M-Model 32064 Subaltern,16 th Chasseurs c. 1809

In the army, still monarchical, France, the first light cavalry formations armed with long firearms were established in the 17th century. In 1740, and therefore on the threshold of the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748), mixed regiments of mounted and foot soldiers appeared in the French army, which were to cooperate with each other on the battlefield. In 1788, on the eve of the Great French Revolution, for the first time in the history of the French army, completely cavalry regiments of mounted riflemen appeared. In the same year, the number of horse rifle regiments was twelve. Just before the Revolution, a single regiment consisted of 36 officers and 632 soldiers divided into 4 squadrons, 2 companies each. With time, the number of horse rifle regiments increased - in 1804 there were 24 such regiments, and in 1811 - as many as 31. bright cavalry rifles model 1786, and later also AN XI and AN XI. Each of these carbines allowed for an effective shot at a distance of about 100 meters. The sidearm was a saber, basically the same as used by the hussar regiments.