Hungarian Heritage Review, 1987 (16. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1987-02-01 / 2. szám
IN THE SERVICE OF FRANCE: HUNGARIAN HUSSARS IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY By: R. VLADIMIR BAUMGARTEN- jífgaturg of 33íontí|---------------------------------------In the May 1986 issue of the Hungarian Heritage Review, this author introduced Major Janos László Polereczky, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. But this valorous soldier is but one element in a comprehensive subject. The subject—Hungarian hussars in the eighteenth century — has recently enjoyed a renewal of popular interest. This holds especially true for the case of France, in whose service Hungarian hussars particularly distinguished themselves. The author is therefore pleased to present the following two-part “mini-series” on this topic. As a military institution, the hussars may be said to date from 1459. In that year the Hungarian king Mathias Corvinus extended military conscription to peasants on royal lands and to towns endowed with royal charters. It was further stipulated that one out of twenty men called to the colors would serve in the cavalry. The Hungarian word for one out of twenty was husz\ this consequently marked the origin of the huszar. In contrast to the heavy armored cavalry of Western Europe, the hussars were light cavalry, and arose from the peculiar nature of the border war against the Turks. The hussars were to engage in reconnaissance, patrol, and raids, and could operate with special effectiveness behind enemy lines. Poland soon followed Hungary in making use of hussars, and the institution was eventually adopted by Western European powers as well. Both the Austrian Habsburgs and the Transylvanian rebels fighting against them launched hussar raids against each other. French military observers of Hungary’s seventeenth century revolts against the Habsburgs were highly impressed with the performance of the Hungarian light horse. In 1692 Marshal Francois Henri de Luxembourg brought several Hungarians to France, where they formed the first hussar regiment within the French cavalry. In 1701, a second Hungarian hussar regiment was sent to France as a gift from the Elector of Bavaria. When Rakoczi’s revolt ended in 1711, those Hungarians who could not reconcile themselves with the peace of Szatmar were offered employment within the French military. On September 29 of that year, Louis XIV’s chief of staff, the Marquis de Chamlay, stated that “foreign regiments must be maintained, not strictly for their military value, but to strengthen links with the nations of their origin." This policy resulted in a widespread emigration of military talents from the Carpathians to the court of Versailles. One of the pioneers of the cavalry innovations was Count László Bercsényi, son of Rakoczi’s principal advisor. He was born in Eperjes (Presov) in 1689; while his father followed Rákóczi into exile, László organized a detachment of Hungarian hussars for French service in 1720. László Bercsényi ultimately became Inspector General of all cavalry forces in France, and served three different kings with distinction. The Bercsényi Hussars became the first of several largely Hungarian cavalry units organized within the French military in the post-Rakoczi period. This innovation required no small degree of expense. Bercsényi noted at the time of the War of Austrian Succession: “To be truthful, it is easy to find men and even some hussar deserters who come in on horseback, but the majority of their mounts are worthless. We are forced to rehorse them well and arm them, give them equipment and uniforms. Besides this, it is necessary to give each man 40 ecus when he joins up.” Hungarian cavalry had traditionally enjoyed the right of looting upon the capture of an enemy position; this was prohibited by the French military code. But owing to the fact that the Hungarians were employed for deep raids into enemy territory, and thus sustained high casualties, the French Ministry of War made an exception in their case. Another Hungarian organizer was Balint László Esterhazy, who had acquired the title of Compte de Turpin, and who formed his own regiment. A colony of expatriate Hungarian military officers grew up between Paris and Versailles. These men formed a closely knit society of their own, engaging in the drinking, duelling, and romantic pursuits for which hussars became renowned. The atmosphere of comradery among the Hungarian hussars contrasted sharply with the mood throughout the rest of the French military, where aristocratic contempt for the common soldier was answered by a lack of confidence in the officers. The functions of the hussars were expanded owing to the military reforms of Maurice de Saxe, the illegitimate son of the king of Poland. De Saxe began devising new tactics for the hussars in French service during the 1730’s, and these were put to good use in the War of Austrian Succession. Although France did not formally declare war on Austria in 1741, and entire army of volunteers accompanied the French allies, the Bavarians, on their eastward march. These French volunteers included the Bercsényi Hussars, who played a prominent role in the capture of Prague in October. Empress Maria Theresa was herself forced to turn to the Hungarians for assistance. The Hungarian nobility thus gained many concessions they had been unable to attain during Rakoczi’s war. The Hungarian nation, for its part, contributed its finest hussar regiments to the Austrian war effort. Maria Theresa was also forced to make peace with Fredrick of Prussia in order to have a free hand to deal with the French occupiers of Prague. From Versailles, de Saxe viewed Prague’s recapture with a gloomy eye. In his estimation, had the French committed more “free companies” to Bohemia, they could have stabilized their position. Maurice de Saxe consequently rennovated the French cavalry once again, and the Hungarian regiments were especially earmarked for his campaign in Flanders in 1745. For the next three years the Hungarian hussars in the service of France —continued next page 16 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW FEBRUARY 1987
