Editing Dragoon (section)

==Modern dragoons==

=== Brazil ===
[[File:Pedro Américo - Independência ou Morte - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|Prince Regent [[Pedro I of Brazil|Pedro of Braganza]] (later Emperor of Brazil as Pedro I) declares the [[Independence of Brazil|Brazilian independence]] while surrounded by his guard of honour, which later became known as Independence Dragoons, 7 September 1822]]    
[[File:Lula Chirac Alvorada.JPG|thumb|The Independence Dragoons during the arrival ceremony of French president [[Jacques Chirac]] at the [[Palácio da Alvorada]] in [[Brasília]], 25 May 2006]]
The [[guard of honour]] for the [[President of Brazil]] includes the [[Independence Dragoons|1st Guard Cavalry Regiment]] of the [[Brazilian Army]], known as the ''"Dragões da Independência"'' (Independence Dragoons). The name was given in 1927 and refers to the fact that a detachment of dragoons escorted the [[Prince Royal of Portugal]] and Brazil, [[Pedro I of Brazil|Pedro of Braganza]], at the time when he [[Independence of Brazil|declared Brazilian independence]] from the [[United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves]] on 7 September 1822.

The Independence Dragoons wear 19th-century dress uniforms similar to those of the earlier Imperial Honor Guard, which are used as the regimental full dress uniform since 1927. The uniform was designed by [[Jean-Baptiste Debret|Debret]], in white and red, with plumed bronze helmets. The colors and pattern were influenced by the Austrian dragoons of the period, as the [[Maria Leopoldina of Austria|Brazilian Empress consort]] was also an [[Austrian Empire|Austrian archduchess]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Exército Brasileiro – Braço Forte, Mão Amiga |url=http://www.exercito.gov.br/VO/175/unifor.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312093820/http://www.exercito.gov.br/VO/175/unifor.htm |archive-date=12 March 2009 |language=pt}}</ref> The color of the plumes varies according to rank. The Independence Dragoons are armed with [[lance]]s and [[sabre]]s, the latter only for the officers and the colour guard.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=1 February 2014|url=http://www.presidencia.gov.br/estrutura_presidencia/gsi/cerimonial/principais_tropas/dragoes_independencia |title=Presidência da República – GSI |publisher=office of the president of Brazil |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621100028/http://www.presidencia.gov.br/estrutura_presidencia/gsi/cerimonial/principais_tropas/dragoes_independencia/ |archive-date=21 June 2008 |language=pt}}</ref>

The regiment was established in 1808 by the Prince Regent and future [[List of Portuguese monarchs|King of Portugal]], [[João VI of Portugal|John VI]], with the duty of protecting the Portuguese royal family, which had sought refuge in Brazil during the [[Napoleonic wars]]. However dragoons had existed in Portugal since at least the early 18th century and, in 1719, units of this type of cavalry were sent to Brazil, initially to escort shipments of gold and diamonds and to guard the [[Viceroy]] who resided in [[Rio de Janeiro]] (1st Cavalry Regiment – Vice-Roy Guard [[Squadron (cavalry)|Squadron]]). Later, they were also sent to the south to serve against the Spanish during frontier clashes. After the proclamation of the [[Independence of Brazil|Brazilian independence]], the title of the regiment was changed to that of the Imperial Honor Guard, with the role of protecting the [[Brazilian imperial family|Imperial Family]]. The Guard was later disbanded by [[Pedro II of Brazil|Emperor Pedro II]] and would be recreated only later in the republican era.<ref>CARVALHO, José Murilo de. D. Pedro II: Ser ou não ser. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2007, p. 98</ref>

At the time of the [[Proclamation of the Republic (Brazil)|Republic proclamation]] in 1889, horse No. 6 of the Imperial Honor Guard was ridden by the officer making the declaration of the end of Imperial rule, Second lieutenant Eduardo José Barbosa. This is commemorated by the custom under which the horse having this number is used only by the commander of the modern regiment.

=== Canada ===
[[File:Memorial Stained Glass window, 2770 LCol KL Jefferson, Royal Military College of Canada.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|Memorial stained glass window at [[Royal Military College of Canada]] of 2770 LCol KL Jefferson, a member of the [[12th Manitoba Dragoons]], an [[armoured regiment]] of the [[Canadian Army]] and [[Canadian Forces]]]]
There are three dragoon regiments in the [[Canadian Army]]: [[The Royal Canadian Dragoons]] and two [[military reserve|reserve]] regiments, the [[British Columbia Dragoons]] and the [[Saskatchewan Dragoons]].

The Royal Canadian Dragoons is the senior [[Armoured warfare|Armoured]] regiment in the [[Canadian Army]]. The regiment was authorized in 1883 as the Cavalry School Corps, being redesignated as Canadian Dragoons in 1892, adding the Royal designation the next year. The RCD has a history of fighting dismounted, serving in the Second Boer War in South Africa as mounted infantry, fighting as infantry with the 1st Canadian Division in Flanders in 1915–1916 and spending the majority of the regiment's service in the Italian Campaign 1944–1945 fighting dismounted. In 1994 when the regiment deployed to Bosnia as part of the United Nations Protection Force, B Squadron was employed as a mechanized infantry company. The current role of The Royal Canadian Dragoons is to provide Armour Reconnaissance support to 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG) as well as C Squadron RCD in Gagetown which is a part of 2 CMBG and the RCD Regiment with Leopard 2A4 and 2A6 tanks.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=28 December 2020 |url= https://www.dragoonsarchives.ca/home/a-short-history-of-the-royal-canadian-dragoons/ |title=A Short History of The Royal Canadian Dragoons }}</ref>

The [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] were accorded the formal status of a regiment of dragoons in 1921.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=1 February 2014 |url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/na-canada/cav/RCMP.htm#colours |title=Royal Canadian Mounted Police |archive-date=18 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118041642/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/na-canada/cav/RCMP.htm#colours}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/ottawa_heraldry/heraldist1.html|archive-date=1 August 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010801174646/http://www.geocities.com/ottawa_heraldry/heraldist1.html|url-status=dead|title=Ottawa Valley Branch of the Heraldry Society of Canada}}</ref> The modern RCMP does not retain any military status however.

=== Chile ===
Founded as the ''Dragones de la Reina'' (Queen's Dragoons) in 1758 and later renamed the Dragoons of Chile in 1812, and then becoming the [[Carabineros de Chile]] in 1903. The [[Carabinier|Carabineros]] are the national police of Chile. The military counterpart, that of the 15th Reinforced Regiment "Dragoons" is now as of 2010 the 4th Armored Brigade "Chorrillos" based in [[Punta Arenas]] as the 6th Armored Cavalry Squadron "Dragoons", and form part of the 5th Army Division.

=== Denmark ===
The Royal [[Danish Army]] includes amongst its historic regiments the [[Jydske Dragonregiment|Jutland Dragoon Regiment]], which was raised in 1670.

=== France ===
The modern [[French Army]] retains three dragoon regiments from the thirty-two in existence at the beginning of World War I: the [[2nd Dragoon Regiment (France)|2nd]], which is a nuclear, biological and chemical protection regiment, the [[5th Dragoon Regiment (France)|5th]], an experimental [[Combined arms]] regiment, and the [[13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment|13th]] (Special Reconnaissance).

=== Lithuania ===
Beginning in the 17th century, the mercenary army of the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] included dragoon units. In the middle of the 17th century there were 1,660 dragoons in an army totaling 8,000 men. By the 18th century there were four regiments of dragoons.

Lithuanian cavalrymen served in dragoon regiments of both the Russian and Prussian armies, after the [[Partitions of Poland|Partitions]] of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]].

Between 1920 and 1924, and again between 1935 and 1940, the Lithuanian Army included the Third Dragoon ''Iron Wolf'' Regiment. The dragoons were the equivalent of the present-day [[Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces|Volunteer Forces]].

In modern Lithuania the Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Battalion (''Lithuanian: didžiojo kunigaikščio Butigeidžio dragūnų batalionas'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_struktura/kontaktai_1614/402.html|title=Lietuvos kariuomenė :: Kariuomenės struktūra » Kontaktai » Lietuvos didžiojo kunigaikščio Butigeidžio dragūnų batalionas|first=Fresh|last=Media|website=kariuomene.kam.lt|access-date=24 February 2017|archive-date=19 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619181938/https://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_struktura/kontaktai_1614/402.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> is designated as dragoons, with a motorized infantry role.

=== Mexico ===
During the times of the Viceroyalty, regiments of dragoons (Dragon de cuera) were created to defend [[New Spain]]. They were mostly horsemen from the provinces. During and after the [[Mexican war of independence]], dragons have played an important role in military conflicts within the country such as the [[Battle of Puebla]] during the [[French intervention]], until the [[Mexican Revolution]]. One of the best-known military marches in Mexico is the Marcha Dragona (dragon march), the only one currently used by cavalry and motorized units during the parade on 16 September to commemorate Independence Day.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gob.mx/sedena/documentos/unidades-militares-que-existieron-en-la-nueva-espana |title=Unidades militares que existieron en la Nueva España. &#124; Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional &#124; Gobierno &#124; gob.mx |access-date=8 November 2020 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116054004/https://www.gob.mx/sedena/documentos/unidades-militares-que-existieron-en-la-nueva-espana |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infonor.com.mx/home/3/51942-presentan-al-caballo-y-su-pasado-historico-como-arma|title=Infonor - Diario Digital|website=Infonor.com.mx|access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref>

=== Norway ===
In the [[Norwegian Army]] during the early part of the 20th century, dragoons served in part as mounted troops, and in part on skis or bicycles (''hjulryttere'', meaning "wheel-riders"). Dragoons fought on horses, bicycles and skis against the [[Operation Weserübung|German invasion in 1940]]. After [[World War II]] the dragoon regiments were reorganized as [[armour]]ed [[reconnaissance]] units. "Dragon" is the rank of a compulsory service private cavalryman while enlisted (regular) cavalrymen have the same rank as infantrymen: "Grenader".

=== Pakistan ===
The Armoured Regiment "34 Lancers" of Pakistan Army Armoured Corps is also known as "Dragoons".

=== Peru ===
[[File:Dragones del Perú.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|right|{{center|Changing of the dragoon guard by the Field Marshal Nieto Regiment of Cavalry, Life-Guard of the President of the Republic of Peru }}]]

The [[Mariscal Domingo Nieto Cavalry Regiment Escort|"Mariscal Domingo Nieto" Cavalry Regiment Escort]], named after Field Marshal [[Domingo Nieto]], a former [[List of Presidents of Peru|President of Peru]], were the traditional Guard of the [[Government Palace (Peru)|Government Palace]] until 5 March 1987 and its disbandment in that year. However, by Ministerial Resolution No 139-2012/DE/EP of 2 February 2012 the restoration of the Cavalry Regiment "Marshal Domingo Nieto" as the official escort of the President of the Republic of Peru was announced. The main mission of the reestablished regiment was to guarantee the security of the President of the Republic and of the Government Palace.

This regiment of dragoons was created in 1904 following the suggestion of a French military mission which undertook the reorganization of the [[Peruvian Army]] in 1896. The initial title of the unit was Cavalry Squadron "President's Escort". It was modelled on the French dragoons of the period. The unit was later renamed as the Cavalry Regiment "President's Escort" before receiving its current title in 1949.

The Peruvian Dragoon Guard has throughout its existence worn French-style uniforms of black tunic and red breeches in winter and white coat and red breeches in summer, with red and white plumed bronze helmets with the [[coat of arms of Peru]] and golden or red [[epaulettes]] depending on rank. They retain their original armament of [[lance]]s and [[sabre]]s, until the 1980s rifles were used for dismounted drill.

At [[24-hour clock|13:00 hours]] every day, the main esplanade in front of the [[Government Palace (Peru)|Government Palace of Perú]] fronting Lima's Main Square serves as the stage for the changing of the guard, undertaken by members of the Presidential Life Guard Escort Dragoons, mounted or dismounted. While the dismounted changing is held on Mondays and Fridays, the mounted ceremony is held twice a month on a Sunday.

=== Portugal ===
The [[Portuguese Army]] still maintains two units which are descended from former regiments of dragoons. These are the 3rd Regiment of Cavalry (the former "[[Olivenza|Olivença]] Dragoons") and the 6th Regiment of Cavalry (the former "[[Chaves (Portugal)|Chaves]] Dragoons"). Both regiments are, presently, armoured units. The [[Portuguese Rapid Reaction Brigade]]'s Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron – a unit from the 3rd Regiment of Cavalry – is known as the "Paratroopers Dragoons".

During the [[Portuguese Colonial War]] in the 1960s and the 1970s, the [[Portuguese Army]] created an experimental horse platoon, to combat the guerrillas in eastern [[Portuguese Angola|Angola]]. This unit was soon augmented, becoming a group of three squadrons, known as the "[[Angola Dragoons]]". The Angola Dragoons operated as mounted infantry – like the original dragoons – each soldier being armed with a [[pistol]] to fire when on horseback and with an [[automatic rifle]], to use when dismounted. A unit of the same type was being created in [[Portuguese Mozambique|Mozambique]] when the war ended in 1974.

=== Spain ===
The [[Spanish Army]] began the training of a dragoon corps in 1635 under the direction of Pedro de la Puente at [[Innsbruck]]. In 1640 the first dragoon "[[tercio]]" was created, equipped with [[arquebus]]es and [[Mace (bludgeon)|mace]]s. The number of dragoon tercios was increased to nine by the end of the XVII century: three garrisoned in Spain, another three in the [[Spanish Netherlands|Netherlands]] and the remainder in Milan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://caminoarocroi.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/los-dragones-infanteria-a-caballo-o-caballeria-desmontada/|title=Los dragones: ¿infantería a caballo, o caballería desmontada?|date=10 July 2012|work=Camino a Rocroi|access-date=2 December 2018|language=es-ES|archive-date=3 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203055605/https://caminoarocroi.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/los-dragones-infanteria-a-caballo-o-caballeria-desmontada/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The ''tercio''s were converted into a Regimental system, beginning in 1704. [[Philip V of Spain|Philip V]] created several additional dragoon regiments to perform the functions of a police corps in the [[New World]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://guerrerosdelahistoria.com/dragones-de-cuera/|title=Dragones de Cuera: Oeste Español {{!}} GUERREROS|website=guerrerosdelahistoria.com|language=es-ES|access-date=2 December 2018}}</ref> Notable amongst those units were the leather-clad [[Soldado de cuera|''dragones de cuera'']].

In 1803, the dragoon regiments were renamed as "''caballería ligera''" (light cavalry). By 1815, these units had been disbanded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eborense.es/soldados1808_pg_dragones.html|title=Uniformidad de los dragones españoles en 1808|last=Gómez|first=José Manuel Rodríguez|website=www.eborense.es|language=es-es|access-date=2 December 2018|archive-date=11 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611030651/http://www.eborense.es/soldados1808_pg_dragones.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Spain recreated its dragoons in the late nineteenth century. Three Spanish dragoon regiments were still in existence in 1930.<ref>Knotel, Richard. ''Uniforms of the World'', pp. 408–409. {{ISBN|0-684-16304-7}}</ref>

=== Sweden ===
{{See also|Norrlands dragonregemente}}

In the [[Swedish Army]], dragoons comprise the [[Military Police]] and Military Police Rangers. They also form the 13th Battalion of the [[Life Guards (Sweden)|Life Guards]], which is a military police unit. The 13th (Dragoons) Battalion have roots that go back as far as 1523, making it one of the world's oldest military units still in service. Today, the only mounted units still retained by the Swedish Army are the two dragoons squadrons of the King's Guards Battalion of the Life Guards. Horses are used for ceremonial purposes only, most often when the dragoons take part in the changing of the guards at The Royal Palace in Stockholm. "''Livdragon''" is the rank of a private cavalryman.

=== Switzerland ===
Uniquely, mounted dragoons continued to exist as combat units in the [[Swiss Armed Forces]] until the early 1970s, when they were converted into Armoured Grenadiers units. The "''Dragoner''" had to prove he was able to keep a horse at home before entering the cavalry. At the end of basic training they had to buy a horse at a reduced price from the army and to take it home together with equipment, uniform and weapon. In the "yearly repetition course" the dragoons served with their horses, often riding from home to the meeting point.

The abolition of the dragoon units, believed to be the last non-ceremonial horse cavalry in Europe, was a contentious issue in Switzerland. On 5 December 1972 the Swiss ''[[National Council of Switzerland|National Council]]'' approved the measure by 91 votes, against 71 for retention.<ref>''Dragons toujours en selle'', Éditions Imprimerie centrale, Neuchâtel (1974)</ref>

=== United Kingdom ===
As of 2021, the [[British Army]] contains four regiments designated as dragoons: [[1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards|1st The Queens Dragoon Guards]], [[Royal Scots Dragoon Guards]], the [[Royal Dragoon Guards]], and the [[Light Dragoons]]. These perform a variety of reconnaissance and light support activities, including convoy protection, and operate the [[Jackal (vehicle)|Jackal]], the [[Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle]] and the [[FV107 Scimitar]] light tank.<ref>{{cite web |last1=MOD |title=Dragoon units |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/?pageId=1100&pageSize=20&query=dragoons&sort=None |website=MOD |access-date=19 May 2021}}</ref>

=== United States ===
[[File:Battle of Resaca de la Palma.jpg|thumb|alt=Sepia print of cavalrymen cutting with swords at foot soldiers. A cannon is visible at the left.|US dragoons charging Mexican infantry at the [[Battle of Resaca de la Palma]] in May 1846.]]

The 1st and 2nd Battalion, [[48th Infantry Regiment (United States)|48th Infantry]] were mechanized infantry units assigned to the [[3rd Armored Division (United States)|3rd Armored Division]] (3AD) in [[West Germany]] during the [[Cold War]]. The unit crest of the 48th Infantry designated the unit as Dragoons, purely a traditional designation.

The 1st Dragoons was reformed in the [[Vietnam War]] era as the [[1st Cavalry Regiment (United States)|1st Squadron, 1st U.S. Cavalry]]. It served in the [[Iraq War]] and remains as the oldest cavalry unit, as well as the most decorated one, in the U.S. Army. Today's modern 1–1 Cavalry is a scout/attack unit, equipped with [[MRAP]]s, [[Bradley Fighting Vehicle|M3A3 Bradley CFVs]], and [[Stryker]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/134457/planes_trains_and_ferries_11_cav_equipment_arrives_in_europe |title=1/1 CAV equipment arrives in Europe|date=25 September 2014 |publisher=army.mil}}</ref>

Another modern [[United States Army]] unit, informally known as the 2nd Dragoons, is the [[2nd Cavalry Regiment (United States)|2nd Cavalry Regiment]]. This unit was originally organized as the Second Regiment of Dragoons in 1836 and was renamed the Second Cavalry Regiment in 1861, being redesignated as the [[2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment]] in 1948. The regiment is currently equipped with the [[Stryker]] family of wheeled fighting vehicles and was redesignated as the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in 2006. In 2011 the 2nd Dragoon regiment was redesignated as the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. The 2nd Cavalry Regiment has the distinction of being the longest continuously serving regiment in the United States Army.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://history.dragoons.org/2005/12/10/regimental-designations-and-deployments/ |title=Regimental Designations and Deployments &#124; 2d Dragoons |publisher=History.dragoons.org |access-date=9 April 2015 |archive-date=28 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728120746/http://history.dragoons.org/2005/12/10/regimental-designations-and-deployments/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The 113th Army Band at [[Fort Knox]] is also officially nicknamed as "The Dragoons". This derives from its formation as the Band, First Regiment of Dragoons on 8 July 1840.

Company D, [[3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion]] of the [[United States Marine Corps]], is nicknamed the "Dragoons". Their combat history includes service in the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan from 2002 to 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1stmardiv.marines.mil/Units/3DLARBN.aspx |title=1st Marine Division > Units > 3D LAR BN |publisher=1stmardiv.marines.mil |access-date=9 April 2015}}</ref>