2nd Novoserbskiy Hussars
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Origin and History
From 1720, but mostly after the annexation of Serbia to the Ottoman Empire in 1739 and the reorganisation of the military border between 1746 and 1750, many Serbians emigrated to southern Russia and Ukraine.
In 1751, the Serbians Jovan Samuilović Horvat de Kurtić (a former lieutenant-colonel in the Austrian service), his brother Dimitrije, and Nikola and Teodor Chorba contacted Mikhail Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin, the Russian Ambassador to Austria, and requested his permission to migrate to Russia. Empress Maria Theresa, who was on friendly terms with Russia, accepted the resignation of these Serbian officers from the Habsburg service. On July 13, the Russian government authorised them to settle in Russia and granted them and their families citizenship and employment in the Russian military. A first convoy of Serbian officers and families arrived in Russia.
On December 24, 1751, Horvat, was allowed to establish a separate Serbian settlement, called New Serbia, in Southern Ukraine. In exchange for land along the border with the Crimean Tartars (on the right bank of the Dniepr, between the rivers Kavarlyk and Amelnik, around Novomirgorod), these newcomers had to serve during wartime. As the Cossacks, New Serbia had its own administrative and military organisations and kept its customs and traditions. It counted 41 settlements in 20 districts with Novomirgorod as its administrative centre and Jovan Samuilović Horvat de Kurtić as its commandant.
Military service was extended to all adult male population: half always being on active service, patrolling the borders. Each district had to supply one company of hussars and one company of light infantry. The 1st Novoserbskiy Hussars were created in December 1751 at the same time as New Serbia. One month later, on January 11, 1752, the 2nd Novoserbskiy Hussars were raised. As the first regiment, they were organised in 20 companies (approx. 4,000 men, including non-combatants): 10 active and 10 in reserve.
By 1757, the population of New Serbia numbered 5,482 inhabitants, including:
- 4,130 Moldavians
- 634 Serbs
- 718 others
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:
- no information found yet
Service during the War
Some sources mention that the regiment was not engaged in any European campaign during the war and remained in New Serbia. However, in January 1758, a squadron of the regiment is mentioned as taking part in the the invasion of East Prussia. In July of the same year, it also took part in the invasion of Brandenburg. On September 11, during the retreat of the Russian army after the battle of Zorndorf, this squadron was part of Rumyantsev's Corps who made a junction with the main army at Landsberg and encamped on the left bank of the Wartha.
To do: more details on the campaigns from 1760 to 1762
Uniform
Viscovatov indicates that Horvat Hussars had the same uniform as the Moldavskiy Hussars. Therefore, we reproduce hereafter the entire description of the uniform of this field hussar regiment.
Privates
Source: David at Not By Appointment
| Headgear | black kolback with a red bag and red cords, knots and tassels | ||||||||
| Neck stock | black | ||||||||
| Pelisse | blue
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| Dolman | red with 8 blue braids and brass buttons
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| Breeches | red decorated with intricate blue loops | ||||||||
| Cloak | unknown colour | ||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
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| Horse Furniture |
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Troopers were armed with a short, curved sabre and two pistols (no carbine). Zweguintzov mentions that Russian hussars also carried a carbine.
Officers
Officers wore uniforms identical to those of the troopers with the following differences:
- gold cords and lace
- yellow Hungarian boots
- pelisse trimmed with grey fur
NCOs
NCOs wore uniforms identical to those of the troopers with the following differences:
- gold cords, knots and tassels on the kolback
- gold lace
- a golden braid on the border of the collar
- golden braids on the sleeve (2 for the vakhmistr, 1 for quartermaster)
Musicians
There was 1 kettle-drummer for the regiment and 1 trumpeter for each of the 10 companies. They wore uniforms identical to those of the troopers with the following differences:
- small wings on the shoulders
- braids of an unknown colour
Trumpets and kettle drums were made of copper and decorated with red (maybe blue) lace and cords.
Colours
Russian hussar regiments carried no standards during the Seven Years' War.
References
Gromoboy, Vlad: The Russian Pandours - Pandour Hussars (1741-61), Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. XII No. 1
Grosser Generalstab Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II: Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, Part 3 Der siebenjährige Krieg 1756-1763, Vol. 4 Groß-Jägersdorf und Breslau, Berlin, 1902, Appendix 1
Konstam A. & Younghusband B.: Russian Army of the Seven Years War, Osprey, London, 1996
Vial, J. L.: Nec Pluribus Impar
Viskovatov, A. V.: Historical Description of the Clothing and Arms of the Russian Army
Wikipedia
N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
Acknowledgement
Nenad Šeguljev for additional information on this unit
