Braunschweig Hussaren

Historical Background

After being formed under Austrian protection, the Hussar Regiment of the Black Troop, as part of the Free Corps under Duke Frederick William, marched to Saxony to fight against the troops of Napoleon I. Following the defeat of the coalition forces at the Battle of Wagram, the unit, and with it the regiment, left Austrian service, made its way from Bohemia to the North Sea coast, and embarked for England at Elsfleth and Brake. Under English command, the regiment was detached from the corps. It fought against the French occupation in Spain in 1813 and 1814. While the original regiment remained under English command in the Mediterranean, Duke Frederick William raised a new hussar regiment of six companies in Wolfenbüttel in the spring of 1814. This regiment marched with the field corps to Brabant in 1814 and 1815 and participated in the Battle of Quatre-Bras on 16 June 1815 and the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815 . After the Napoleonic Wars, the regiment was absorbed into the German regular army, following the Duchy of Brunswick joining the North German Confederation and they were renamed to "Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17."

Notable Actions

• ▸ Raided Westphalian supply depots during the 1809 campaign
• ▸ Screened the retreat through Halberstadt and Olper
• ▸ Pursued French cavalry at the Battle of Waterloo alongside the British Hussars