 thumb|bugler of the foot chasseurs Ã  pied (1885)  chasseur [sha-sur; fr. sha-sÅr] (a french term for "hunter") is the designation given to certain regiments of french and belgian light infantry (chasseurs Ã  pied) or light cavalry (chasseurs Ã  cheval) to denote troops trained for rapid action. ==history== this branch of the french army originated during the war of the austrian succession when, in 1743, jean chrÃ©tien fischer was authorized by the marshal de belle-isle to raise a six hundred strong mixed force of infantry and cavalry. it was called fischer's chasseurs. during the remainder of the 18th century various types of light troops (troupes lÃ©gÃ¨res) were employed within the french army, either as independent units or as companies within existing regiments. ===chasseurs Ã  pied === the chasseurs Ã  pied were the light infantrymen of the french imperial army. they were armed the same as their counterparts in the regular line infantry (fusilier) battalions, but were trained to excel in marksmanship and in executing manoeuvres at high speed. from 1840, they wore a long-skirted frock coat. after 1850, however the chasseurs adopted a uniform consisting of a short frock coat with slits in the sides on the bottom edge to allow for better freedom of movement than the previous design. they also wore baggy trousers tucked into jambiÃ¨res (leather gaiters). the other light infantry unit type, the voltigeurs, specialised as skirmishers and for advance screening of the main force. the chasseurs could also be called upon to form advance guards and scouting parties alongside the voltigeurs. following the napoleonic wars the chasseurs Ã  pied continued to exist as a separate corps within the infantry. initially a specially trained elite, their tactical role eventually came to match that of the ordinary lignards (line infantry). by the late 19th century the differences between the two branches were confined to uniform and insignia, although the chasseurs retained a strong esprit de corps. ===chasseurs Ã  cheval=== the chasseurs Ã  cheval, a type of french light cavalry, date from 1743 when an independent unit (fischer's volunteer company of chasseurs) was raised during th
18th-_and_19th-century_warrior_types Civil_War_military_equipment_of_the_United_States Combat_occupations French_Army Military_units_and_formations_of_France Obsolete_occupations