Cornets

The cornets ( French ) is a term used in the 16th and 17th centuries for the equestrian company , because each company carried a standard analogous to the infantry's flag .

The Général Raimondo Montecuccoli formed his "cornettes" from 60 lance riders, 120 half-cuirassiers (only with a breastplate) and 60 arquebuses on horseback. That corresponded to a small regiment with three escadrons from other branches of service. In 1675 a regiment in France consisted of three or four cornettes of 100 riders each.

The cornette blanche was the standard of the body company of the regiment des Colonel-général de la cavalerie in the French army ; it was white with golden lilies. This company was named after that.

See also : cornet (officer)