bottom edge to allow for better freedom of movement than the previous design. They also wore light blue baggy trousers (in contrast to the red of the line infantry) tucked into jambières (leather gaiters). The other light infantry unit type, the voltigeurs, specialised as skirmishers and for advance screening of the main force. The chasseurs could also be called upon to form advance guards and scouting parties alongside the voltigeurs. Following the Napoleonic Wars the continued to exist as a separate corps within the infantry. Initially a specially trained elite, their tactical role eventually came to match that of the ordinary (line infantry). By the late 19th century the differences between the two branches were confined to uniform and insignia, although the chasseurs retained a strong esprit de corps. Immediately after the Franco-Prussian War it was argued that the continued existence of an elite class of infantry that was armed and trained to the same standards as the ordinary soldier, was contrary to both military utility and the egalitarian principles of the new republic. However public opinion, influenced by the occasions on which the chasseurs had distinguished themselves during the war was opposed to the disbanding of this distinctive corps. Under the Third Republic the were increased from 20 to 30 battalions. Of these, 4 saw active service in Tunisia, one in Indochina and one in Madagascar during the period 1880-1896. Twelve of the chasseur battalions were re-designated as mountain infantry (). The remaining chasseur battalions were deployed near the frontier with Germany as part of the , charged with covering the bulk of the army during mobilization. During World War I the French Army maintained 31 battalions of infantry chasseurs plus a varying number of reserve and territorial units. Each infantry division was expected to include at least one battalion of either or Each battalion had an establishment of 1,300 to 1,500 men. They were reportedly nicknamed (black devils) by their German opponents, in reference to their dark colored uniforms. The chasseurs served mainly on the

Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers * Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a maj ...

but detachments were sent to reinforce the Italian front in 1917.

Chasseurs à cheval

The , a type of French

, date from 1743 when an independent unit (Fischer's Volunteer Company of Chasseurs) was raised during the

to counter

Trenck's Pandurs Trenck's Pandurs ( hr, Panduri, german: Panduren, Hungarian: Pandúr) were a light infantry unit of the Habsburg monarchy, raised by Baron Franz von der Trenck under a charter issued by Maria Theresa of Austria in 1741. The unit was largely co ...

and

Croats The Croats (; hr, Hrvati ) are a South Slavic ethnic group who share a common Croatian ancestry, culture, history and language. They are also a recognized minority in a number of neighboring countries, namely Austria, the Czech Republic ...

employed as irregulars by the Austrian army. Originally a mixed corps of light infantry and horsemen, this force proved sufficiently effective to warrant the creation of a single corps: In 1776 this and other volunteer "legions" had their mounted elements converted into 24 squadrons of each of which was attached to one of the existing dragoon regiments of the royal cavalry. In 1779 these squadrons were amalgamated into six regiments, each of which was given a regional title (1st 2nd etc.). In 1788, 6 dragoon regiments were converted to and during the period of the Revolutionary Wars the number was again increased, to 25. Chasseurs à cheval (Paris 1906)

During their earlier history these regiments lacked the higher profile of the identically-armed (but much more lavishly uniformed)

hussar A hussar ( , ; hu, huszár, pl, husarz, sh, husar / ) was a member of a class of light cavalry, originating in Central Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. The title and distinctive dress of these horsemen were subsequently widely ...

s. Distinguished by dark green uniforms and a bugle-horn badge, they were frequently used as advance scouting units providing valuable information on enemy movements. Both Napoleon's

Imperial Guard An imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops (or a member thereof) of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the Emperor or Empress. Usually these troops embody a more elite status than other imperial forces, i ...

and the Royal Guard of the Restoration each included a regiment of . In addition Napoleon added a further 5 line regiments to those inherited from the Revolutionary period. At the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the French Army had 12 regiments of , grouped with 8 hussar regiments to form the light branch of the cavalry and tasked with primarily reconnaissance duties. This intended role continued through World War I and the remained entirely horse mounted until the was motorised in June 1940. Disbanded after the

Battle of France The Battle of France (french: bataille de France) (10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign ('), the French Campaign (german: Frankreichfeldzug, ) and the Fall of France, was the German invasion of France during the Second Wor ...

, these units were reconstituted in 1944–45 as light armor. During the French occupation of Algeria, regiments of were raised. These were light cavalry recruited originally from French volunteers and subsequently from the French settlers in North Africa doing their military service. As such they were the mounted equivalent of the

zouave The Zouaves were a class of light infantry regiments of the French Army serving between 1830 and 1962 and linked to French North Africa; as well as some units of other countries modelled upon them. The zouaves were among the most decorated unit ...

Flanqueurs Chasseurs

In preparation for the invasion of Russia, Napoleon ordered the creation of additional units for the Guard that included the ''Régiment de Flanqueurs-Chasseurs de la Garde''. Along with the regiment of ''Flanqueues-Grenadiers'', this was mainly recruited from the sons and nephews of forest service civil servants or made up of young men who wanted to obtain a position within the Waters and Forests Administration after concluding their military service. The role of these light infantry soldiers was to flank the main army while on the march, in order to guard against any sudden attack.

Chasseurs Forestiers

The (forest huntsmen) were militarized units of the ''Eaux et Forêts administration'' (Waters and Forests Administration). They were organized in 18 companies and many sections. The existed between 1875 and 1924. The ''chasseurs forestiers'' were classed as elite light infantry troops and could form advance guards and scouting parties due to their knowledge of natural fields and their ability to make or read maps. Established by a decree of the newly established Third Republic dated 2 April 1875, the ''Chasseurs Forestiers'' incorporated some personnel of the existing Water and Forest Administration into the French Army on a part-time basis. The purpose was to make use of trained and specialist manpower as part of the armed forces in time of war. The specific roles envisaged for the ''Chasseurs Forestiers'' were to provide guides for the regular army and to work with the Engineers in obtaining stocks of timber for military use. While provided with distinctive green and grey uniforms plus stocks of standard infantry weapons and equipment, the ''Chasseurs Forestiers'' performed their normal forestry service functions in peacetime with only limited involvement in army training and manoeuvers. Upon mobilisation in August 1914 personnel aged between 25 and 48 years saw front line service in the

Vosges The Vosges ( , ; german: Vogesen ; Franconian and gsw, Vogese) are a range of low mountains in Eastern France, near its border with Germany. Together with the Palatine Forest to the north on the German side of the border, they form a singl ...

in northern France. Post-war policy changes led to the disestablishment of the ''Chasseurs Forestiers'' as a military body in 1924.

Modern French Army

The modern French Army still maintains (mechanized infantry: 16^e BC), (mountain troops: 7^e, 13^e, 27^e BCA) and regiments of (1^er-2^e RCh and 4^e RCh: light armored regiments). In addition one regiment of (training unit: 1^er RCA) has been re-raised to commemorate this branch of the French cavalry. Since May 1943 there has been a "Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes" (1^er RCP). All of these units have different traditions: * are light infantry units created after 1838. Some of these battalions were converted to specialized mountain units as in 1888, as an answer to the Italian Alpine () regiments stationed along the Alpine frontier. * are units of the "Arme Blindée Cavalerie": armoured units. The basic organic unit is called regiment and not bataillon to avoid confusing cavalry and infantry chasseurs. * The airborne infantry units called ''Régiments de chasseurs parachutistes'' were created in 1943 with airborne troops from the French Airforce (GIA or ), who were transferred into the Army. * are the elite mountain infantry of the modern French Army. They are trained to operate in mountainous terrain and to undertake urban warfare. Although the traditions of these different branches of the French Army are very different, there is still a tendency to confuse one with the other. For example, when World War I veteran Léon Weil died, the AFP press agency stated that he was a member of the 5th "Régiment de Chasseurs Alpins". It was in fact the 5th Bataillon.

Belgian army

From its creation as a permanent force in 1832 the Belgian army included regiments of both chasseurs à pied and chasseurs à cheval, performing the same roles as their French counterparts. Their lineage is a continuation of regiments of hussars and light-dragoons of the army of the Kingdom of the United Netherlands from which they were originated. At the outbreak of World War I in August 1914 there were 3 regiments of Chasseurs à pied, each of 3 battalions, and 3 regiments of mounted Chasseurs. In 1933 a new regiment of light infantry: the Chasseurs Ardennais, was created to garrison the mountainous region of that name. In 2011, the 1st Regiment of Chasseurs à cheval/Guides (result of the fusion of the 1st Chasseurs à Cheval and the Regiment of Guides in 2004) was amalgamated with the 2nd/4th Regiment of Chasseurs à cheval, in order to form the Battalion Chasseurs à Cheval (Bataljon Jagers te Paard). The battalion is dedicated to the ISTAR missions and carries the standard of the 1st Chasseurs à Cheval.

U.S. Army

The U.S. Federal Army adopted Chasseurs during the Civil War as a scouting and skirmishing force for use against the

Confederate Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighti ...

. Their uniform was patterned after the French style, with the short, vented coat, though they were issued grey

kepi The kepi ( ) is a cap with a flat circular top and a peak, or visor. In English, the term is a loanword of french: képi, itself a re-spelled version of the gsw, Käppi, a diminutive form of , meaning "cap". In Europe, this headgear is most ...

s. A notable unit of Civil War Chasseurs were the

65th New York Volunteer Infantry The 65th New York Infantry Regiment (or 1st United States Chasseurs) was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment wore distinctive chasseur styled uniforms. Its members were recruited primarily from New Y ...

(also known as the 1st United States Chasseurs). The Chasseurs were involved in the Peninsula campaign, as well as the Appomattox campaign, and lost a total of 146 men. They were distinct for choosing to wear M1858 uniform hats (more popularly known as

Hardee hat The Hardee hat, also known as the Model 1858 Dress Hat and sometimes nicknamed the " Jeff Davis", was the regulation dress hat for enlisted men in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The Hardee hat was also worn by Confederate soldie ...

s) rather than the kepis. The

14th Brooklyn The 14th Regiment New York State Militia (also called the 14th Brooklyn Chasseurs) was a volunteer militia regiment from the City of Brooklyn, New York. It is primarily known for its service in the American Civil War from April 1861 to 6 May 18 ...

, one of the most famous regiments of the Civil War, wore a Chasseur uniform their whole term. In 1862, following the capture of Confederate-held

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

by Federal soldiers, an all-black regiment named the Chasseurs d'Afrique was raised.Jacques Sicard and Francois Vauvillier, ''Les Chasseurs d'Afrique''. . p. 40.