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At the beginning of 1812 there were 11 line hussar regiments in the Russian armed forces plus one guard hussar regiment. An additional regiment was added in December 1812. This is a brief account of these regiments. Light cavalry had always occupied a prominent place in the Russian armed forces. The development of the hussar, as a specific type of cavalry was influenced by the appearance of hussars in the armies of the Western European powers. Initially, in the early 17th century, the first units to appear corresponding to a hussar type were formed from the irregular mounted streltzi and some cossack "polks". Eventually these were transformed into irregular light horse units and then, in 1741, into regular hussar regiments on the army rolls.
In 1812 the Table of Organization of the line hussar regiment included a chief, six staff officers (1 colonel, 1 lt.colonel, 4 majors); 75 officers (6 rotmisters, 10 star- rotmisters, 20 lieutentants, 34 kornets, 1 chief and 2 battalion adutants, 1 quartermaster, and 1 paymaster); 130 non-commissioned officers, 1480 privates, 32 trumpeters; 52 non-combatants (of these 1 priest, 3 doctors, 2 surgeon's assistants, 1 kostopr and 10 barbers),; 39 artisans, 27 furlyeit, 1432 combat horses in peace time and 1582 in wartime (without counting supernumerary horsesof the officers aaand military ranks. In the active squadroons there were 7 officers, 13 noncommissioned officers, 148 privates, 3 turmpeters and 143 combat horses. The Pavlograd Regiment, decorated for excellence at Shyengrabyenwith the St George Standards, had for their guard in each squadron 2 non- commissioned officers over TO&E.
In January 1813 all cavalry regiments were converted to a table of 7 squadroons (6 active and 1 reserve). According to the new TOE the hussar regiments, besides the chief, consisted of 5 staff officers, 53 officers, 126 non-commissioned off icers, 1260 privates, 22 trumpeters (including 1 staff trumpeter), and 1254 combat horses. Each active squadron preserving its previous number of officers, now had 18 non-commissioned officers, 180 privates, 3 trumpeters and 179 combat horses.
The privates of the hussar regiments in 1812-1814 were recruited in the majority from inhabitants of Ukraine and southern Russia. To be suitable for hussar service the recruit had to be from 165 to 169 centemeters tall. This rule, naturally, did not apply to the officers. The hussar horses had to be excellent, but not taller than 2 arshins 2 vershk (151 centemeters) nor shorter than 2 arshins (142 centemeters). The cost of a horse for hussars typically amounted to 40 rubles, but during war of course inflation brought the price to 200 rubles.
The traditional uniform of the hussars which was based on the
national costume of the Magyars and south Slavs,
The basic parts were the doloman, myentik (worn
myentik, which
The myentik was usually worn thrown over the left shoulder, but in winter could be worn with the arms in the sleeves.
The officers' uniform
The chakchir which
The hussars wore the 1812 model kiver of black leather
The kiver of the non-commissioned officers and trumpeters keeping the black
Akhtirski Hussar Regiment was formed on 27 June 1651, from natives of Little Russia (Ukraine) as the Akhtirski Settlement Cherkasski Regiment.
Alyeksandriiskii Hussar Regiment was formed on 28 July 1783 by general major Baron I. Ye. Ferzyen on the basis of the Dalmatian and Makyedonski Hussar Regiments, as the Alyeksandriiskii Light Horse Regiment- Yekatyerinuslavski Horse.
Byelorusskii Hussar Regiment was formed on 16 May 1803 by Count general major P. V. Golyenishchyev-Kutozov in Yekatyerinopol and Zvyenigorod in Kiev Province on the basis of four squadrons, formerly from the Alyeksandriiskii, Yelizabetgradski, Ol'viopol'ski, and Pavlogradski Hussar Regiments.
Grodnyenskii Hussar Regiment was formed on 13 July 1806 by Colonel D. D. Shyepyelyev in Toropts in the Pskov Province on the basis of five squadrons formerly in the Alyeksandriiskii, Izumski, Ol'viopol'ski, and Sumski Hussar Regiments.
Irkutskii Hussar Regiment was formed on 17 December 1812 on the basis of the Irkutski Dragoon and the Moskva Hussar - Count Saltikov Regiments.
Izumskii Hussar Regiment was formed on 27 July 1651 from natives of Little Russia as the Izumski Settlement Cherkasski Cossack Regiment
Lubyenski Hussar Regiment was formed on 28 July 1783 by general major Baron I. Ye. Ferzyen on the basis of the Syerbski and Bolgarski Hussar Regiments.
Mariupol'ski Hussar Regiment was formed on 28 July 1783 from the Luganski and Poltavski Lancer Regiments as the Mariupol'ski Light Horse Regiment.
Olviopol'ski Hussar Regiment was formed on 14 March 1807 by general major A. P. Myelissin in Shkolov in Mogilyev-on-Dnyestr from volunteer Russians and foreign settlers.
Pavlogradski Hussar Regiment was formed on 28 July 1783 by general lieutenant Baron I. A. Igyel'strom on the basis of the Dnyeprovski and Yekatyerinoslavski Lancer Regiments.
Sumskii Hussar Regiment was formed on 27 July 1651 from settlers of Little Russia as the Sumski Settlement Cherkasski Cossack Regiment.
Yelizabyetgradskii Hussar Regiment was formed on 22 March 1764 in the fortress St Yelizabyet from Cossacks serving in the fortress as the Yelizabyetgrad Lancer Regiment.
I have all the subsequent renamings of these regiments and their participation with dates during the 1812-1815 campaigns. I have the names of their commanders and all details of their uniforms and armament etc.
Guard Hussar Regiment is the only one for which I don't have the information in the source here, but I can find something.
George N. shows Alyeksandr Hussars in two widly seperated armies in 1812. They were in the army on Dniper-Danube front.