The cuirassier is the foundation of the army of the 16th-19th century. Blade and Armor of the Cuirassier

The cuirassier regiments at one time played a decisive role in the majority of battles that took place in Europe. They are known for their victories, for example under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte. Who is this cuirassier? Is this a replacement for chivalry or a radically new kind of troops?

Cavalry

A cuirassier is a part of the cavalry, which is a kind of troops moving on horseback. The very term "cavalry" from the Latin language is translated as "horse". The use of such a unit in combat had many advantages. Therefore, even in the second half of the nineteenth century, it played a decisive role in most of the battles. The advantages of cavalry in armor with guns and knives are as follows:

• High mobility;
• maneuverability;
• Impetuosity;
• power;
• Overcoming long distances in a short time.

Cavalry consisted of cuirassiers, hussars, dragoons. These units performed various functions in the troops. Thus, in the Russian army the hussars were part of the light cavalry. They were supposed to conduct reconnaissance and patrol service. The dragoons served in the linear cavalry. Cuirassiers were heavy. They had to close the attack.

In other countries, the units by weight of the horse were classified. Thus, in light cavalry the weight of horses did not exceed 500 kg. Hussars rode on them. Average implied the presence of horses, whose weight was within 600 kg. They were ruled by dragoons. In the heavy cavalry there were horses, whose mass fluctuated from 600 to 800 kg. It was on them went cuirassiers, as well as carabinieri.

The kind of heavy cavalry

Who is the cuirassier? The meaning of the word in literal translation from French means "latnik". A similar kind of troops appeared in the sixteenth century. It was created to compensate for the small numbers of knightly cavalry. At the same time cuirassiers were dressed in relatively inexpensive armor, which covered only two-thirds of the body. They were also called cuirassiers.

Cuirassier Armor

Since the cuirassier is the one who wears a cuirass, one should learn more about the evolution of this armor. Initially, the armor differed from the chivalry only by the absence of leggings. In addition, they had no protection for the legs and feet. This allowed to significantly reduce the cost of the lat. This fact was liked by many poor noblemen.

The first cuirassier armor weighed about 30 kilograms. There were also cheaper analogues, the mass of which did not exceed 12 kg. They had a similar configuration. The difference between them was in the quality of metal, its thickness, and even in the degree of luxury finishes.

If desired, the soldier could acquire not a complete set of armor, but only a bullet-proof cuirass. This option was chosen by those who could not afford expensive armor, or those who did not want to wear 30 kg. To supplement the bullet-proof cuirass, you could have whiter light accessories: lapel gloves, shoulder pads, legguards, helmet.

Cunning Weapon

The cuirassier is part of the cavalry. Therefore in battle he used both firearms and cold steel. To the first variety were pistols and muskets. What served the heavy cavalrymen as a cold steel weapon? Palash - this was the cuirassier's sword. From German and Hungarian, the word is translated as "sword" or "dagger". It was a cutting-and-stabbing tool with a straight blade up to 100 cm in length. The palas could have different sharpening: one-, half-and two-sided (in the first samples). He was something middle between the sword and the sword, combining their qualities.

It was the cuirassiers who began to use sabers in Western Europe from the end of the sixteenth century. In order to pierce the metal breastplate (cuirass), a heavy and long blade was needed. So was the sword. There was a Scottish version of this weapon. It appeared at the end of the sixteenth century, spreading throughout the UK. The length of the sword was 75-90 cm. Its blade was quite wide. Sharpening is one-sided or two-sided. They used such a broadsword, often with a shield of round shape.

In Russia, the blade appeared under Peter the Great. He was used dragoon regiments, and after his appearance and cuirassier. The blades were manufactured in a factory way in Russia, and also imported from abroad. A weapon 85 cm long had a straight point. In the middle of the eighteenth century the blade became single-edged. Under Catherine II, the monogram "E II" was engraved on it under the crown. The palaces remained part of the cuirassiers' weapons until they were re-formed. After that, the blades remained only in several military units. They could only be seen at the parades.

Cuirassiers in Russia

The history of the existence of cuirassiers in Russia began in 1731. Field Marshal H. A. Minichi proposed that the dragoon regiment be reorganized into a cuirassier regiment. After a couple of years, these parts of the army cavalry began to be used in the Russian army as the main strike force. The number of cuirassier regiments in Russia was constantly changing, sometimes to a greater or lesser extent. Since 1860, the existing regiments were reorganized into dragoons. Left only four guards units cuirassiers.