I’ve had a few people ask me about my username and gamertag, POLWingedHussar. Specifically, people have questions about what a Winged Hussar is, and why I’ve opted to incorporate them as part of my online identity.
I’m always eager to answer these questions by sharing some of the fascinating historical details about these ultimate badasses, including how they rarely lost in battle even when vastly outnumbered, and how their iconic wings were potentially used, at least in part, to intimidate their foes.
In a nutshell, you did not want to go up against the Winged Hussars back in the day because you’d almost certainly lose, and lose badly I might add. I like bringing that concept with me into the realm of gaming as someone who considers themselves fairly competitive in nature.
When I have that Winged Hussar gamertag on display I feel unstoppable even when the odds are stacked against me. The concept helps me continue pressing forward no matter the circumstances, and gives me an extra kick in the rear when it comes to being the best teammate possible in multiplayer games like Halo Infinite.
I also love the opportunity it creates to share some fun Polish history with people who might otherwise be uninterested in it. So, if your curiosity has been piqued, here’s more on why the Winged Hussars are among the greatest cavalry units ever established, and why I think everyone should know about them.
Who were the Winged Hussars?
Image Credit: Mariusz Kozik
The Polish Winged Hussars are among the greatest cavalry units in recorded history, with an impressive legacy that lives on in a variety of ways, including media like the Sabaton song Winged Hussars.
While the Winged Hussars are noted as being active from approximately 1503 to 1702, some of their greatest victories took place in the 1600s, like the infamous Siege of Vienna in 1683. Riding on horseback, the Hussars were easily identifiable thanks to the uniquely crafted wings they wore.
These wings were often made of wooden slats with eagle feathers (or other varieties like falcon and goose feathers) affixed to them. The Hussars also wore things like leopard or bear skins, further adding to their glamorous intimidation factor.
In an article on the Winged Hussars from culture.pl, it’s noted that Venetian envoy Hieronimo Lippomano wrote the following about the Winged Hussars in 1575:
“To frighten the enemy they dress the horses in feathers, attach eagle wings to themselves, and put leopard or bear skins on their shoulders.”
With their wings, the Hussars earned themselves powerful nicknames like the “angels of death” and were described as being a shocking, impressive sight when seen charging into battle.
Not only this, but the Hussars rode in on some of Europe’s finest horses, which they paid for themselves. In fact, Hussars were often recruited from Polish nobility and were expected to pay for most of their setup with the exception of their iconic, lightweight, uniquely hollow lance which was provided to them by the King.
Despite being lighter than a traditional lance, the Hussar’s lance was a lot more durable, and the length could be extended for greater reach. The end result was an incredibly lethal, effective weapon that the Hussars wielded with great prowess.
Also included in that culture.pl article is the following example of just how deadly the Hussar lance was:
“Truly, the Hussar lance was a lethal weapon. In the Battle of Polonka (June 28th, 1660) a single blow of it impaled six Russian footmen. In one of the episodes of the Battle of Chocim (September 7th, 1621) Hussar lances impaled up to three, four mounted Turks at once.”
The Winged Hussars weren’t armed with lances alone either as they also carried weapons like a koncerz (sword), szabla (sabre), nadziak (war hammer), and later when firearms were introduced, a pistol or two for good measure.
Can you imagine how terrifying a sight it’d be to see thousands of Hussars rush at you on horseback with their long lances, while also carrying an assortment of swords, sabres, war hammers, and firearms?
“Angels of death” is an apt nickname for sure.
It’s no mystery why the Hussars were considered among the most elite of elite units given how well-equipped they were, riding on the best horses and carrying a lance given to them by the King.
It’s also no mystery why the Hussars took such great pride in their status as Hussars, with the Hussars by and large choosing to fight because they wanted to rather than being forced or conscripted to.
“When the Winged Hussars arrived…” at the Siege of Vienna
The aforementioned song from Sabaton that became something of a meme similar to Monty Python’s “no one expects the Spanish Inquisition” and is noteworthy not only for its iconic line “when the Winged Hussars arrived” but also for the battle it recounts.
The Siege of Vienna is undoubtedly the most infamous victory of the Winged Hussars, with the cavalry charge being among the largest in recorded history. To help set the scene, an estimated 150,000 Ottoman troops were laying siege to Vienna, and were looking as though they’d succeed.
However, in true Monty Python “no one expects the Spanish Inquisition” fashion, the Ottoman troops failed to anticipate the overwhelmingly effective cavalry charge that awaited them, led by Poland’s King Jan III Sobieski.
Riding at the front, King Jan III Sobieski led a cavalry 20,000 strong, among the largest in recorded history and including a whopping 3,000 prestigious Winged Hussars, in a surprise attack from the woods.
The charge was the final decisive blow suffered by the Ottomans before they accepted defeat and retreated. Sobieski said after the battle, “Venimus, vidimus, Deus vicit” or “We came, we saw, God conquered.”
The Ottoman defeat at the hands of, in part, the Winged Hussars at the Siege of Vienna was, in a word, impactful. So much so, there are even debates as to whether Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien took inspiration from the Siege of Vienna when writing about the Battle of the Pelennor Fields at the Siege of Minas Tirith, aka the Siege of Gondor, in Return of the King.
While I wasn’t able to find any definitive, reliable sources to either confirm or deny this, the similarities are easy to spot when comparing the two battles. For example, King Theoden leading his cavalry out from the forest and down the hill in the Ride of the Rohirrim (see above) feels strikingly reminiscent of when Polish King Jan III Sobieski led his cavalry, Winged Hussars included, to ambush the attacking Ottomans.
Or the fact that Theoden’s cavalry were outnumbered in facing 200,000 orcs (similar to the 150,000 attacking Ottomans), with the city similarly on the brink of defeat prior to the charge. And of course, Theoden’s cavalry charge ending in success similar to the victory enjoyed by Sobieski and his Winged Hussars.
Final Thoughts
The Winged Hussars were awesome, no doubt about it. From their signature look to their prowess in battle to the smart ways in which they were utilized by the likes of King Jan III Sobieski, the Hussars left a storied legacy behind that’s easy to appreciate.
In fact, I’ve often thought the Winged Hussars would make an excellent topic for a film, and there have been a few made, though none with the sort of big budget that I feel is needed when it comes to showing the impressive feats the Hussars were able to accomplish in battle.
Ideally, it’d be awesome if Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson were to one day take on a Winged Hussar film as he'd undoubtedly be able to recreate the epic charge of the Winged Hussars at the Siege of Vienna with great effectiveness.
Maybe we’ll be blessed with such a film one day, or something similar. Fingers crossed. Until then, if you want to learn more about the Winged Hussars you can read about them in the culture.pl article, and there are a few YouTube videos worth checking out including one of my personal favorites from channel Simple History.
