French Army Cuirassiers DOMINATED with Big SWORDS

French cuirassiers were one of the most legendary and feared cavalry in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries. Elite cavalry, with armor, big swords and big horses, they dominated many battlefields and were widely emulated in other armies. Video with original combat accounts from history.

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[ReubenVictoor]

Gave a replica of this type of sword to my father, who is a massive fanatic for the Napoleonic wars and has transferred this passion onto me. Will be forwarding him this video!
Thank you, ScholaGladiatoria!

[luisyanez]

Matt revisiting topics a year later (like these curassier swords or the recent video about the 1788 Heavy Cavalry Sword) reminds me of the good professors who every year teach the same subject but try to deepen their own and their students understanding of it.

[KalaamNozalys]

It's impressive that even in the success report they underline how difficult it was to achieve those successes against those opponents.

[mcsmash]

i always liked the appereance of a cuirassier, the uniform, the sword, the everything, probably why their are one of my fav units in napoleon total war

[TheLoxapac]

The cuirassiers were nicknamed "les gros frères" by other french soldiers .
It can be translated by "the large brothers" and were looked with high regards. And considered to be very effective in battle.

[arslongavitabrevis]

As a great admirer of Napoleon and his magnificent soldiers I am glad I found your channel. Your information is very accurate; according to the Napoleonic guidelines, the minimum height required for the cuirassiers was 1.73 metres. The average height of the French soldiers of that time was 1.65 metres. The cuirasses changed slightly during the First Empire (there were three different models: 1804, 1807 and 1812) but they all had the same thickness (2.8mm) and the same weight (about 7 kilos.). Regards from Argentina.

[tiein]

Gotta love any anecdote about how awesome the french troops are. And that is an amazing sword

[tonywilkinson]

I’ll never forget seeing that cuirass with a cannon ball having gone straight through, absolutely savage!

[christophercronan]

Matt, I normally enjoy your content, but find you have a way of taking 8 minutes of content and making it a 24 minute video. This was refreshing as it moved from point to point and was instructive at every point. Much enjoyed, Bravo!

[theeddorian]

It would definitely be interesting to see more translated French accounts of Napoleonic battles. I suspect that such accounts, like the one presented, might paint a far more dangerous image of their opponents than might be expected considering allied accounts. Note that another way of understanding that 19 out 20 blows "fell flat" is that you can hear also "it just took one." A battle amputation could easily have been as fatal as a thrust. Losing an arm in a _clean_ cut would see the victim dead of blood loss before they could be aided, because the cut was in fact clean. Losing an arm to shrapnel or even a musket shot would likely have been more survivable. In short, in genuine French accounts the allied cavalry might very well have appeared quite fearsome.

[Kruppt]

i always see this word and when you read it over and over you say it in your head how you think it should/does sound. Hearing you say it even with your accent is a pleasure.

Thanks

[lunacorvus]

Yes, showing your big sword is definitely a good way to tell people how much of a dominator your are :)

[SamTownsBladesmith]

It almost strikes me as a broad basket hilted estoc. Thankyou for your introducing so many different and awesome swords to the community!

[danielharrar]

The cuirassiers should be framed very similarly to how you spoke of the Romans’ gladius/scutum - it’s a weapon system (big horse, big man, long sword) that’s supposed to be employed en masse, not individually. A phalanx of spear points that would often break their opponents before contact but certainly would have the advantage at the collision.

[blackbadger]

French swords don't usually lie within my interests, but I like the way Matt prepares and presents the facts, context and historical accounts of these weapons, in addition to presenting an antique as an example. Great stuff!

[eliane]

Cuirassiers fought on horseback, cum cuirasse, in 1914, both in the first shock and Marne and in the ensuing race to the sea. They got rid of the cuirasse when they went to the trenches in 1915.
They still exist… though they now ride Leclerc tanks. I don’t know what todays doctrine is but in the 80’s they sure were considered as shock units to be unleashed on WP troops in counterattacks.

[MAXERNEST]

I used to collect the Histrorex 54mm model soldiers, i had a few kits of these French cuirassiers, also i still have a Poste Militaire 90mm Kit of this french cavalryman, spent many hours completing these soldiers, i love the Napoleonic era for the uniforms, would like some of the actual swords but these museum pieces will cost a fortune now, you are lucky fellow scholagladiatoria :} since subbed to your channel .

[ClownFace]

Love to see more Napoleonic coverage, especially about my favorite historical cavalry -- the cuirassiers!

[billanderson]

At Wagram, when the cavalry of the guard passed in review before a charge, Napoleon called to them, "Don't cut! The point! The point!" The helmet also protected the cuirassier when reaching forward to thrust against reply blows to the exposed head.

[easygurps]

Had to comment just to say congratulations on your amazing taste in t-shirts and bands! Great video as always, Rock on!