Page "Polish cavalry" Paragraph 12

At first hussars performed most services but as they grew heavier the need arose for a medium or lighter cavalry.

The 16th century saw creation of lighter cavalry known as ' Kozacy ' ( singular ' Kozak ' hence ' towarzysz kozacki ') until 1648 and then known as ' Pancerni ' from 1650s on until 1770s ) in the Kingdom of Poland or ' Petyhorcy ' in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ( the actual subject of the illustration )-whose offensive armament included a shorter ' demi-lance ' (' dzida ') or ' rohatyna ', bow and arrows, war-ax, sabre in the 16th century and a pistol or two, a carbine in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The lighter yet cavalry was created during the Muscovite Wars of the early 17th century, the most famous unit or type was known as Lisowczyk, after their commander Aleksander Lisowski, that fought in the 30 Years War as well.

Along with these mentioned Polish or Lithuanian horsemen there were banners / companies of lighter cavalry drawn from Lithuanian Tatars ( serving in their own banners under their precarious legal status ), Romanian (" Wallachian "), Cheremis, Circassians ( similar to Kozak / Pancerni ) and Hungarians.