Indian Lancer soldato del cavallo abbigliamento tradizionale rider esercito lancia un lancer (uhlan) era un tipo di cavalryman che hanno combattuto con la
3198 x 5365 px | 27,1 x 45,4 cm | 10,7 x 17,9 inches | 300dpi
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A lancer (uhlan) was a type of cavalryman who fought with a lance. Lances were used in mounted warfare by the Assyrians as early as 700BC and subsequently by Greek, Macedonian, Persian, Gallic and Roman horsemen" The weapon was widely used in Asia and Europe during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance by armoured cavalry before being adopted by light cavalry, particularly in Eastern Europe. The lancer, (called ułan in Polish and uhlan in German), had become a common sight in almost every European, Ottoman and Indian army during this time, but with the exception of the Ottoman troops, increasingly discarded the heavy armour to give greater freedom of movement in combat. The Polish "winged" lancers were amongst the last to abandon the armour in Europe. There was a widespread debate over the value of the lance in mounted combat during the 18th and 19th centuries and most armies had abandoned the use of lances by the Napoleonic Wars. One notable exception was again Poland where the lance was retained as a traditional weapon of choice of the Polish peasant due to the expense of firearms. During the wars the Poles became a ready territory for recruitment by several armies, willingly or unwillingly, and served with distinction in most of these armies, including Napoleon's French Imperial Guard. At Waterloo, French lances were "nearly three meters (nine feet) long, weighed three kilograms (seven pounds), and had a steel point on a wooden staff, " according to historian Alessandro Barbero. He adds that they were "terrifyingly efficient." Commander of the French 1st Corps, 4th Division General Durutte, who saw the battle from the high ground in front of Papelotte, would write later, "I had never before realized the great superiority of the lance over the sword." Although the lance had its greatest impact in the charge, lancers were vulnerable against other cavalry, as the lance proved a clumsy and ineffective weapon (compared to the sabre) at close quarters.
