Lithuanian Tartars of the Imperial Guard

Lithuanian Tartars of the Imperial Guard

Officer and porte-guidon of the Lithuanian Tartars. Watercolor by Bronislaw Gembarzewski, 1897.
Active 1812-1814
Country France
Allegiance First French Empire
Branch Imperial Guard
Type Light cavalry
Nickname(s) "Poniatowski's Cossacks"
Engagements Dresden, Leipzig, Hanau
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Mustapha Murza Achmatowicz
Samuel Murza Ulan

Lithuanian Tartars of the Imperial Guard were a light cavalry unit of Napoleon's Imperial Guard, in service in French Army from 1812 to 1814. Descendants of Crimean Tatars, they were organized in a single squadron at the beginning of the Russian Campaign. Their commander was in a first time Squadron Leader Achmatowicz, killed at Vilna, followed by Captain Ulan who led the corps during his last fights. The Lithuanian Tartars were disbanded at the First Bourbon Restoration.

Origins

The appellation "Tartars" was commonly used on 17th and 18th centuries. Today, the correct name is "Tatars".[1] On 14th century, significant Tartars tribes occupied Crimea. Several families who were from this tribes followed the Grand Duke Vytautas to Lithuania. The men composed his personal guard at his Trakai Island Castle.[2] After Poland and Lithuania's personal union in 1385, they settled in communities divided themselves in several villages.[3]

Unlike the Lithuanian people, the Tartars were Muslims : they had religious freedom and were exempt from taxes, but still had however provide military service.[3] · [4] On 18th century, after the partition of Poland and Lithuania by Russia, Austria and Prussia, the Tartars passed under Russian command. Some volunteers then served in the Polish Army after the creation of the Duchy of Warsaw by Napoleon in 1807.[3]

Organization

Lithuanian Tartars of the Imperial Guard at the charge, by Richard Knötel.

In June 1812, General Michał Sokolnicki suggested to Napoleon to create a regiment of Lithuanian Tartars. He wrote of them "their probity, as well as their courage were experienced […]".[4] Colonel Mustapha Murza Achmatowicz was in charge of the organization.[5] Despite Napoleon who hoped the recruitment of a thousand soldiers,[4] patriotic fervor only allows the establishment of a squadron.[5] · [3] It was composed of 123 men divided as follows : 1 Squadron Leader, 1 Major, 4 captains, 7 lieutenants and second lieutenants and 110 NCOs and troops.[3] · [4]

The unit was officially created in October 1812,[6] · [7] and the Lithuanians were attached to the 3rd Lithuanian Lancers Regiment of the Imperial Guard as scouts.[5] Achmatowicz himself paid equipment and uniforms for his men.[8] Because of his Muslim faith, the unit had in its ranks an imam named Aslan Aley, who was also a second lieutenant.[7] · [9]

Military campaigns

Officer and troops of Lithuanian Tartars at the outposts. Picture by Bronislaw Gembarzewski, 1896.

The squadron took part in the Russian Campaign in 1812 with the 6th Brigade of the Imperial Guard Cavalry (Élite Gendarmes, 3rd Lancers and Tartars).[10] He suffered heavy losses during the operations, particularly at Vilna from 10 to 12 December where Squadron Leader Achmatowicz was killed[11] · [12] with 34 of his men.[2] According to Pigeard, 100 men were died at the end of the campaign.[12] They were also present on the field at the action of Kalish on 13 February 1813.[13] First, survivors were incorporated to the remnants of the 3rd Lancers, nearly destroyed by the Russians at Slonim in October 1812,[14] and thereafter to the Polish Lancers of the Imperial Guard where they formed the 15th Company considered as "Middle Guard". At this time, the commander was Captain Samuel Murza Ulan[15] · [16] with lieutenants Ibrahim and Aslan Aley as seconds-in-command, for a total strength of only 53 men.[13]

From April to June 1813, on the recommendations of Colonel-Major Dautancourt, the captain tried to recruit new cavalrymen and left for France with maréchal des logis-chef Samuel Januszerwski.[9] The company was indeed reduced to 47 men.[17] He was refused the incorporation of foreign soldiers at Metz and went to Paris to explain his situation to Minister of War Henri Jacques Guillaume Clarke. Unanswered, Ulan and 24 recruits returned to Germany at Friedberg, where was the depot of Polish Lancers.[18]

In August, the small troop of soldiers led by Captain Ulan was incorporated to the company short time before the outbreak of war. Under Ulan's orders, Lithuanian Tartars fought alongside their brother in arms of the Polish Lancers during the German Campaign ; they charged at Dresden, Peterswalde, Leipzig and Hanau.[19] Transferred to the 3rd Polish Scouts Regiment of the Imperial Guard, the Tartars — who aligned just 46 men including 23 unavailable — participed at many engagements of the French Campaign in 1814. They lost in fight 6 killed and 7 prisoners.[19] After the abdication of Napoleon on 6 April, Ulan and the few survivors of the unit returned to their own country.[6]

Notes

References

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