IMPERIAL HEAVY CAVALRY (THIRTY YEARS WAR)

In the course of the 17th century, the Habsburg armies took part in numerous armed conflicts, such as the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), the war with Louis XIV or the war with Turkey (1683-1699). Of course, this army in the course of the 17th century underwent almost constant changes, and its cavalry changed along with the changes in the army. The main, "heavy" component of the Austrian (Habsburg) cavalry at that time were cuirassiers. In the 1730s, i.e. in the Battle of Lützen (1632), theoretically, they should have the so-called "Three-quarters armor", which, however, in the course of service turned out to be impractical and were most often replaced by cuirass consisting of a backplate and a breastplate. Both of these armor elements were blackened to prevent rusting. They had Pappenheimer helmets on their heads, which were very similar to Polish hussar helmets. The main armament was a broadsword and a pair of olster pistols. During the Thirty Years' War, Austrian cuirassiers were used primarily for charges, not for caracol. At the end of the 17th century, cuirassier units underwent changes. During the war with Turkey (1683-1699), their regiments numbered from 800 to 1000 people, who were divided into five squadrons. The excessively large cuirass was withdrawn and helmets were changed. The armament was still a broadsword and a pair of pistols, to which, however, a carabiner was often added - still with a wheel lock, but on an increasing scale it was possible to meet carabiners with a flintlock. It is worth adding that the Austrian cuirassiers fought in three ranks, but when fighting, for example, against the French army - they most often used a two-ranks formation.