Roșiori (military unit)


The Roșiori were a type of cavalry unit in the Romanian army. Active throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Roșiori were known for their vibrant red uniforms.

History

The Roșiori were formed in the late 19th century during a period of modernization within the Romanian army. The result of these reforms was the formation of an irregular cavalry force, the Lakarashi, and a professional cavalry force, the Roșiori, who were armed and organized along the lines of the cavalry of the German Empire. The Roșiori wore scarlet hussar uniforms, white pantaloons, and white belts; some sources describe the units as the "Red Hussars".
By 1908, the Romanian army had elected to split the army's professional cavalry forces into hussar and lancer regiments. As part of this division, the Roșiori were re-organized as lancers, and formed six of the Romanian army's seventeen cavalry regiments. The Roșiori were full-time soldiers, and maintained their distinctive red uniforms. Roșiori regiments were made up of five squadrons, with each squadron consisting of 174 horsemen.
During World War I, the Roșiori regiments served with distinction in campaigns against Austria-Hungary, the Kingdom of Bulgaria, and the German Empire. The conflict also saw the mobilization of dismounted Roșiori regiments.
Following the Romania's joining of the Axis powers and subsequent entry into World War II, Roșiori regiments saw service on the Eastern Front against the Red Army.

List of Roșiori regiments