Together with the

Dragoons Dragoons were originally a class of mounted infantry, who used horses for mobility, but dismounted to fight on foot. From the early 17th century onward, dragoons were increasingly also employed as conventional cavalry and trained for combat w ...

and

Uhlans Uhlans (; ; ; ; ) were a type of light cavalry, primarily armed with a lance. While first appearing in the cavalry of Lithuania and then Poland, Uhlans were quickly adopted by the mounted forces of other countries, including France, Russia, P ...

, the Imperial and Royal Hussars (german: k.u.k. Husaren), made up the

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry in ...

of the

Austro-Hungarian Army The Austro-Hungarian Army (, literally "Ground Forces of the Austro-Hungarians"; , literally "Imperial and Royal Army") was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint arm ...

from 1867 to 1918, both in the

Common Army The Common Army (german: Gemeinsame Armee, hu, Közös Hadsereg) as it was officially designated by the Imperial and Royal Military Administration, was the largest part of the Austro-Hungarian land forces from 1867 to 1914, the other two eleme ...

and in the Hungarian Landwehr, where they were known as the Royal Hungarian Hussars (''k.u. Husaren''). The Austrian monarchy, weakened by losing the war against Prussia in 1866, had to effectively guarantee the autonomy of Kingdom of Hungary in the so-called Compromise of 15 March 1867. As a result, the Hungarian half of the Empire immediately began to establish its own army, the

Royal Hungarian Landwehr Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a ci ...

(Hungarian: ''Magyar Királyi Honvédség''). The cavalry of the Hungarian Landwehr was made up of the ''Landwehr Hussars''. Following the signing of the Compromise, the

Austrian Austrian may refer to: * Austrians, someone from Austria or of Austrian descent ** Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen, see Austrian nationality law * Austrian German dialect * Something associated with the country Austria, for example: ...

half of the Empire also started to build an army, the

Imperial-Royal Landwehr The Imperial-Royal Landwehr (german: kaiserlich-königliche Landwehr or ''k.k. Landwehr''), also called the Austrian Landwehr, was the territorial army of the Cisleithanian or Austrian half of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1869 to 1918. Its cou ...

(German: ''k.k. Landwehr''). The two new '' Landwehr'' forces thus existed alongside the

(''Gemeinsame Armee''), the imperial army of the whole Empire. In effect this meant that

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...

had three separate armies at the same time.

Organisation

The Common Army had 16 hussar regiments and the Royal Hungarian Landwehr had ten. By tradition, the majority of the hussars were recruited from the Hungarian lands (modern-day

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Cr ...

Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the ...

and parts of

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia ( Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hu ...

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = " Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capi ...

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

and

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...

). The

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscript ...

s, with a few exceptions, were all stationed there. *The Imperial and Royal

Cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry in ...

regiments each had two divisions (

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions ...

s) each of three squadrons (''Eskadronen'')

The Imperial and Royal Hussars in 1914

A list of the Imperial and Royal Hussars regiments in 1914 is given below by short title (i.e. "1st Hussars" as opposed to "1st Regiment of Hussars"). * 1st Hussars (Emperor) (''Husaren-Regiment „Kaiser“ Nr. 1'') * 2nd Hussars (Frederick Leopold of Prussia's) (''Husaren-Regiment „Friedrich Leopold von Preußen“ Nr. 2'') Beschlagmeister 1

* 3rd Hussars (Count of Hadik's) (''Husaren-Regiment „Graf von Hadik“ Nr. 3'') * 4th Hussars (Duke Arthur of Connaught and Strathearn's) (''Husaren-Regiment „Arthur Herzog von Connaught und Strathearn“ Nr. 4'') * 5th Hussars (Count Radetzky's) (''Husaren-Regiment „Graf Radetzky“ Nr. 5'') * 6th Hussars (King William II of Württemberg's) (''Husaren-Regiment „Wilhelm II. König von Württemberg“ Nr. 6'') * 7th Hussars (William II, German Emperor and King of Prussia's) (''Jazigier und Kumanier Husaren-Regiment „Wilhelm II. Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen“ Nr. 7'') * 8th Hussars (von Terstyanski's) (''Husaren-Regiment „von Tersztyánszky“ Nr. 8'') * 9th Hussars (Count Nadasdy's) (''Husaren-Regiment „Graf Nádasdy“ Nr. 9'') * 10th Hussars (King Frederick William II of Prussia's) (''Husaren-Regiment „Friedrich Wilhelm III. König von Preußen“ Nr. 10'') * 11th Hussars (King Ferdinand I of the Bulgarians) (''Husaren-Regiment „Ferdinand I. König der Bulgaren“ Nr. 11'') * 12th Hussars (vacant) (''Husaren-Regiment (Vacant) Nr. 12'') * 13th Hussars (Crown Prince William of the German Empire and Prussia) (''Husaren-Regiment „Wilhelm Kronprinz des Deutschen Reiches und Kronprinz von Preußen“ Nr. 13'') * 14th Hussars (von Kolossvary's) (''Husaren-Regiment „von Kolossváry“ Nr. 14'') Eskadronstrompeter im k

* 15th Hussars (Archduke Franz Salvator's) (''Husaren-Regiment „Erzherzog Franz Salvator“ Nr. 15'') * 16th Hussars (Count Üxküll-Gyllenband's) (''Husaren-Regiment „Graf Üxküll-Gyllenband“ Nr. 16'')

Royal Hungarian Hussars

The regiments listed below were part of the Royal Hungarian Hussars, also known as the Royal Hungarian Honved Hussars (''k.u. Husaren''), ''Honvéd'' being Hungarian for "Home-defender". English sources usually refer to regiments simply as e.g. the "1st Hussars" or "1st Honved Hussars".: *1st Hussars (Budapest) (''Budapester Honvéd Husaren Rgt 1'') :19th Cavalry Brigade, 5th Cavalry Division (''19. Honvéd Kavallerie Brigade - 5. Honvéd Kavallerie Division'') :Commander: Colonel Colbert Zech von Deybach Freiherr von Hart und Sulz - Debachi Zech Colbert harti ès sulzi baró ezredes *2nd Hussars (Debrezin) (''

Debreczen Debrecen ( , is Hungary's second-largest city, after Budapest, the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar County. A city with county rights, it was the largest Hungarian city in the 18th century and i ...

er Honvéd Husaren Rgt 2'') :22nd Cavalry Brigade, 11th Cavalry Division (''22. Honvéd Kavallerie Brigade - 11. Honvéd Kavallerie Truppendivision'') :Kommandant: Lieutenant Colonel Johann Flór - Flór János alezredes *3rd Hussars (Szeged) (''

Szeged Szeged ( , ; see also other alternative names) is the third largest city of Hungary, the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain and the county seat of Csongrád-Csanád county. The University of Szeged is one of the m ...

er Honvéd Husaren Rgt 3'') :22nd Cavalry Brigade, 11th Cavalry Division :Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Árpád Cserépy von Kisruszka - Kisruszkai Cserépy Árpád alezredes Husaren, österreichisch-ungarische

*4th Hussars (Szabadka) (''

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er Honvéd Husaren Rgt 4'') :I and II Squadrons, 23rd Infantry Division (''I., II. Esk. 23. Honvéd Infanterie Truppendivision'') :III and IV Squadrons, 20th Infantry Division :V and VI Squadrons, 41st Infantry Division :Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Nikolaus Jankovich von Jeszenicze - Jesceniczai Jankovich Miklos alezredes *5th Hussars (Kassa) ('' Kassaer Honvéd Husaren Rgt 5'') :24th Cavalry Brigade, 11th Cavalry Division :Commander: Colonel Paul Hegedüs - Hegedüs Pál ezredes *6th Hussars (Zalaegerszeg) (''

Zalaegerszeg Zalaegerszeg (; hr, Jegersek; sl, Jageršek; german: Egersee) is the administrative center of Zala county in western Hungary. Location Zalaegerszeg lies on the banks of the Zala River, close to the Slovenian and Austrian borders and west-south ...

er Honvéd Husaren Rgt 6'') :23rd Cavalry Brigade, 5th Cavalry Division :Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Ladislaus Forster von Szenterzsébet - Szenterzsébeti Forster László alezredes *7th Hussars (Pápa) ('' Pápaer Honvéd Husaren Rgt 7'') :23rd Cavalry Brigade, 5th Cavalry Division :Commander: Colonel Johann Graf Lubienski - Gróf Lubienski János ezredes *8th Hussars (Pécs) (''

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er Honvéd Husaren Rgt 8'') :19th Cavalry Brigade - 5th Cavalry Division :Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Alexius Thege von Konkily - Konkoly Thege Elek alezredes *9th Hussars (Marosvásárhely) ('' Maros-Vásárhelyer Honvéd Husaren Rgt 9'') :24th Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division :Commander: Colonel Koloman Géczy von Garamszeg - Garamszegi Gèczy Kálmán ezredes *10th Hussars (Varaždin) (''

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er Honvéd Husaren Rgt 10'') :I and II Sqns, 36th Infantry Division :III and IV Sqns, 42nd Infantry Division :V and VI Sqns, 13th Infantry Brigade :Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Alois Hauer - Hauer Alajos alezredes ;Shako-coating of the k.u.k. Hussars Regiment File:Tschako der k.u.k. Husaren-Regimenter 4, 5, 8 und 14.png, File:Tschako der k.u.k. Husaren-Regimenter 1 und 13.png, File:Tschako der k.u.k. Husaren-Regimenter 7 und 10.png, File:Tschako der k.u.k. Husaren-Regimenter 6, 11, 15 und 16.png, File:Tschako der k.u.k. Husaren-Regimenter 2, 3, 9 und 12.png,

References

Literature

* Johann C. Allmayer-Beck, Erich Lessing: ''Die K.u.k. Armee. 1848-1918''. Verlag Bertelsmann, München 1974, . * Stefan Rest: ''Des Kaisers Rock im ersten Weltkrieg''. Verlag Militaria, Wien 2002, * ''Das k.u.k. Heer im Jahre 1895'' Schriften des Heeresgeschichtlichen Museums in Wien - Stocker Verlag, Graz 1997 *

k.u.k. Kriegsministerium The Imperial and Royal Minister of War (german: K.u.k. Kriegsminister), until 1911: Reich Minister of War (''Reichskriegsminister''), was the head of one of the three common ministries shared by the two states which made up the dual monarchy of Aus ...

„Dislokation und Einteilung des k.u.k Heeres, der k.u.k. Kriegsmarine, der k.k. Landwehr und der k.u. Landwehr“ in: Seidels kleines Armeeschema - Herausg.: Seidel & Sohn Wien 1914 * k.u.k. Kriegsministerium „Adjustierungsvorschrift für das k.u.k. Heer, die k.k. Landwehr, die k.u. Landwehr, die verbundenen Einrichtungen und das Korps der Militärbeamten“ Wien 1911/1912

Hussars 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 a ...

Hussars