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Cuirassiers (/ˌkwɪrəˈsɪər/ KWIRR-ə-SEER; from French cuirassier[1] [kɥiʁasje], 'wearing a cuirass') were cavalry equipped with a cuirass, sword, and pistols. Cuirassiers first appeared in mid-to-late 16th century Europe as a result of armoured cavalry, such as men-at-arms and demi-lancers discarding their lances and adopting pistols as their primary weapon.[2] In the later part of the 17th century, the cuirassier lost his limb armour and subsequently wore only the cuirass (breastplate and backplate), and sometimes a helmet. By this time, the sword or sabre had become his primary weapon, with pistols relegated to a secondary function.
Cuirassiers achieved increased prominence during the Napoleonic Wars and were last fielded in the opening stages of World War I (1914–1918). A number of countries continue to use cuirassiers as ceremonial troops.
The French term cuirassier means "one with a cuirass" (French: cuirasse), the breastplate armour which they wore.[3]
- ^ "cuirassier - definition of cuirassier by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia". Thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
- ^ Oman, Charles (1987) [1937] A History of the Art of War in the Sixteenth Century, London: Greenhill, ISBN 0-947898-69-7, pp. 85-88. The first recorded use of pistols from horseback, by German cavalry, dates from 1545.
- ^ Angus Konstam, William Younghusband (1996). Russian Army of the Seven Years War. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-587-X.