Polish Winged Hussars - HusariaErr... I was so excited seeing "historical line" within thread's tittle, but then I saw "fantasy" part...
But anyway... Well, if lancers with with feathers then definitelly Winged Hussars (Husaria vide Rhannon's reply) - Polish elite-of-elite nobleman heavy cavalry.
In fact they were not only stylish but also deadly efficient.
In XVI-XVII C. Husaria was widely regarded as the most powerful cavalry formation in the world. Polish Hussars were undefeated and decisive in battle for nearly 200 years.
Hussars lance - kopiaHussar main weapon was extra-long (up tp 6,5m! so longer then foot infantry pique's) - and made from 2 especially drilled(!) halves glued and binded together -- therefore lance was hollowed in order to lower the weight. Lances were decorated with very long 3,5m and colorful baners, so they looked impressive when slattering on wing or during charge.
WingsThere was different types of "wings" during the centuries - single and paired, straight and curved. Usualy made with eagle, heron or aigrette feathers but also swan or goose. Wings were usualy fixed to the Husarz back armor-plate special hinges but in sometimes to the saddle.
Wings when charging made a lot of specific, clattering noise, so non-trained enemy horses started panicking and running away. Some historicians suppose that wing were also kinda protections from Tatar's and other eastern nomads lasso's.
Although according to some historicians the wings were used only accidentaly in battle and mostly for parades and other special occasions only.
Wild exotic animal fursHussars puts animal furs on top of their armour. Commanders and Officers wore tiger when regular hussars leopard / panther furs. Retainers (Pocztowi) wore wolf or lynx furs.
All together - wings, furs and long baners resulted in uncommon, threatening yet impressive and awesome at the same time look which was kinda renaissance form of psychological warfare.
Hussars lancesPolish hussars lance (
kopia) was up to 6,5 tall and... hollowed (drilled), with two halves glued together and painted, and even often richly gilded.
Main purpose of heavily armoured Husaria cavalry was destroying enemy best units and break through enemy lines with concentrate and crushing powerfull charge.
When charging, just before strucking at enemy line -- within last dozens of meters second and third line of riders in full gallopade(!) get/ride in empty spaces between first line riders and then they all tighten the line so their knees touched!
And then this heavy armored stell-roller, "ruffled" with hundreds of long spears with fluttering colorfull baners, in full gallopade strucks enemy lines. If needed Hussars repeat the charge several times until the enemy formation broke (they had supply wagons with spare lances).
The hussars fought with a long lance, a koncerz (stabbing sword), a szabla (sabre), 1 or 2 pistols, and often with a carbine or arquebus, known in Polish as a bandolet.
In addition, there was no West European stigma attached to the use of a bow and arrows, but the more English-like view was held (the English continued to hold archers in high esteem.) It
is possible that the projectile weapons were used to weaken the enemy's infantry squares and to create a domino effect. The lighter Turkish-style saddle allowed for more armour to be used by both the horses and the warriors. Moreover, the horses were bred to run very fast with a heavy load and to recover quickly. These were created by mixing old Polish horses blood with eastern horses, usually from Tatar tribes. As a result, horse could walk hundreds of kilometres loaded with over 100 kilograms (warrior plus armor and weaponry) and instantly charge. Also, hussar horses were very quick and manoeuvrable.
This made hussars able to fight with any cavalry or infantry force from western heavy kissaiers to quick tatars.
[Wikipedia][/img][/center]
In many cases Polish army commanders tried to secret / "hide" Husaria presence in their army - just to surprise / flabbergast the enemy and put Husaria into attack in best tactical battle momentum. In such situations Hussars stand at back of the whole army - lying on the horse-backs and with lances horizontally - to hide from enemy eyes. When both armies engaged most of their formations - Husaria outmanewred enemy flanks and... strikes from side with goal to charge through whole front-line or destroy enemy commander unit.
In some situations Polish commanders... just simulated presence of Husaria in their army ranks - retinues riding trace-horses with long fake spears (made from looped branches and with big, specific Husaria-like banners) started to remowing at the back of Polish army-lines, trying to convince enemy that hidden unit is preparing for attack position or some reinforcements just arrived. In many cases it was enough for starting the fear and panic within enemy ranks.
More reading and photos:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HusariaPolish XVI-XVII medium and light cavalry From left:-Dragon
-Pancerny with spear
-Pancerny with
nadziak-Lisowczyk
PancerniTowarzysz pancerny ("armoured companion") was a medium-cavalryman in 16th-18th century Poland, named for his chainmail armor ("pancerz"). These units were the second-most-important cavalry arm in the Polish Army, after the Hussars.
Most pancerni were recruited from the middle or lower classes of szlachta (nobility). They were organized into companies (singular: chor¹giew pancerna) of 60-200 horsemen.
[Wikipedia]LisowczycyLisowczycy also known as Straceñcy ('lost men' or 'forlorn hope') or company of elears - the name of an early 17th century irregular unit of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth light cavalry. The Lisowczycy took part in many battles across Europe and the historical accounts of the period characterized them as extremely agile, warlike, and bloodthirsty.
[Wikipedia]Napoleonic Wars Era Lancers In late XVIII C. Polish Hussars duties and traditions were passed on to the Uhlans (
u³ani or
ulani in case if [³] is not properly displayed on your screen), known also as Lancers (
Lansjerzy) or... picadores -- as during Iberic Paninsular War Spanish used to call Lancers "los infernos picadores Polacos".
From left:-Napoleonic Army Polish Uhlan Regiment standardbearer
-Warsaw Duchy Uhlans regiment trumpeter
-Napoleon's Old Guard Polish Chasseur (
Szwolezer Gwardii)
-Vistula Legion (
Legia Nadwiœlañska) 9-th regiment Lancer
---
Anyway... I'm warning - one day I will publish some historical 30mm scale sets. Dunno for now which period - perhaps it would be wiser to start with something "flexible" and near-fantasy - like Pirates, Crusader Knights or Vikings...
;D