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Harquebusier (cavalry)
Encyclopedia
The term Harquebusier was used to denote the most common form of cavalry
man found in Western Europe
during the early and mid 17th century.
This type of cavalryman was characterised by the use of a form of carbine
, initially termed a "harquebus" (a word derived from the heavier infantry weapon, the arquebus
). In the late 16th century the harquebusier was envisioned, like the similar and earlier petronel
, as a support for more heavily armoured cavalry, demi-lancer
s or pistol-armed cuirassiers and reiters. Later, towards the mid 17th century, the harquebusier became the standard type of cavalry found throughout western Europe. The later harquebusier was increasingly used in a shock role on the battlefield. Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
and the cavalry leaders of the English Civil War
, such as Prince Rupert of the Rhine
and Oliver Cromwell
, employed harquesbusiers very aggressively: charging with sword in hand, thus relegating their firearms to a secondary function. Indeed by the 1620s cavalry not equipped with a carbine could be termed "harquebusiers," just from the level and style of their armour protection.
(the finest quality buff coats were often more expensive than an iron cuirass) under his armour and a metal gauntlet to protect his bridle hand and forearm. The harquebusier would have been armed with a doglock
carbine
, hung from a swivel attached to a baldric
, pistols in saddle holsters and a stout, straight-bladed, sword. The 'dog' of the doglock was a type of safety-catch, very useful to prevent the unintentional firing of the carbine when on horseback.
National variation in the battlefield employment of harquebusiers existed. The French tended to retain greater use of firearms, often their harquebusiers would give a volley of carbine and or pistol fire before closing with the sword. The Swedes and Royalist English charged home directly with the sword, not using firearms until the melee. The Parliamentarian cavalry retained the use of firearms in the charge until later in the Civil War, but by the time of the New Model Army
had largely adopted the direct charge with the sword. The Swedes and Royalist cavaliers usually charged at speed, the English Parliamentarian Ironsides
charged at a slower pace, troopers keeping together knee-to-knee, in order to retain their formation.
s. The equipment of the harquebusier disappeared at different rates, the doglock carbine was replaced by the 'true' flintlock in the late 17th century. Cuirasses fell in and out of fashion during the 18th century before the Napoleonic renaissance of the cuirassier
in the first decade of the 19th century. The lobster tailed pot helmet fell out of favour in most countries by 1700, though the Austrian army retained this type of helmet for its cuirassiers into the 1780s, especially when campaigning against the Turks.
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
man found in Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
during the early and mid 17th century.
Development
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....
, initially termed a "harquebus" (a word derived from the heavier infantry weapon, the arquebus
Arquebus
The arquebus , or "hook tube", is an early muzzle-loaded firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. The word was originally modeled on the German hakenbüchse; this produced haquebute...
). In the late 16th century the harquebusier was envisioned, like the similar and earlier petronel
Petronel
A Petronel is a 16th or 17th century firearm, defined by Robert Barret as a horsemans peece. It was the fire-arm which developed on the one hand into the pistol and on the other into the carbine...
, as a support for more heavily armoured cavalry, demi-lancer
Demi-lancer
The "Demi-lancer" or demilancer was a type of heavy cavalryman found in Western Europe in the 16th and early 17th centuries.-Characteristics:...
s or pistol-armed cuirassiers and reiters. Later, towards the mid 17th century, the harquebusier became the standard type of cavalry found throughout western Europe. The later harquebusier was increasingly used in a shock role on the battlefield. Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and the cavalry leaders of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, such as Prince Rupert of the Rhine
Prince Rupert of the Rhine
Rupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, 1st Duke of Cumberland, 1st Earl of Holderness , commonly called Prince Rupert of the Rhine, KG, FRS was a noted soldier, admiral, scientist, sportsman, colonial governor and amateur artist during the 17th century...
and Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, employed harquesbusiers very aggressively: charging with sword in hand, thus relegating their firearms to a secondary function. Indeed by the 1620s cavalry not equipped with a carbine could be termed "harquebusiers," just from the level and style of their armour protection.
Characteristics
The typical harquebusier would have worn an iron cuirass, with a breast and backplate, and an open faced helmet such as a lobster tailed pot; the fashion conscious could replace the helmet with a broad-brimmed felt hat, often worn over a concealed iron skullcap or secrete. In England, in 1629, a harquebusier's armour cost one pound and six shillings, that of a cuirassier four pounds and ten shillings. A more wealthy harquebusier may have worn a buff coatBuff coat
The European Buff coat was an item of leather clothing worn by both the infantry and cavalry during the 17th century, usually worn under armour...
(the finest quality buff coats were often more expensive than an iron cuirass) under his armour and a metal gauntlet to protect his bridle hand and forearm. The harquebusier would have been armed with a doglock
Doglock
Doglock refers to the lock that preceded the 'true' flintlock in both rifles and pistols in the 17th century. Commonly used throughout Europe in the 17th century, it gained popular favor in the British and Dutch military...
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....
, hung from a swivel attached to a baldric
Baldric
A baldric is a belt worn over one shoulder that is typically used to carry a weapon or other implement such as a bugle or drum...
, pistols in saddle holsters and a stout, straight-bladed, sword. The 'dog' of the doglock was a type of safety-catch, very useful to prevent the unintentional firing of the carbine when on horseback.
National variation in the battlefield employment of harquebusiers existed. The French tended to retain greater use of firearms, often their harquebusiers would give a volley of carbine and or pistol fire before closing with the sword. The Swedes and Royalist English charged home directly with the sword, not using firearms until the melee. The Parliamentarian cavalry retained the use of firearms in the charge until later in the Civil War, but by the time of the New Model Army
New Model Army
The New Model Army of England was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, and was disbanded in 1660 after the Restoration...
had largely adopted the direct charge with the sword. The Swedes and Royalist cavaliers usually charged at speed, the English Parliamentarian Ironsides
Ironside (cavalry)
The Ironsides were troopers in the Parliamentarian cavalry formed by English political leader Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century, during the English Civil War. The name came from "Old Ironsides", one of Cromwell's nicknames...
charged at a slower pace, troopers keeping together knee-to-knee, in order to retain their formation.
Demise
The term harquebusier fell out of use gradually, harquebusiers becoming part of the undifferentiated "horse" or, in French, "cavalerie" of the early and mid 18th century. In the British army many cavalry regiments having their origins as units of harquebusiers eventually transformed into dragoonDragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
s. The equipment of the harquebusier disappeared at different rates, the doglock carbine was replaced by the 'true' flintlock in the late 17th century. Cuirasses fell in and out of fashion during the 18th century before the Napoleonic renaissance of the cuirassier
Cuirassier
Cuirassiers were mounted cavalry soldiers equipped with armour and firearms, first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. They were the successors of the medieval armoured knights...
in the first decade of the 19th century. The lobster tailed pot helmet fell out of favour in most countries by 1700, though the Austrian army retained this type of helmet for its cuirassiers into the 1780s, especially when campaigning against the Turks.