Carabiniers-à-Cheval
Encyclopedia
The Carabiniers-à-Cheval were mounted troops in the service of France.
Their origins date back to the mid-16th century, when they were created as elite elements of the French light cavalry
, armed with carbines but then gradually evolved towards semi-independent status during the XVIIIth century. They only became independent units as late as 1788, when a two-regiment heavy cavalry
corps was created. From the French Revolutionary Wars
onwards, they were the senior heavy cavalry regiments in the French army, rose to prominence during the Napoleonic Wars
and were disbanded in 1871, after the fall of the Second French Empire
.
. They participated with distinction to the French Revolutionary Wars
and Napoleonic Wars
.
Their uniform was described by the Etat militaire de l'an X (1802): "National blue costume and scarlet lapels, blue collar, bearskin hat, yellow bandolier and belt, with white plait on the edges. Horse equipage: saddle à la française, blue cover with white plait on the edges, a grenade in the corners, the ornaments of the bridle stamped with a grenade."
The decree of 24 December 1809 altered the uniform of the carabiniers: white costume, double steel cuirass
(breastplate and backplate) covered with a copper sheet, helmet with eyeshade and which covered the back of the neck, with a golden-yellow copper crest decorated with a chenille made of scarlet bristle. Their armament included a carbine
, a sabre and a pair of pistols.
Their origins date back to the mid-16th century, when they were created as elite elements of the French light cavalry
Light cavalry
Light cavalry refers to lightly armed and lightly armored troops mounted on horses, as opposed to heavy cavalry, where the riders are heavily armored...
, armed with carbines but then gradually evolved towards semi-independent status during the XVIIIth century. They only became independent units as late as 1788, when a two-regiment heavy cavalry
Heavy cavalry
Heavy cavalry is a class of cavalry whose primary role was to engage in direct combat with enemy forces . Although their equipment differed greatly depending on the region and historical period, they were generally mounted on large powerful horses, and were often equipped with some form of scale,...
corps was created. From the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
onwards, they were the senior heavy cavalry regiments in the French army, rose to prominence during the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
and were disbanded in 1871, after the fall of the Second French Empire
Second French Empire
The Second French Empire or French Empire was the Imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870, between the Second Republic and the Third Republic, in France.-Rule of Napoleon III:...
.
Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
The 1st and 2nd Carabiniers-à-Cheval were created in 1787, as regiments of heavy cavalryHeavy cavalry
Heavy cavalry is a class of cavalry whose primary role was to engage in direct combat with enemy forces . Although their equipment differed greatly depending on the region and historical period, they were generally mounted on large powerful horses, and were often equipped with some form of scale,...
. They participated with distinction to the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
and Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
.
Their uniform was described by the Etat militaire de l'an X (1802): "National blue costume and scarlet lapels, blue collar, bearskin hat, yellow bandolier and belt, with white plait on the edges. Horse equipage: saddle à la française, blue cover with white plait on the edges, a grenade in the corners, the ornaments of the bridle stamped with a grenade."
The decree of 24 December 1809 altered the uniform of the carabiniers: white costume, double steel cuirass
Cuirass
A cuirass is a piece of armour, formed of a single or multiple pieces of metal or other rigid material, which covers the front of the torso...
(breastplate and backplate) covered with a copper sheet, helmet with eyeshade and which covered the back of the neck, with a golden-yellow copper crest decorated with a chenille made of scarlet bristle. Their armament included a carbine
Carbine
A carbine , from French carabine, is a longarm similar to but shorter than a rifle or musket. Many carbines are shortened versions of full rifles, firing the same ammunition at a lower velocity due to a shorter barrel length....
, a sabre and a pair of pistols.