Russian Hussars and Pandurs     Russian regular army in the SYW was mono-national, with the only exception for light cavalry, consisted of regiments of Pandur Hussars. They were raised from Serbs, Hungarians, Georgians, Wallachians & Moldavians. To explain their origins I have to make a brief excursion to the 1730-ths.     During the War 1736-39 with Turkey, many volunteers from Orthodox countries (Serbia, Moldavia, Wallachia & Georgia) entered Russian service & raised numerous volunteer troops of light cavalry, commonly named Hussars. When the War ended, most of them wished to stay in Russia, because they were from countries stayed under Turkey rule & couldn't return home. They were allowed to stay in Russia & were suggested either to enlist Russian regular army or to settle in the Southern regions of Ukraine. This predetermined the following development of Pandur troops in Russia: some of them became a part of the regular army, other formed settled military like Austrian Grenz military.   Regular Hussar regiments            Origin On October 14, 1741 Princess Anna Leopoldovna of Braunschweig-Lunenburg, who ruled Russia from November 11, 1740 to November 25, 1741, authorized the raising of 4 Hussar regiments from natives who had remained in Russia:     Serbskiy (Serbian)     Moldavskiy (Moldavian)     Vengerskiy (Hungarian)     Gruzinskiy (Georgian) They were raised from above-mentioned various Hussar companies, converted to regular service after the War 1736-39. This regiments were enlisted, not conscripted as the rest of Russian army, & were on a level between regular and irregular cavalry. Hussars were recruited only from the title nation, i.e. this regiments were national units on Russian service: all troops (incl. officers) were national and commands were given in the national languages. Each regiment was supposed to have a fixed organization of 10 companies, each of about 100 men, but these regiments were recruited from different sources, so they were less then authorized strength. Later in 1759-60 3 more Hussar regiments were raised:    Zeltiy (Yellow)    Makedonskiy (Macedonian)    Bolgarskiy (Bulgarian) but completed was only Yellow Hussars, & they took part in the final actions of the SYW. Pandur Hussars took active part in the SYW, for details see Regimental histories. Hungarian, Yellow, Georgian, Moldavian and Serbian Hussars             Uniform & equipment I have not found the exact date when the Hussars received their first uniform regulation. I believe it was about 1741-42 and dated from first years of the reign of Empress Elizabeth. Nevertheless, Viskovatov in "Historical description..." (Vol. 3, p. 56) gives a detailed description of their uniform and equipment. Russian Hussars received uniform like Austrian one. Georgian Hussar-Officer from Viskovatov         Uniform. Pelisse: short cloth jacket without collar, decorated with cords and buttons. Pelisse was trimmed with black fur & was usually worn over the left shoulder. It was worn as a jacket only in inclement weather. Dolman: cloth jacket with small stand-up collar, decorated with cords and buttons. The Dolman was bordered with lace of the same colour with cords. Usually it was belted with Kushak, a wide barrel sash. It had two parts: the base barrel sash & some vertical barrels. They were of different colors. As a rule, vertical parts were the same color with cords & lace. Chashkirry: tight, cloth breeches decorated with cords. Epancha: a kind of cloak used in Russian army. It reached mid-calf. The Epancha was worn in cold and inclement weather. Black cloth cravat. Tsipely: short leather boots, as a rule black. All buttons on the dress were copper. Shako: a fur head-dress decorated with cords, with the top of the regimental color.         Equipment. Broadsword or sabre: worn in leather sheath with metal fittingd. The sheath was carried on a special belt, called a Pasak. It was hidden under Kushak. Sabretache: leather with a cloth cover. It was suspended from 3 straps on the left side, and dangled about knee. It was decorated with monogram and bordered with lace of the same color as the monogram. A short Fusil or Carbine with bayonet. Baldric was worn over the left shoulder and Cartridge-box over right shoulder. All cross belts were made of black leather. Mounted Hussars also had a pair of pistols carried in the saddle holsters.         Rank distinctions. Non-commissioned officers (corporals, quartermasters, vakhmeisters) had the same uniform and armament as the other ranks but wool lace changed to gold. All non-commission officers had one braid on the border of the collar. Quartermasters also had one braid on sleeves & vakhmeister (senior corporal in Pandur units) - two. Corporals did not have any special distinctions, except the braid on the collar. Hussars non-commission officers were armed with a sabre & a pare of pistols. Their equipment consisted of a sabretache & pistol cartouche. Georgian Hussar-Private from Viskovatov Hussar officer wore the same uniform like other ranks but better decorated. All cords & lace were gold in spite of the regimental color. Tsipely were yellow. They were armed with sabre & a pare of pistols. Hussars did not powder and plait their hair. Usually they grew it in long curls and wore long hanging moustaches.         Musicians. Each regiment had 1 kettle-drummer & 10 trumpeters, one for each company. They changed from other Hussars by small wings on shoulders & galloon of different colors. Unfortunately, this decorations were not regulated punctually & images of Hussars musicians didn't saved. All musical instruments were made from copper in regular cavalry pattern and decorated with lace & cords of the regimental color.    Vlad Gromoboy