English: Polish Hussar's half-armour, mid-17th century (National Museum in Kraków). The Winged Hussars (Husaria) were the elite of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth army between the 16th and 18th centuries, being a unique, highly trained, manoeuvrable, hard-hitting, heavy cavalry. The hussars used tactics of speed and manoeuvrability, especially in the charge which was carried out at a full gallop in tight, knee-to-knee formations.