Russian hussars
| Russian hussars | |
|---|---|
General officer of the Grodno Hussars, 1812 | |
| Active | 1723–1917 |
| Allegiance | Russian Empire |
| Type | Light cavalry |
| Role | Reconnaissance, skirmish |
| Colors | varied by regiment |
| Equipment | Sword, a pair of pistols |
Hussars were first recorded in Russia as groups of irregulars in the mid-17th century. Under Peter I, this class of light cavalry began to serve as organized regiments on a semi-permanent basis in 1723 based on Serbian Hussars out of the Habsburg monarchy. Hussar regiments remained a conscious element of the Imperial Russian Army until the Revolution of 1917.