Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Bavaria - Chevaulegers

The Chevaulegers originated in the 18th century as light cavalry.

The name has French roots: chevaux = horses and léger = light.

In France they were first formed in the 15th century.

In Bavaria Chevaulegers were raised in 1790.

From 1811 even the entire cavalry was converted into Chevaulegers.

They existed in the Old Army only in the Bavarian contingent, a total of 8 regiments.

The oldest regiments (No. 1 and 2) had been founded in 1682, but became Chevaulegers only in 1790.

The last regiments were formed in 1905 (No. 7) and 1909 (No. 8).

The leather helmet was the model of the heavy Bavarian cavalry. For parade white horsehair plumes were worn. 1).

The cap was made of steel-green cloth and had a trim stripe in the badge color of the respective unit. The protruding rim of the cap top also displayed this color.

The Chevaulegers wore steel-green double-breasted tunics with rounded collars and simple - Swedish - sleeve cuffs.

The tunic thus resembled the ulanka of the uhlans, however it had a frontal overlap only on the right side.

The shoulder straps bore no insignia.

For parade, a parade flap was buttoned up similar to the uhlans.

This, like the collar, the sleeve cuffs, the facings and the swallowtail pockets, displayed the regiment's respective badge color.

Every two regiments shared one badge color and then differed by the metal of the buttons, etc.

The off-duty cloth trousers were - as was the cap – steel-green and had wide trim stripes in the badge color.

The coat was made of grey cloth and had collar patches and shoulder straps in the respective badge color. The latter showed no insignia.

Officers additionally had dark-green greatcoats and gray-green litewkas.

The edged weapon of the Chevaulegers was the cavalry saber Model 1889 with a special guard (with Bavarian lions).

In addition, the Chevaulegers were also equipped with the lance customary for the entire cavalry of the Imperial Army.

The Chevaulegers otherwise wore the legwear of the dragoons. The riding breeches had a leather insert.

The saddlecloth was steel-green and had a trim stripe and crown in the badge color.