The Origins and History of Dragoons

While their tactics have greatly influenced the role of the modern infantry soldier, dragoons are a profoundly fascinating, yet largely ignored part of the history of warfare. Originally conceived as mounted infantry, dragoons combined the mobility of cavalry with the fighting skills of foot soldiers.

In tactical terms, dragoons could get to parts of battlefields on horseback where they were needed and dismount to engage the enemy with firearms, making them a formidable force in various combat situations. The dragoon origin was a response to evolving military tactics that required more versatile soldiers, and their combination of speed, firepower, and tactical flexibility rendered dragoons a critical asset in European armies from the sixteenth century onward.

This time-trip back to Renaissance Europe will answer an important question in the history of battlefield warfare – what are dragoons?

The idea of dragoons as versatile soldiers who could ride into battle and then fight on foot evolved to become commonplace in the seventeenth century, but the transportation of infantrymen to the battlefield on horseback was practised at least a century earlier.

During the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire between 1532 and 1572, conquistadors rode horses into battle, and then fought with arquebuses, a long gun and the forerunner of the flintlock musket like the Brown Bess. In the 1550s in Italy, the 2nd Duke of Parma, Ottavio Farnese, is thought to have mounted infantry on horses, and later, in the 1570s, Louis of Nassau transported five hundred soldiers on horseback to battles in Belgium as part of the Eighty Years’ War.

Another early adopter of mounted infantry tactics was German military commander Ernst von Mansfeld in the 1620s, using his forces for tasks such as reconnaissance, flanking manoeuvres, and rapid assaults.

Overall, the origin of dragoons doesn’t appear to have a specific time and place, rather it was an evolution which allowed armies to deploy troops who could exploit the advantages of both cavalry and infantry as the situation demanded.

The simple dragoon definition is a mounted infantry soldier who rode a horse into battle with a gun, but also fought on foot. But why are they called dragoons? It seems there are a number of conflicting answers.

The most commonly cited answer is that they were named after a French weapon called a ‘dragon’, a handgun version of a blunderbuss decorated with a dragon’s head, but this is far from certain.

Alternatively, it may have derived from the German word tragen, or the Dutch word dragen, both meaning ‘to carry’, or from the Latin draconarius, a mounted soldier who carried a standard into battle in the Roman army.

The formation of dragoon companies was driven by the need for adaptable troops in an era of rapidly evolving warfare. As military strategies shifted and the limitations of traditional cavalry and infantry became apparent, dragoons filled a crucial niche. They were particularly effective in the varied terrains of Europe, where traditional cavalry lacked the firepower of infantry, and infantry lacked mobility. Dragoons bridged this gap by offering both, making them a valuable battlefield asset.

The Thirty Years’ War

It was during the 1618 – 1648 Thirty Years’ War, a series of religious, economic and political conflicts fought in central Europe, that dragoons became integral to European armies. Their ability to adapt to various combat situations made them valuable for reconnaissance, skirmishing, and supporting traditional infantry and cavalry units.

The English Civil War

During the English Civil War, both the Parliamentarians and the Royalists used this new style of mounted infantry. Indeed the Parliamentarian New Model Army included dragoon regiments that proved effective in several key battles, including the Battle of Naseby in June 1645. Led by Colonel John Okey, the dragoons were tasked with disrupting the Royalist infantry. They positioned themselves on the flanks and used their firearms to harass enemy troops. Less than a month later at the Battle of Langport, the Parliamentarians again attacked Royalist positions and prevented enemy cavalry from regrouping.

Seventeenth & Eighteenth Centuries

By the 1680s, the original dragoon definition had changed slightly. They began to transition from mounted infantry to more conventional cavalry roles in some armies, particularly the French, British, and Prussian. These reflected changes in military tactics and the increasing importance of mobility on the battlefield. They were also instrumental in conflicts such as the War of the Spanish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession. However, new military strategies and the nature of warfare during this period made the traditional role of dragoons as mounted infantry less essential. In addition, improvements in firearms and artillery reduced the practicality of dismounted dragoons engaging infantry formations.

Nineteenth Century & Beyond

During the Napoleonic Wars, dragoons were prominent on the battlefield. By this time, they primarily functioned as cavalry but retained the name and some traditions of their mounted-infantry origins. By the latter part of the nineteenth century, advances in military technology and changes in warfare tactics led to the decline of traditional cavalry units, including dragoons, with many being reorganised or merged into other military branches. The few remaining European dragoon regiments participated in the early stages of World War I, but were soon rendered obsolete by trench warfare and mechanisation.

Modern dragoon regiments vary depending on the country and the specific military organisation. While some have transitioned to primarily ceremonial duties, others remain active combat units within their respective armed forces.

Brazil’s Dragões da Independência (Independence Dragoons) serve as the presidential honour guard, and Sweden’s Livgardet includes units that perform ceremonial, state and royal roles, such as the Royal Mounted Guard.

In the British Army, the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is an active armoured regiment that has been deployed in various operational roles, and the 1st Queen Dragoon Guards, the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Light Dragoons perform support activities, reconnaissance, and convoy protection duties.

Other nations with specific dragoon regiments, or those with historical roots from their own dragoons origin, include France, Canada, Lithuania, and Portugal.

What are dragoons? The origins and history of dragoons highlight their remarkable adaptability and enduring influence on military tactics. They were innovative troops who combined the mobility of cavalry with the firepower of infantry. They played pivotal roles in some of Europe’s most important battles between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries and evolved in response to the ever-changing demands of warfare.