It’s also no mystery why the Hussars took such great pride in their status as Hussars, with the Hussars by and large choosing to fight because they wanted to rather than being forced or conscripted to. It’s no mystery why the Hussars were considered among the most elite of elite units given how well-equipped they were, riding on the best horses and carrying a lance given to them by the King.

“Angels of death” is an apt nickname for sure. The Winged Hussars weren’t armed with lances alone either as they also carried weapons like a koncerz (sword), szabla (sabre), nadziak (war hammer), and later when firearms were introduced, a pistol or two for good measure.Ĭan you imagine how terrifying a sight it’d be to see thousands of Hussars rush at you on horseback with their long lances, while also carrying an assortment of swords, sabres, war hammers, and firearms? In one of the episodes of the Battle of Chocim (September 7th, 1621) Hussar lances impaled up to three, four mounted Turks at once.” In the Battle of Polonka (June 28th, 1660) a single blow of it impaled six Russian footmen. “Truly, the Hussar lance was a lethal weapon. The end result was an incredibly lethal, effective weapon that the Hussars wielded with great prowess.Īlso included in that article is the following example of just how deadly the Hussar lance was: Not only this, but the Hussars rode in on some of Europe’s finest horses, which they paid for themselves. In fact, Hussars were often recruited from Polish nobility and were expected to pay for most of their setup with the exception of their iconic, lightweight, uniquely hollow lance which was provided to them by the King.ĭespite being lighter than a traditional lance, the Hussar’s lance was a lot more durable, and the length could be extended for greater reach. With their wings, the Hussars earned themselves powerful nicknames like the “angels of death” and were described as being a shocking, impressive sight when seen charging into battle. “To frighten the enemy they dress the horses in feathers, attach eagle wings to themselves, and put leopard or bear skins on their shoulders.” In an article on the Winged Hussars from, it’s noted that Venetian envoy Hieronimo Lippomano wrote the following about the Winged Hussars in 1575: The Hussars also wore things like leopard or bear skins, further adding to their glamorous intimidation factor. These wings were often made of wooden slats with eagle feathers (or other varieties like falcon and goose feathers) affixed to them. Riding on horseback, the Hussars were easily identifiable thanks to the uniquely crafted wings they wore. While the Winged Hussars are noted as being active from approximately 1503 to 1702, some of their greatest victories took place in the 1600s, like the infamous Siege of Vienna in 1683. The Polish Winged Hussars are among the greatest cavalry units in recorded history, with an impressive legacy that lives on in a variety of ways, including media like the Sabaton song Winged Hussars. So, if your curiosity has been piqued, here’s more on why the Winged Hussars are among the greatest cavalry units ever established, and why I think everyone should know about them. I also love the opportunity it creates to share some fun Polish history with people who might otherwise be uninterested in it. The concept helps me continue pressing forward no matter the circumstances, and gives me an extra kick in the rear when it comes to being the best teammate possible in multiplayer games like Halo Infinite.

When I have that Winged Hussar gamertag on display I feel unstoppable even when the odds are stacked against me. I like bringing that concept with me into the realm of gaming as someone who considers themselves fairly competitive in nature. In a nutshell, you did not want to go up against the Winged Hussars back in the day because you’d almost certainly lose, and lose badly I might add. I’m always eager to answer these questions by sharing some of the fascinating historical details about these ultimate badasses, including how they rarely lost in battle even when vastly outnumbered, and how their iconic wings were potentially used, at least in part, to intimidate their foes. Specifically, people have questions about what a Winged Hussar is, and why I’ve opted to incorporate them as part of my online identity. I’ve had a few people ask me about my username and gamertag, POLWingedHussar.

Battle of vienna song