Dragoons

Dragoons are a class of cavalry that originated in early modern Europe as mounted infantry. The name derives from the French dragon, from Latin draco, reflecting the unit’s original emphasis on mobility and flexibility: they rode to action and fought on foot, then remounted to withdraw or redeploy.

As firearms and horsemanship improved, many dragoon regiments came to operate as conventional cavalry, trained to fight on horseback as well as on foot when dismounted. Armament typically included a carbine or short rifle, a sabre, and sometimes pistols. Common duties included reconnaissance, screening the army’s movements, raiding, and delivering decisive mounted charges.

Across Europe, the dragoon concept took various forms. In France, dragoons were a standard cavalry arm; in Britain, dragoon regiments evolved from mounted infantry into medium or heavy cavalry units. Other states such as Prussia, Russia, and Austria maintained their own dragoon formations with similar roles.

With the advent of modern warfare, many dragoon units were reorganized or renamed as heavy cavalry or armored regiments. In contemporary armed forces the term endures mainly in historical or ceremonial contexts, though some units retain dragoon lineage within armored formations.