User blog:AlojzyThePolishGuy/Historical Questions part jeden.

Hey kids, Alojzy here.

Today I'll answer the question: Why did winged hussars have wings?

Wings were meant to protect the backside of riders...riders cannot pivot at the waist very well to protect themselves because their hips are grounded by the way that their legs sit against the horse. However, many believe that the wings were designed to make a lot of noise--either to spook enemy horses who were not accustomed to such a racket or because it made the cavalry seem a lot bigger than it actually was...basically, just to intimidate.

pivot

noun
 * 1.

the central point, pin, or shaft on which a mechanism turns or oscillates.