Uhlan

Uhlans (ˈuːlɑːn,_ˈjuːlən; ułan; ulonas; Ulan; uhlan) were a type of light cavalry, primarily armed with a lance. While first appearing in the cavalry of Lithuania and then Poland, Uhlans were quickly adopted by the mounted forces of other countries, including France, Russia, Prussia, Saxony, and Austria-Hungary. Uhlans traditionally wore a double-breasted short-tailed jacket with a coloured 'plastron' panel at the front, a coloured sash, and a square-topped Polish lancer cap (rogatywka, also called czapka). This cap or cavalry helmet was derived from a traditional design of Polish cap, formalised and stylised for military use. Their lances were traditionally topped with a small, swallow-tailed flag (pennon) just below the spearhead. There are several suggested etymologies for the word uhlan. In the Turkic languages, oğlan means 'young man' or 'boy'. It is probable that this entered Polish via Tatar and was styled as ułan. The Polish spelling was then adopted by German, French, and other European languages. In the late 14th century, Golden Horde Tatar (sometimes spelled Tartar) families settled in Lithuania and so were required to serve the Grand Duke of Lithuania militarily and later the Polish king. The Poles started incorporating much of their military vocabulary and traditions, along with their strategy and tactics. Lithuanian Tatars, mostly Muslim, served as part of the Royal armies during various battles of the late Middle Ages. Their tasks were to conduct reconnaissance in advance of the heavier cavalry banners (knights). With the end of armoured knights during the 16th century, the Lithuanian Tatars were organized in light (Tatar) banners – armed with a light lance, bow, sabre, and on occasion, a battle axe or horseman's pick, serving as companions (towarzysz) and retainers (pocztowy) – while equally lightly armed hussars were converted into heavy companies of winged hussars. Tatar companions serving within their own Tatar companies (banners) lasted until the 1770s, when major cavalry reforms were carried out within the Polish–Lithuanian army and were included in the reformed cavalry regiments.