-
- before loading
Cuirassiers are heavily equipped horsemen.
French cuirassier armor from 1854
Napoleon Bonaparte's reform of the 1st Vendémiaire Year XII (September 24, 1803) transformed 80 cavalry regiments, including 12 cuirassiers. In 1807, the regiment went from 4 to 5 squadrons with a strength of 1040 men. Despite the suppression of the 5th squadron in 1809, the number did not decrease. A 13th and a 14th regiment were formed in 1810 and 1812. The minimum height for cuirassiers was set at 1.73m.
The cuirassiers were part with the riflemen of the heavy cavalry, as opposed to the dragoons and lancers (line cavalry), and the hussars and chasseurs (light cavalry).
-
- cuirassier face
They were protected by a breastplate, more for the 8th, a backrest, forming a cuirass, which gave them their name. They were armed with a carbine, a slat, a kind of straight sword and two pistols. The power of their charges was such that they were colloquially nicknamed "The big brothers" or "The iron men":Balzac, in Colonel Chabert and Victor Hugo in Les Misérables described these charges as shaking the whole field. of battle.
The regiments were organized into 2 companies of two squadrons, with 200 men per squadron.
Twentieth-century mechanization transformed these regiments into armored regiments. Some have kept the title of cuirassier regiments and are equipped with the most powerful armored equipment, such as the AMX30 and Leclerc tanks.
French cuirassier regiments
-
- back cuirassier
In the French army, red is the traditional color of cuirassiers. Their regiments are colloquially referred to as Leathers (1st Leathers, 2nd Leathers, etc.)
* 1st cuirassiers:called Turenne-Cavalerie or Colonel General of Cavalry under the Ancien Régime, it was created in 1631 and was commanded by Turenne from 1651 to 1657. Its motto is Certum Monstrat Iter (“he shows the way”). Since June 5, 1999, he has been part of the 1st-11th cuirassier regiment based in Carpiagne.
* 2nd cuirassiers:created in 1635 by Richelieu, he took the name of Cardinal-Duc, then of Royal -Cavalry in 1643.
* 3rd cuirassiers:Commissioner-General created in 1645 and was dissolved in 1815.
* 4th cuirassiers:created in 1643 under the name of La Reine-Mère, then took the name of La Reine in 1666.
* 5th cuirassiers:created in 1653 and called Stanislas-Roi in 1725, then Royal Poland in 1737.
* 6th cuirassiers:created in 1635 under the name of Dragons du Cardinal, and was called in 1638 the Fusiliers à Cheval de son Eminence, then after 1643 the Fusiliers à Cheval du Roi, to finally become in 1646 the Régiment du Roi.
* 7th cuirassiers:created in 1659 from several foreign regiments in the service of France.
* 8th cuirassiers:created in 1665 a Old Cuirassiers of the King.
* 9th cuirassiers:created in 1666 under the name of Artois. Disbanded 1946.
* 10th Cuirassiers:Created in 1643 as Royal-Cravates. Disbanded in 1940.
* 11th cuirassiers:created following the grouping of rifle companies in 1693, it is the heir of the Royal Roussillon, itself issued in 1668 from the regiment of Montclar Catalan . Since June 5, 1999, he has been part of the 1st-11th cuirassier regiment based in Carpiagne.
* 12th cuirassiers:created in 1668 under the name of Dauphin-Cavalerie
* 13th Cuirassiers:created 1807, disbanded 1814, recreated 1891, disbanded 1913
* 14th Cuirassiers
.
-
- cuirrassier by Messonier