Dancing into History
Ann Cockerton and David Paget
The UK has a thriving combination of dance societies and events bringing to life the look, feel and sounds of the early 19th Century. Cinema and television adaptations of the books of Jane Austen (such as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Emma) have fuelled the drive for more Regency Balls across the country. With the bi-centennial of the 100 Days Campaign in 2015, and with it the possibility of the famous Duchess of Richmond’s Ball being revisited (at which Wellington’s officers and their ladies enjoyed on the eve of the battle of Quatre Bras), these organised balls have been attracting more and more military re-enactors.
That first Regiment of Polish Imperial Guard Lancers is based on a French Napoleonic Cavalry Regiment. We do combine reenactors from UK and Poland together with a small group from Latvia. It is unique in that it is the only French Cavalry and Guard unit in the UK at this present time.
As the Regiment was originally Polish in French service, and the reenactment groups was established in UK we maintain a close Polish-British link with the museums in the UK and abroad, as well as the Polish community with some members coming from a Polish background.
Being a cavalry unit, a strong emphasis is placed on developing riding skills and horse management. We attend events all over the country and abroad, ranging from small appearances to large events on the Continent, where we take on a “living history” role with as much emphasis on authentic living conditions in the field as is possible.
During the winter months the unit has regular meetings, which include arms drill and mounted drill from the period, which has been extensively researched.
The unit is made up of two sections; the first [1st company] is in the UK and the second [5th company] is in Warsaw and combines a small Latvian group.At the present time the Regiment comprises of 30 riders but there is also further scope of including two further companies from the U.S and France. Sections meet yearly in Poland to practice drill, and participate at European engagements.
Both male and female applicants who feel that they can offer a commitment in time and effort to the unit are very welcome. Standards in dress and drill are high and uniforms are accurately researched on the originals. The unit draws its members from all over the country and will consider interested parties who cannot ride but are prepared to learn at their own expense.
Upon entry into the unit new recruits are equipped with a stable dress uniform. Full dress uniforms are tailored to the individuals requirements and are made in-house. Although there are some costly items for the full attire, the unit will endeavour to support those members who have a positive commitment.
Horse equipment is held by the unit and is issued to members at events. Care of all uniforms and equipment is of prime importance.
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ul. Ptasia 4 lok 26
00-138 Warszawa
POLAND
info (at) arsenal.org.pl
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REGON (statistic number): 140290819
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Bank Pekao S.A. VI Oddział Warszawa, ul. Brechta 3
Account No: 10124010821111001008386336
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ARSENAŁ - the Association of Polish Regiments 1717-1831 is an association of persons interested in Polish ancient military, cultivating the traditions of old armoury and colours, particularly of selected units of the Republic in the years of 1717-1831, such as 10th Działynski Regiment, 1st Brigade of the National Cavalry, I Régiment de cheveau-légers (Polonais) de la Garde Impériale, 7th Lancers Regiment of the Vistula Legion and the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the Vistula Legion together with the other units of the period. The Association’s region of activity is the Polish Republic and centres of Poles abroad. The aims of the Associations are: maintaining a citizenship attitude among the Association members’ by cultivating the patriotic spirit around values such as: God, Honour, the Country, cultivation of the traditions of the formation of the Polish armies, promotion of national history and traditions, raising the level of historical awareness on general and particular level, advancement of the spirit of sport and entrenching the culture of a life in a team. The Association accomplishes its aims through lectures, training, camps and other gatherings in the field of general and particular historic education, the initiation of projects propagating cultural values, information (the publication of information materials and other periodicals concerning the Association’s activities), cooperation with appropriate central and local government bodies, other associations, youth organizations, and centres of culture and education in the area covered by the Association’s statute, as well as with other similar national and foreign affiliations.
The Association was convened in 2001 from an informal group of friends and acquaintances working for the Polish Army Museum and the National Museum in Warsaw. The beginnings of the Association are marked by a significant turnover of manpower. Some left to found their own groups. It is in 2002 that the membership was set to the extent that we were able to work on the statute and the process of registration under the name of a Historic Military Uniform Association VISTULA LEGION and VISTULA LANCERS REGIMENT. As the group developed we arrived at a decision to apply for a special registration of an association under its present name of: ARSENAL – The Association of Polish Regiments 1717-1831. From the moment of an inscription in the National Judicial Register the association gained full legal status.
The Association takes part in the reconstruction of battles and historical events of 18th and 19th century (The Kosciuszko Insurrection – Napoleonic Wars – The November Uprising). We fought (in differing personal setup) many battles in Poland and elsewhere, between others at: Ostroleka, Gdansk, Peschiera, Wola, Maciejowice, Pultusk, Ciechanow, Vilnus, Leipzig, Austerlitz as well as in Warsaw ( the Election of Polish Kings, the Warsaw Insurrection, the Reduta Wolska Battle, ‘The November Night’, the Battle for Olszynka Grochowska, and the staging of the 1920 war or the Warsaw Uprising (the battle of the Wola barricades).
The presence of our uniforms adorned the occasion of the erection of the Juliusz Slowacki statue, the anniversary of the 3rd May Constitution, the outbreak of the November Uprising, and at the Museums’ Night at the Warsaw Arsenal, and the celebration at the Wilanów Park and Palace.
The ARSENAL embraces a variety of communities and professions. There are students, employees of museums, of variety of business firms, professionals. Many of us are able to reproduce parts of the uniform and of the equipment; others undertake educational activities such as introduction to the military drill, horse riding and military behaviour in combat. We strive to provide members with uniforms appropriate to each of the formations mentioned before. We also take active part in organizing many events by writing their script scenario.
ARSENAL is an Association adhering to its statute and guided by a set of internal rules based on military traditions and regulations. Safety procedures and the hierarchy of rank are being observed. Any appearance in uniform and under arms requires discipline – donning a Polish military uniform imposes an obligation, and in the throes of a battle accidents may happen.
Anybody meeting the conditions of the statute may be a member of ARSENAL.
The list of events include, but is not limited to:
WAR FOR THE 3RD MAY 1791 CONSTITUTION AND THE KOSCIUSZKO INSURRECTION
1791 Warsaw - 3rd May 2002-2009
1794 Warsaw - Old Town 17th April 2004 / Wilanów 2005/ Bródno 2005
1794 Wilno (Vilnius) - 2004
1794 Maciejowice - 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005
NAPOLEONIC WARS
1796 Peschiera - 4th-5th June 2001
1800 Marengo - 2000
1805 Austerlitz – 2005
1806 Pułtusk - 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2005
1807 Krąg - 23rd-24th July 2004
1807 Kamieniec Suski (Finkenstein) - 2004
1807 Ciechanów - 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 14th August 2004
1808-Somosierra 2008
1809 Warsaw - Arsenal 2005
1812 Kowno (Kaunas) - 2002
1807 Gdańsk (Danzig) - 2001
1813 Modlin - 5th June 2004 / 2nd-3rd September 2005
1813 Lipsk (Leipzig) - October 2005
1815 Waterloo 1995-2009
THE NOVEMBER UPRISING
1830 The November Night - 2004 / 2005
1831 Ostrołęka - 2001 / 2002 / 2003
1831 Olszynka Grochowska - 2005
1831 Reduta Wolska - 7th September 2001 / November 2003
THE JANUARY UPRISING
1863 Radom - 2006
20th CENTURY
1920 Wyszków – 2005
1920 Kobyłka - 2004
1920 Ossów - 2004 / 2005
1944 Warsaw - 2004 – the Wola barricades
OTHER
Cooperation with central and local government bodies, other associations, youth organizations, and centres of culture and education in the area covered by the Association’s statute. The cooperation in organization, availability of displays for the Polish Army Museum, State’s Archaeological Museum in Warsaw and museums’ in Radom and Maciejowice exhibitions. Participation in patriotic celebration in Warsaw, in Ossów, Kobyłka and other places as well as participation in the historic stage productions (between others in the Olgierd Lukaszewicz play in 2001 in the Mazovia Arts Centre presenting the last days before the outbreak of the November Uprising). Participation in academic session devoted to the area covered by the Association’s activities, between others session on the recreation of Reduta Wolska. Support for the knowledge of history competitions.
195th anniversary is over. It was a major re-eencatment this year and perhaps the most important. While we are still working on a summary, we are only too glad to present the event in photos. Please feel free to visit our Digital gallery. You may watch selected videos at our forum. Further photos and videos will follow. Enjoy and visit us frequently.
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There was historical seminar, annual re-enactment and a muzzle loading competition at Jonkowo (Jonkendorf) Friday-Sunday 19-21st March. Re-enactment groups from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Belarus attended the event which commemorated a struggle between the Napoleonic and Russian forces in 1807. Members of the Arsenal (Polish Guard lancers together with the Vistula lancers ) formed the cavalry of the period: Gwardia Honorowa Warszawska - Garde d'honneur du Varsovie, which was transformed into the I Régiment de cheveau-légers (Polonais) de la Garde Impériale.
Siege of Malaga 1810, Spain opened the re-enactment seazon for 2010. The anniversary, which combined exhibitions, cultural events and conferences was completed with the re-enactment. Enjoy the video footage of the event.
Spanish Campaign
14th July 1808 – Medina del Rio Seco
10th October 1808 – Burgos
30th November 1808 – Somosierra
Austrian Campaign
22nd May 1809 – Essling
6th July 1809 – Wagram
Russian Campaign
28th June 1812 – Wilno
22nd July 1812 – Mohylów
16th August 1812 – Smolensk
7th September 1812 – Borodino (Mozajsk)
25th October 1812 – Malo – Jaroslawiec
17th November 1812 – Krasnoje
28th November 1812 – Berezina
Saxon Campaign
2nd May 1813 – Weissenfelds/Lützen
19th – 21st May 1813 – ßautzen
22nd May 1813 – Reichenbach
21st August 1813 – Görlitz
27th August 1813 – Drezno
16th September 1813 – Peterswalde
24th September 1813 – Hochkirchen, Altenburg
18th – 19th October 1813 – Leipzig
30th – 31st October 1813 – Hanau
30th October 1813 – Nieder – Isingheim
French Campaign
27th January 1814 – St. Dizier
29th January 1814 – Brienne-le-Aube
1st – 2nd February 1814 – La Rothiére
10th and 14th February 1814 – Chaumpaubert
11th February 1814 – Montmirail
12th February 1814 – Château – Thierry
14th February 1814 – Vauchamps
14th February 1814 – Villeneuve
18th February 1814 – Montereau
24th February 1814 – Troyes
3rd March 1814 – Rocourt
4th March 1814 – Braisne
5th March 1814 – Berry-sur-Aube
7th March 1814 – Craonne
8th March 1814 – Laon
13th March 1814 – Reims
18th March 1814 – Fere-Champenoise
20th – 21st March 1814 – Arcis-sur-Aube
23rd March 1814 – Vitry
26th March 1814 – St. Dizier
29th March 1814 – Bourget
30th March 1814 – Paris
Belgian Campaign
16th June 1815 – Quatre Bras
18th June 1815 – Waterloo
The Chevau Legers Polonais de la Garde Imperiale were created by Napoleon on his entry into Warsaw in 1807. He was escorted by a honour guard composed of Polish noblemen whose bearing and loyalty so impressed him that he ordered the formation of a regiment of Polish light horse and attached them to his Imperial Guard. Upon its creation the regiment comprised of four squadrons and a headquarters staff which totalled 968 men. Candidates for the regiment were required to be landowners or the sons of landowners between the ages of 18 and 40 and were to furnish their own horse, uniform, equipment and harness to a set pattern.
The regiment was quartered at the Chateau of Chantilly near Paris, but for most of its existence it was on active service in Spain and Europe. It was during its service in Spain in 1808 that the regiment was officially taken into the Old Guard after it’s heroic charge at Somosierra on the eve of the battle of Austerlitz. Here the 3rd squadron attached to the Emperors duty squadron was ordered to charge up the Somosierra pass where four Spanish batteries had been entrenched and supported by Spanish Infantry in the hills above. The Poles, without a second thought, charged up the pass taking fifteen cannons and captured the batteries, at the cost of more than half the squadron killed and wounded.
Following the battle of Wagram in 1809 and shortly before the sections of the regiment entered Spain for the second time, the Poles were issued with the lance; their national weapon, which they used with such devastating effect against their enemies. Consequently, the regiment was renamed the Regiment de Chaveau – Leger Lanciers Polonais de la Garde Imperiale. Following the incorporation of the Dutch lancers into the Guard as the 2nd Regiment in 1811, the Poles were given the honour of being the 1st Regiment.
In 1812 a fifth squadron was formed and the regiment now totalled 1,500 men upon its entry into Russia. The regiment served with distinction during this campaign being engaged at Smolensk and at the battle of the Moscova (Borodino). With the retreat the Poles once again distinguished themselves when in the early hours of the 25th of October, near the small village of Horodina, the Emperor and his headquarters staff were attacked by cossacks. Part of the Honour Guard that day was formed from the 1st squadron of the regiment, under the command of Chef. Esq. Kozietulski. The cossacks were counter charged in the near darkness by Lieutenant Joachim Hempel together with the Chausseurs a Cheval of the Guard. During the struggle Kozietulski, in personal defence of the Emperor, was pierced in the upper left arm by a cossack pike. For his service to the Emperor, Kozielulski was soon promoted to Major.
During the retreat the 1st Polish Guard Lancers wisely had their horses rough shod and managed to save two hundred horses out of a thousand; the Dutch 2nd Regiment only a few officers mounts.
Following the Russian Campaign, remnants from the 3rd Guard Lancers were incorporated into the 1st regiment, and together with other replacements, allowed the unit’s strength to increase to seven squadrons by July 1813. In December of that year and following the disaster of Leipzig, the regiment was reduced once more to four squadrons.
With the abdication of the Emperor in the Spring of 1814, a single squadron of 150 men under Lt. Col. Jerzmanowski accompanied the Emperor to Elba with only 22 men being mounted. When Napoleon returned to France for the 100 Days campaign, the lancers marched with him carrying their saddles on their backs. The regiment could not be reformed, as what existed of it in 1814 had been disbanded and returned to Poland. However, the Poles were able to form a squadron which was incorporated into the 2nd Dutch Lancers as senior squadron in its own right. This squadron fought bravely during Ney’s great cavalry attacks on the British centre at Waterloo. The Poles were recorded to have been one of the only French cavalry units to have charged in full dress uniform.
The personal loyalty of the Poles to the Emperor is beyond question. They fought for the liberation of their homeland from foreign opressors and the re-establishment of the Kingdom of Poland. They fought for the man who offered them this dream, together with glory and national recognition. Their battle honours speak for themselves. The regiment faught in 45 battles and major engagements in Spain and Europe throughout the Napoleonic Wars.
10th DZIALYNSKI REGIMENT
earlier: 11. THE RYDZYNSKI ESTATE INFANTRY REGIMENT Created in 1775, in 1789 receives the number 11, and in 1794 No 10. Stations: Rydzyna, Warszawa 1789, Gniezno 1790, Warszawa 1792. Commanders: Prince August Sułkowski, Kalisz voivode, 1st August 1775, gen. major Aleksander Mycielski, 28th January 1786, Ignacy Działyński, 23rd December 1788. Colonels: R. de Hosson, Karol de Falckenhayn, 1789, Belcour 1789, Filip Hauman, gen. major Józef Seydlitz after 8th June 1794. Battles and combats; Swisłocz 1792, Zelwa 4th July, Izabelin 5th July, Piaski, Granne 24th July, Krzemień 24th July, Warsaw Uprising, 17th, 18th June 1794, Biała, Nowe – Miasto, 3rd May Chełm 8th June, Kurów, Gołków 9th July, Battle for Warsaw, Wola 27th July and 28th August, Maciejowice 10th October.
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