Hells Devils: Kalmyk Horsemen in the 1812 Campaign

When I first began putting together my Russian army for our Retreat from Moscow project, I wasn’t expecting to fall down a historical rabbit hole. But while flipping through the Blandford uniform guide for the Retreat from Moscow, I was immediately hooked by the mention of the Kalmyks and Bashkirs. They looked like they’d galloped straight out of the Middle Ages and into Napoleon’s nightmare — mounted warriors in fur hats and brightly coloured robes, firing curved bows and launching hit-and-run raids on the retreating French. Needless to say, I immediately realised that a Kalmyk unit would be integrated into my Russian army at some point.

Ray and I are loosely building toward a game based around the Battle of Berezina, and right there in the Russian Order of Battle was a Kalmyk cavalry regiment. It was the perfect excuse to bring these exotic, half-forgotten warriors into the heart of the drama — and maybe give my French opponent a few headaches on the tabletop.

So who were the Kalmyks? They are Europe’s only Mongolic ethnic group, descendants of the Oirat-speaking Mongols who migrated westward from Central Asia across the centuries. By the early 17th century, they'd settled on the arid steppes between the Don and Volga Rivers and established the Kalmyk Khanate under Russian suzerainty. Their name for the Volga, Itil, meaning “pastures” in their archaic script, sums up their deep connection to the land and their nomadic lifestyle.

Even under the Russian Empire, the Kalmyks continued to migrate seasonally, moving their herds and yurts across the vast steppe, although they gradually transitioned to more permanent settlements with wooden houses and Buddhist temples. By 1798, Tsar Paul I formally recognized the Don Kalmyks as part of the Don Cossack Host, granting them status and privileges in return for military service.

To the soldiers of Napoleon’s Grande Armée, the Kalmyks must have looked like ghostly echoes of a much older enemy. These were men who rode like Mongols, dressed like Mongols, and fought like Mongols. Small in stature but fierce in reputation, they struck an intimidating figure with their flowing robes, shaggy fur hats, and flying topknots. 

Their gear might have seemed outdated compared to the polished muskets and sabres of the European powers, but it was deadly effective. Their bows were masterpieces of steppe craftsmanship — horn-backed, wrapped in birch bark and horsehair to withstand the damp Russian winters. With sinew strings and expert marksmanship, these bows could launch arrows over 500 yards, well beyond the reach of a typical infantry musket.

In battle, Kalmyk cavalry used their speed and agility to their advantage. One commonly reported tactic was to ride within 40 paces of the enemy, loose four arrows in quick succession — some riders even carried arrows between their teeth for faster reloading — and then finish the assault with a lance charge. It's the kind of asymmetric warfare that’s hard to model on the tabletop, but devastating when used right.

The Kalmyks played a notable role in the chaos of Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow. Their hit-and-run tactics and deep knowledge of the land made them ideal for harassing the retreating French columns, preying on isolated units, baggage trains, and stragglers. There’s even a famous account from November 1812, when a wounded French general arrived at a hospital in Krasnoye with an arrow still lodged in his body — complete with a brightly coloured plume sticking from the shaft. The French soon nicknamed the Kalmyk “hell’s devils,” and it’s not hard to see why.

Though often overlooked in popular accounts of the Napoleonic Wars, the Kalmyks were still in the saddle right to the bitter end. On March 30, 1814, Kalmyk cavalry rode into Paris alongside the rest of the Russian army. They even set up camp on the Champs-Élysées, where Parisians gathered to watch these exotic horsemen race and perform riding tricks — a living reminder that some of the Empire’s enemies came from far beyond the Prussian and Austrian heartlands.

For wargamers, the Kalmyks offer something truly different in a Russian Napoleonic force. They’re light cavalry with a unique flavour — and perfect for those of us who like a little asymmetry in our games. Whether you're fielding them in a sprawling retreat scenario, a skirmish-level ambush, or just adding some spice to your cavalry wing, they’re guaranteed to get noticed. They also provide a chance to paint something visually striking: robes in rich colours, horsehair plumes, exotic tack and saddles — a refreshing change from the parade-ground greens and greys of most Napoleonic uniforms.

And, of course, if you’re like me, there’s just something irresistible about including warriors in your army who feel like they’ve stepped out of a different era altogether — and still managed to ride all the way to Paris. These models are grom Gripping Beasts range of medieval Mongols, for a different era entirely, but still perfect for the 1812 campaign.