17th Lithuanian Uhlan Regiment

Authentic hat of a regiment's soldier

Soldier with a uniform of the regiment

On 5 July 1812, Count Michał Tyszkiewicz began forming the 17th Lithuanian Uhlan Regiment on his own initiative and with his own funds.[1] The men who joined the regiment came from the towns of Biržai, Raseiniai, Telšiai, Panevėžys and their respective surroundings.[1] The regimental headquarters were in Kupiškis.[1] Napoleon appointed Count Michał Tyszkiewicz as the regiment's commander and awarded him the rank of colonel.[1]

At the end of 1812, together with other Lithuanian units, this regiment covered the Grande Armée's retreat and joined the X Corps.[1] In December 1812 , the 17th Uhlan Regiment retreated through Tauragė to Königsberg.[1] On 19 January 1813, the regiment had 829 uhlans[1] and was stationing in Elbing.[2] Later it was moved to Wielkopolska and was stationing in Skiwerzyna and Międzychód, when it joined the remnants of the French army commanded by the Viceroy Eugène de Beauharnais.[2] On February 4, it fought near Brandenburg.[1] On February 11[1] or 12,[3] the 17th Uhlan regiment fought together with the 19th Lithuanian Uhlan Regiment near Sieraków.[1] There it was surprised and defeated by General Chernyshev's Russian vanguard.[3] The general Prince Romualdas Giedraitis, who commanded both Uhlan regiments, was taken prisoner.[1] He was wounded during his capture.[3] During the battle, the regiment lost 147 out of 585 men it had before.[4]

After this battle, both regiments were attached to the division of the French General Gérard, belonging to the XIII Corps.[1] Together with it, the regiment fought near Bremen, Hamburg, Lübeck.[1] On 20 April 1813, men from the 19th regiment were drafted into the regiment, after 225 soldiers from the 19th regiment were selected for the Imperial Guard.[5] And the former commander of the 19th regiment col. Konstanty Rajecki became the new commander of the 17th regiment.[5] The regiment fought its last battles in Denmark.[1] After the abdication of Emperor Napoleon with the Treaty of Fontainebleau, the regiment was allowed to return to its homeland with weapons and flags.[1]