For the similarly named Empire: Total War unit, see 2nd Hussars.
1st Hussars are a unique light cavalry regiment in Napoleon: Total War. They are available to Austria with the Heroes of the Napoleonic Wars DLC.
Description[]
Hussars are an elite light cavalry force, excellent against skirmishers and artillery.
Like other light cavalrymen, hussars have speed, “dash” and an elitist attitude towards their enemies. The 1st Hussars are, without exception, superb horsemen, and all have a certain independence of spirit that makes them ideal for chasing down widely scattered men. They carry curved sabres and, even though their charge is a powerful attack, they are weak when pitted against infantry in square and against heavy cavalry units.
Austria had raised units of irregular Magyar horsemen called “huszárok” in the mid-15th Century, and they had fought bravely for Matthias Corvinus, Duke of Austria and the King of Hungary and Croatia, but it was not until the 1680s that regular hussar regiments were formed. Having proved their utility in Austrian service, other nations soon added hussars to their own armies and enthusiastically adopted hussar uniform as a fashion statement for cavalrymen.
General Information[]
1st Hussars are unique to Austria, and are marginally superior to the Hungarian Hussars that Austria usually field, who themselves are superior to the Hussars most other factions field as their standard light cavalry. They are limited to only one regiment, however. In addition, they are very expensive, and rank among the priciest light cavalry available. This is a larger problem in custom battles, where funds are limited.