Croats (military unit)

The Croats or Crabats () were a 17th-century skilled mobile light military forces. The Croats were initially irregular units loosely organized in bands. The first regular Croat regiment was established in 1625. The most notable engagement of the Croats was their participation on the side of the Catholic League in the Thirty Years' War. Besides Croatian and Hungarian recruits from the territories of Habsburg Monarchy, the Croats were composed of soldiers recruited all over Eastern Europe, such as Serbs, Albanians, Transylvanians, Poles, Cossacks, Wallachians and Tatars.