Carabinier
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A Carabinier (also sometimes spelled Carabineer or Carbineer) was a cavalry soldier armed with a carbine (a short musket or rifle). Sometimes considered a type of Mounted infantry, because they could also dismount to fight on foot, Carabiniers saw action during the Napoleonic wars in Europe, including the Battle of Waterloo, and many other conflicts throughout the 19th Century. Carabiniers differed from army to army and over time, but typically were medium cavlry, similar in armament and tactical role to Dragoons.
Napoleon inherited two French Carabinier regiments, which gained some prestige in his wars. In 1810 French Carabiniers were equipped as heavy cavalry with helmets and breastplates, and were no longer equipped with carabines. The French army has no carabinier regiments today. The British army raised some regiments of carabiniers from time to time, but no regiment bears the title today, although the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards are sub-titled "Carabiniers and Greys".
Italy has a famous force of carabiniers, a gendarmerie often known by the Italian name Carabinieri. In Chile, the Carabiniers (spanish: Carabineros) are also gendarmes.