Cuirassiers

Cuirassiers are heavy cavalry wearing the 'cuirass' and helmet. They represent the troopers of the 16th and 17th centuries, who were similarly protected. In the British army no regiments are officially styled cuirassiers, but the two regiments of Life Guards and the Royal Horse Guards were given steel cuirasses in 1821, which, however, they do not wear on active service. The price of one is £3, 6s. See GUARDS. There are twelve cuirassier regiments in the German army, the cuirass being of white metal with a brass plate. The French have also twelve regiments of cuirassiers, having steel cuirasses with a brass plate. Russia has four regiments of cuirassiers, whose cuirass of iron, with a thin layer of copper, weighs 30 lb. From 13½ to 16 lb. is the weight of those of other armies. Napoleon III. at one time maintained a bodyguard of cuirassiers, called 'Cent-gardes,' who wore cuirasses of aluminium, much lighter than steel ones, but, like them, not proof against a rifle-bullet striking them directly.