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A lancer was a type of who fought with a lance. Lances were used for mounted warfare in Assyria as early as and subsequently by India, Egypt, China, Aswaran, Hippeus, and Roman horsemen.Niels M. Saxtorph: "Warriors & Weapons of Early Times" . The weapon was widely used throughout Eurasia during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance by heavy cavalry, but fell out of general use by the late 16th century, before its revival by light cavalry in the early 19th century. Lance cavalry remained in an active role into the early 20th century and World War I. In modern times, many militaries retain units designated as lancers. However, the lance itself has been relegated to a ceremonial role.
However, during the Napoleonic Wars, lancers were to be seen in many of the combatant nations as their value in shock tactics became clear. During the wars, the Poles became a ready source of recruitment for several armies, willingly or unwillingly. Polish lancers served with distinction in the Austrian, Prussian, Russian, and French armies, most famously in Napoleon's French Imperial Guard as the 1er Regiment de Chevau-Legers-Lanciers de la Garde Impériale.
At the Battle of Waterloo, French lances were "nearly long, weighed around , 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."Barbero, pp. 161, 163.
Although having substantial impact in the charge, lancers could be more vulnerable to other cavalry units in close quarters combat, where the lance proved to be a clumsy and easily deflected weapon when employed against in a mêlée.p150, Volume 16, Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition By the late 19th century, many cavalry regiments in Eurasian armies were composed of troopers with lances in the front rank and those with sabres in the second: the lances for the initial shock and sabres for the ensuing mêlée.
The British cavalry lost the lance for all but ceremonial use in 1903, following the Second Boer War; but a conservative revaluation led to its reintroduction as an active service weapon from 1909 to 1928.Alan Larsen & Henry Yallop, The Cavalry Lance, p. 16 and p.56, For an illustration of a fully armed lancer, see Michael Chappell's "Men at Arms Series British Cavalry Equipment 1800–1941" illustration G 1.
The French army did not have lancer regiments as such, but steel lances in length were carried by the twenty-six dragoon regiments and some light cavalry units in 1914. The French had earlier tested the Indian bamboo lances used by the British cavalry, but had rated them as being too fragile for the shock of encounter.Christian Tollet "Les Dragons 1914" Histoire & Collections 2009 The six Italian lancieri regimentsRonald Strom, page 154, "Great Regiments", SBN 297.17647.3, published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London 1969 still in existence until 1920 carried the 1870 model of ashwood lance, noted for its balance and manageability.Rodolfo Puletti, pages 54–55, "I Lancieri di Milano 1859–1985", published by Editrice Militare Italiana 1985
Prior to the outbreak of World War I, there had been controversy as to whether lances or sabres were the more effective armes blanche (i.e. mêlée weapons) for cavalry, but neither proved a match for modern and/or artillery. Some armies continued to use lances throughout the war, but they seldom saw use on the Western Front after initial clashes in France and Belgium in 1914. On the Eastern Front, mounted cavalry still had a role and lances saw limited use by the Russian, German, and Austrian armies.Vladimir Littauer, pages 115–116, "Russian Hussar",
During the 1920s and 1930s, the use of lances ceased for active service in most armies. The German cavalry retained the lance as a service weapon until 1927, as did the British cavalry until 1928. Some other armies retained lance-armed cavalry units for ceremonial purposes only. The Polish cavalry did not discard the lance as a weapon until 1934Steven J. Zaloga, page 5 "The Polish Army 1939–45" or 1937Alan Larsen & Henry Yallop, The Cavalry Lance, p. 76, and continued to use it for training and ceremonial purposes until the outbreak of World War II.
Although not classified as lancers, the Brazilian Army's Dragões da Independência (1st Guards Regiment) and the elite soldiers of the Colombian National Army are called .
The Portuguese National Republican Guard horse squadrons carry lances on mounted parades, as do many cavalry regiments in South America such as Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.
The modern Italian Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" (8th) parade detachments armed with the lances carried as combat weapons until 1920.
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