Napoleonic Basics - Cuirassiers part 1

Part 1/2 on the iconic Cuirassier! In this part we look at what a cuirassier is, and which nations employed them. We look at their equipment and method of operation on the Napoleonic battlefield.

[raymadi]

The best war gaming channel on YouTube. Please keep making them

[martinradcliffe]

Good stuff! Few things look more impressive than massed French cuirassiers.

[patahern]

Fantastic video! Keep them coming, been looking for this kind of thing for a long time. Great channel!!

[FTONY-slmq]

Thank you, great video. While I’m not a gamer, I found your video to be a great resource. I’m currently reading Moscow 1812: Napoleon’s Fatal March . Your video has been a great resource for me to better understand the various military units in use. Thanks!

[Tupinamba]

Excellent videos and channel, thank you very much. I've been watching all the videos in sequence and look forward to more. Cheers!

[gunner]

Me too. I have a friend in the 11eme regiment du Curassier serving in Africa right now! Not in this uniform I might add. Interesting video, I have paintings of the curassiers all round my house.

[justanothercaptain]

Thank you very much. I love the history content of what all these soldiers did/where. Thank you.

[ignaciofb]

Good video, but calling Spain a smaller nation when by the beginning of the Napoleonic wars still was the largest empire in the world (larger than UKs) I think is a bit erratic. It is true that we were in a breaking point, but it does not mean we were a small nation, not at least if we talk about territorial extension.

[reddsaxxmike]

Also carried the sword like that during charging, to prevent lose of limb/arm.

[unaccomplishedwargamer]

Awesome video. I really enjoy the work you’re doing. Keep it up! Also from my point of view I wouldn’t worry about going too long. A lot of us listen while painting and don’t mind the long vids. Thanks again and have a great 2019!

[filipselakovic]

Hussars will always be more dashing - that's their point, but Cuirassiers are the backbone of any good massed cavalry manoeuvre.

[zulu]

1. Britain also had heavy cavalry but without a breast plate,
2. During the Napoleonic period all European heavy cavalries used straight swords, while light cavalries used curved sabers. Straight swords were better for thrusting and piercing ( a mini hand-lance), that would deliver maximum shock effect when combined with the size of the men and horses during a charge, which was the intended function of the heavy cavalry. But a straight sword was not very good in cutting and therefore heavy cavalries were not very good in mele, which was performed by light cavalries using curve sabers.

[tomascornell]

I may have missed something. While using just the front breastplate the Austrians did employ 8 regiments of cuirassiers

[RalphAstley]

Informative and well presented - thank you.

[willu]

Just found this channel and I love it. Subbed.

[andyrmac]

Great comprehensive presentation. Has spurred on. Thank you for posting..

[Kurio]

When were the lancers used in battle? They had fast horses

[famouswarrior]

3:31 That's a Carabinier

Also, some heavy cavalry units from former satelite states like Koninkrijk Holland, got obsord in a newly formed cuirassier regiment after the annexation of 1810. For example, The 2nd Dutch royal cuirassiers became the 14th regiment Cuirassiers in the French Army.

[bradwhitcomb]

Apologizing for gory descriptions of swords and other edged weapons. Take all the fun out of it?

[philRminiatures]

Nice choice of illustrations, well done...and what a subject!