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Il s'agit ici probablement d'un Garde du
Corps de la Noblesse Hongroise, photographié en 1865 comme
l'indique le dos de la CDV.
Sa tenue reprend les éléments
d'uniformes des hussards de 1848.
A titre d'illustration, je ne
résiste pas au plaisir de vous proposer ce savoureux compte-rendu
publié dans le Times le 11 Juin 1867 :
"THE
CORONATION OF THE KING OF HUNGARY
(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDANT)
PESTH, June 6.
Within a four days' journey of our shores there is now in progress
a scene such as might have been witnessed in the old barbaric world,
when Kings were crowned with strange magnificence ; (...)
There was a small gathering at the foot of an hotel staircase this
morning of positively startling people. One had a tall calpak of
gray astrakan fur, with a yellow satin bag, ending in a great tassel
of gold lace. On the front of the calpak was a scarlet medallion,
bearing in embroidery the badges of the House he served -apples
and leaves- his brown face and black moustache contrasted with a
white lace frill with long ends ; the gold laced collar of his scarlet
hussar jacket was crusted with gold ; from his shoulders hung a
pelisse of green and silver trimmed with gray fox-skin, and worked
all over with apples and leaves in silver ; his tight pantaloons
of flaming red were slashed with silver, and his boots were of yellow
Morocco leather, with a band of gold lace and tassels at the top,
and gilt heels and enormus spurs, the get up being completed by
a heavy curved scimitar, ablaze with all kinds of metallic finery.
He and his fellow regarded each other in their new clothes with
much curious wonder, each miratur novas frondes et non sua poma.
These were but the "life hussars," or personal attendants
of a Magyar noble, and wereby no means singular for a finery among
those with whom they stood. There were men who shone as if they
were in armour, in their particoloured clothing, and it was not
possible their masters could devise greater glory of attire for
themselves - at least one might be pardoned for thinking so. (...)
miratur novas frondes et non sua poma. These were but the "life
hussars," or personal attendants of a Magyar noble, and wereby
no means singular for a finery among those with whom they stood.
There were men who shone as if they were in armour, in their particoloured
clothing, and it was not possible their masters could devise greater
glory of attire for themselves - at least one might be pardoned
for thinking so. (...)
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