A rider of the Bosnian Regiment, Prussia 1786

Bosnian lancers fought in the Prussian army from the beginning of 1745, as a special company of hussars in the service of von Ruesch. 

When they did not receive their pay, in the summer of 1745, a squadron of 72 riders recruited for the Kingdom of Saxony by Count Bruhl, deserted under the leadership of Stephan Serkis, offering their services to the King of Prussia. Frederick the Great named Serkis captain of the unit, and the latter demonstrated the valour of the unit during the war against Austria. This formed the nucleus of the later Bosnian regiments. They participated in the Seven Years War and in the War of Bavarian Succession. In 1796 the Bosnian Corps was expanded by assigning a Tartar regiment formed of former Polish soldiers.