This book examines the origins and development of the Polish Winged Hussars. Using many years' painstaking research drawn from unpublished Polish sources, the author provides a rounded view of the training, tactics, appearance and experiences of these legendary and fascinating warriors. The most dramatic of all Hussar characteristics were the wings worn on the back or on the saddle, although not all Hussars wore them, and their purpose has been fiercely debated. The Hussars terrified the Turks, Tatars, Muscovite boyars, Ukrainian Cossacks and Swedes, who did everything to avoid facing them directly in battle.

Richard Brzezinski is a leading expert on the military history of central and Eastern Europe, greatly admired for his primary research and painstaking archival work. His previous titles for Osprey include Men-at-Arms volumes 184 and 188, 'Polish Armies 1569-1696' parts 1 and 2, and Men-at-Arms volumes 235 and 262, 'The Army of Gustavus Adolphus' parts 1 and 2. A fluent Polish speaker, he has researched the Polish Hussars for many years, and has acted as a historical consultant for film and television on this subject. Velimir Vuksic is a talented and experienced military illustrator, whose published work covers a wide variety of periods, conflicts and armies. He has worked for numerous magazines over the years, including 'Military Illustrated'. A native of Croatia, Velimir has also served in the armed forces, as a paratrooper.