Corps Volant

(from French, “flying corps”), a large military unit composed of cavalry, horse-drawn infantry, and light artillery.

The corps volant was designed for interception of communication, actions in the enemy’s rear, and pursuit of the enemy. Peter I formed the corps volant in Russia in 1701. This corps, consisting of 7,000 cavalrymen and 5,000 infantrymen, was most successful under Peter Fs command in combat near the village of Lesnaia on Sept. 28, 1708.