Makedonskiy Hussars

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Origin and History

The Makedónskiy Hussar Regiment was raised on May 10, 1759 by General Horvat to reinforce the Russian light cavalry. It initially consisted of 10 companies, each of 100 troopers for an effective fighting strength of 1,044 men. Its kernel consisted of troopers from Horvat Hussars. More precisely, the regiment consisted of:

• Senior staff
  • 1 colonel
  • 1 lieutenant-colonel
  • 1 first major
• Junior staff
  • 1 regimental quartermaster
  • 1 adjutant
  • 1 auditor
  • 1 commissary
  • 1 camp supervisor
  • 1 pope
  • 1 doctor
  • 3 surgeons
  • 1 clerk
  • 1 Capelmaster
  • 1 Kettle-drummer
  • 20 trumpeters
• 10 companies totaling:
  • 7 captains
  • 3 lieutenant-captains
  • 10 lieutenants
  • 10 sergeants
  • 10 Wachmasters
  • 10 company quartermasters
  • 40 corporals
  • 10 company clerk
  • 1000 troopers
• other troops:
  • 7 blacksmiths
  • 3 farriers
  • 24 carters drivers
  • 1044 horses (excluding baggage horses)

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:

• in 1759 and 1760: Lieutenant-General Ivan Horvat

Service during the War

In 1760, the regiment was quartered in Little Russia (aka Malorussia).

In 1761, the regiment was attached to the Reserve of Lieutenant-General Vasilij Ivanovic Suvorov with Shirvanskiy Infantry and 14 third battalions. The Reserve did not serve on the front. There are evidences that part of the regiment, or maybe the entire regiment, took part on September 14 in a combat for the defence of the magazines in Kobylin and probably the following day at Gostyń. By the end of October, the regiment operated under Dvilke with the Nizegorodskiy Dragoons, Malorussian Cossacks and Mashlikin Cossacks; covering the line of communication with Posen (present-day Poznań).

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1757
Source: David at Not By Appointment

Uniform Details

Headgear	red mirliton
Neck stock	black
Pelisse	light blue Fur trim black Lace yellow braids Buttons brass
Dolman	light blue with yellow braids and brass buttons Collar probably light blue edged red Cuffs probably light blue edged with a red chevron
Breeches	red decorated with intricate yellow loops
Cloak	unknown colour
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt black leather Waist-sash light blue and red barrel sash Scabbard black leather with iron fittings Boots black Hungarian boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth light blue with red wolf tooth edging Sabretache light blue, wearing a red “EP” monogram and bordered with a red lace

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 mirliton
• 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 probably decorated with red 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 (Publisher). Die Kriege Friedrichs des Großen. Dritter Teil: Der Siebenjährige Krieg 1756–1763. Vol. 4 Groß-Jägersdorf und Breslau, Berlin 1902

• chapter A: Das Kaiserlich Russiche Heer, page 1-46
• appendix: supplement 1, Das Kaiserlich Russiche Heer, page 3-18

Konstam A. & Younghusband B.: Russian Army of the Seven Years War, Osprey, London, 1996

Schirmer, Friedrich: Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756-1763, hrsg. von der KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg, überarb. u. aktual. Neuauflage 1989

Vial, J. L.: Nec Pluribus Impar

Zweguintzov: L'Armee Russe, 1973

Acknowledgements

Mr Andrzej Smektała and Mr Robert Zbieralski for additional information on this regiment