CUIRASSIERS  , a See also:

• KIND (O. E. ge-cynde, from the same root as is seen in " kin," supra)

kind of heavy See also:

• CAVALRY (Fr. cavalerie, Ger. Kavallerie or Reiterei, derived ultimately from late Lat. caballus, horse)

cavalry, originally See also:

• DEVELOPED

developed out of the men-at-arms or See also:

• GENDARMERIE

gendarmerie forming the heavy cavalry of feudal armies . Their See also:

• SPECIAL

special characteristic was the wearing of full See also:

• ARMOUR, PHILIP DANFORTH (1832-1901)

armour, which they retained See also:

• LONG, GEORGE (1800-1879)
• LONG, JOHN DAVIS (1838– )

long after other troops had abandoned it . Hence they became distinguished as cuirassiers . The first See also:

• AUSTRIAN

Austrian See also:

• CORPS (pronounced as in French, from which it is taken, being a late spelling of tors, from Lat. corpus, a body; cf. " corpse ")

corps of kyrissers was formed in 1484 by the See also:

• EMPEROR (Fr. empereur, from the Lat. imperator)

emperor See also:

• MAXIMILIAN
• MAXIMILIAN (1832—1867)

Maximilian and was roo strong . In 1705 See also:

• AUSTRIA
• AUSTRIA, LOWER (Ger. Niederosterreich or Osterreich unter der Enns, " Austria below the river Enns ")
• AUSTRIA, UPPER (Ger. Oberosterreich or Osterreich ob der Enns, " Austria above the river Enns ")

Austria possessed twenty regiments of cuirassiers . After the See also:

• WAR
• WAR (O. Eng. werre, Fr. guerre, of Teutonic origin; cf. O.H.G. werran, to confound)

war of 1866, however, the existing regiments were converted into dragoons . See also:

• RUSSIA
• RUSSIA (Rossiya)

Russia has likewise in See also:

• MODERN

modern times abolished all but • a few guard regiments of cuirassiers . The Prussian cuirassiers were first so called under See also:

• FREDERICK
• FREDERICK (Mod. Ger. Friedrich; Ital. Federigo; Fr. Frederic and Federic; M.H.G. Friderich; O.H.G. Fridurih, " king or lord of peace," from O.H.G. fridu, A.S. frith, " peace," and rfh " rich," " a ruler," for derivation of which see HENRY)

Frederick See also:

• WILLIAM
• WILLIAM (1143-1214)
• WILLIAM (1227-1256)
• WILLIAM (1J33-1584)
• WILLIAM (A.S. Wilhelm, O. Norse Vilhidlmr; O. H. Ger. Willahelm, Willahalm, M. H. Ger. Willehelm, Willehalm, Mod.Ger. Wilhelm; Du. Willem; O. Fr. Villalme, Mod. Fr. Guillaume; from " will," Goth. vilja, and " helm," Goth. hilms, Old Norse hidlmr, meaning
• WILLIAM (c. 1130-C. 1190)
• WILLIAM, 13TH

William I., and in the See also:

• WARS

wars of his successor Frederick the See also:

• GREAT

Great they See also:

• BORE

bore a conspicuous See also:

• PART

part . After the Seven Years' War they ceased to See also:

• WEAR

wear the See also:

• CUIRASS (Fr. cuirasse, Lat. coriaceus, made of leather, from corium, the original breastplate being of leather)

cuirass on service, but after 1814 these were reintroduced, the spoils taken from the See also:

• FRENCH
• FRENCH, DANIEL CHESTER (1850– )
• FRENCH, NICHOLAS (1604-1678)

French cuirassiers being used to equip the troops . The cuirass is now worn only on ceremonial parades . In See also:

• FRANCE
• FRANCE, ANATOLE (1844– )

France the cuirassiers date from 1666, when a See also:

• REGIMENT (from Late Latin regimentum, rule, regere, to rule, govern, direct)

regiment, subsequently numbered 8th of the See also:

• LINE

line, was formed . During the first See also:

• EMPIRE

Empire many regiments were created, until in 1812 there were fourteen .

The number was reduced after the fall of See also:

• NAPOLEON

Napoleon, but in modern times it has been again increased . The French regiments alone in See also:

• EUROPE

Europe wear the cuirass on all parades and at manoeuvres .