postiliinide

Postiliinide refers to the historical riders who rode the left-hand horse of a multi-horse coach to assist the coachman in operating mail and passenger coaches in Europe from the 17th to the 19th century. The postilion’s primary duty was to help drive the team on long journeys and to assist with changing horses at relay posts. While the coachman controlled the overall pace and steering from the front seat, the postilion managed the left-hand horse and coordinated signals—whip, voice, and rein gestures—to keep the team in hand.

Relays of fresh horses were a common feature of long-distance routes. At inns or posting stations, horses were exchanged to maintain speed, and the postilion could be involved in these transitions, sometimes dismounting to help with the change, other times remaining mounted while ground staff prepared the new team. The arrangement varied by region and service, but the form typically required careful coordination between the driver and the postilion.

The role declined with the spread of railways and motor vehicles, and by the late 19th century postiliinide largely disappeared from regular service in most parts of Europe. Today they appear mainly in historical illustrations, literature, and museum displays as symbols of pre-railway long-distance travel and the era of mail coaches and stage services.

The term derives from the French postillon, reflecting the broad European origin of the practice. In Estonian usage, the plural form postiliinide is used to refer to these historical riders.