Human sources and tactics Warfare in Medieval Poland

1 human sources , tactics

1.1 earliest times
1.2 during times of bolesław iii wrymouth
1.3 in time of mongol s invasion
1.4 in 14th , 15th centuries
1.5 in times of jagiellons

human sources , tactics
earliest times

in prehistoric times main military force of state consisted of grown males subject of local władyka. władyka leader had enough power overwhelm previous senior tribal leaders of particular tribes, or distinguished himself during war , gained hereditary sovereignty. in later times – more , more towns , villages – hereditary ruler, duke, began form own drużyna. drużyna became basic formation of state. however, build army ruler had send wici call arms pospolite ruszenie of free landowners, later transformed szlachta. drużyna equipped , armed duke, levy-en-masse went war armed quite arbitrarly: weapons , armour had bought privately or captured in battle. hence weapons of pospolite ruszenie quite different in origin , quality; predominately spears , javelins, war axes, bows , maces.

information size of army @ beginning of polish statehood comes 2 written sources: description of slavic territories of ibrahim ibn jakub , chronicles , deeds of dukes or princes of poles of gall anonym. first of these wrote mesko, king of north had 3000 pancerni. according second, polish forces around 1000 ad bigger, may support theory of escalating militarization of state during rule of bolesław chrobry. gall anonym wrote, prince had @ command:

from poznań 1300 pancerni , 4000 shield-warriors
from gniezno 1500 pancerni , 5000 shield-warriors
from włocławek 800 pancerni , 2000 shield-warriors
from giecz 300 pancerni , 2000 shield-warriors

these numbers did not refer regular army, drużyna , pospolite ruszenie, prince mobilize in northern part of poland. calculations, based on estimated population numbers demonstrate bolesław chrobry able call 16-18 thousand men.

the exact number of horse warriors remains unclear. according 1 compilation of description of slavic lands mieszko provided men horses, according ...this country lies sea in middle of dense forests, difficult army cross, mentioned mśko has foot soldiers only.. quite possible mounted soldiers of mieszko s army not numerous, or cadre had horses. in opinion of historians cavalry units made 1/3 of army: 800 horsemen in proportion 2400 infantry. following gallus anonimus 1 can recognize 3900 pancerni cavalry, , 13 000 shield-warriors infantry.

during times of bolesław iii wrymouth

the drużyna of 12th century no longer formed nucleus of army. instead became guard of ruler; of magnates had drużynas comparable of prince. time army consisted of drużyna of prince, detachments of magnates, , pospolite ruszenie, members came former free landowners (now mounted knights), peasant infantry. know nothing tactics of times, or human resources.

there changes in armament of soldiers, cross bow , heavy hurling weapons appeared. defensive armament did not change lot, knights wore conical helmets nasals , full mail armours. cavalry basic element of army, improved speed of march: in 1103 wrymouth s army covered distance of 330 km (from głogów kołobrzeg) in 5 days, proving great mobility.

we not know how big army was, had quite big, since wage war on two, or 3 different fronts.

in time of mongol s invasion

battle of legnica, 1241 (miniature of picturesque legend of saint hedwig of andechs)

in 12th century process of creation of knighthood began in poland (and lasted more century), strictly connected tenure of land. in order recreate picture of army of times, essential know duties of particular classes of society: military duty, specified works army s needs duty , services in kind army duty. first type of duty rested in soldiers hands. other 2 responsibility of burghers , (most of) peasants.

this period - previous 1 - little understood, battle of legnica has such rich iconography, possible attempt make estimates. armour of ordinary soldier changed little, eminent knights (including henry ii pious) had hauberks enriched iron plate elements, , great helms, nicely ornamented. leszek czarny, died in 1288, depicted on gravestone in kraków in full plate armour.

tactics of battlefield not complicated. knights (along squires) stayed in close order formation infantry on flanks, , – after initial shots of bowmen or crossbowmen – started charge. in same moment commander – fighting @ head of main detachment - lost control on army , battle degenerated melée in scourge , disarray. in such circumstances possibility of panic crucial element of fight, , battle - supposedly won - lost.

in 14th , 15th centuries

battle of grunwald (fragment), jan matejko

the 14th , beginning of 15th centuries characterized fast development of arms, tactics , strategy well. knighthood of kingdom of poland strengthened good, , in battlefield developed , dominated maneuverability, full scale outflanking, surrounding, unconventional uses of cavalry , infantry units surprise enemy. in days commanders stayed away fight, observing battle selected place (mostly @ top of hill), had wide view on surroundings. detachments led known, experienced knights named voyvodes.

polish army of period consisted - before - of knights, burghers, , peasants, obvious division of labor , specialization: cavalry, infantry, , fortified cities defenders. knight, along lance belonged own chorągiew (or rota) of land, clan, or mercenary, , best warriors called lead chorągiews of army. szlachta of moderate means, able arm , support lance, enlisted chorągiew of particular land, knights had estates. poorer knights enlisted chorągiews created , maintained magnates, or few mercenary royal chorągiews created under king s order particular, rich , famous commandander. infantry made of peasants (one of 5 men of royal villages: 4 remaining in village had equip , arm fifth). burghers had defend cities, , different guilds responsible particular part of walls defense. they, richer peasants, able better armours , weapons: light helmets, mail, or mail-plate armours; in addition taught how fight, purpose shot brotherhoods created.

the weapon of knight changed little: swords longer, long cruciform hilts grips on 15 cm in length (providing room 2 hands), straight double-edged blades on 90 cm in length, , weigh typically between 1.2 , 1.4 kg (so called greatswords or bastards). on contrary armour transformed significantly. mail gradually enriched iron plates, covered of endangered parts of body, , in beginning of 15th century replaced full plate armour. worth know armour covered outer garment of tunic form, open @ sides , belted, emblazoned coats of arms, known tabard. uncomfortable great helms went out of use, replaced first visored bascinets, typically fitted aventail , hinged visor.

the crossbows of infantry became heavier, , more dangerous knights, , ordinary shield of past replaced pavise; high, rectangle shield, behind foot soldier safely shoot @ enemy. last inventions of 15th century black powder , cannon. latter first time used in poland after death of king louis of hungary, when followers of 1 of candidates throne besieged opponents in castle of pyzdry in 1383. bombards of times, shot stone projectiles, quite against fortifications, useless on battlefield.

in times of jagiellons

the characteristic changes of period appearance – @ side of heavy cavalry – of light horse detachments of hussars , new pancernis, gradual termination of call of peasants (now permanently enslaved serfs). burghers kept privileges defend towns, 3 cities in of poland had right send troops battlefield. novelty so-called obrona potoczna (later wojsko kwarciane) organized defend royal lands , – in general sense – whole territory of state against incursions east.

also armament has been changed. heavy cavalryman s armour (of both knight , horse) thicker, , heavier, weapons remained same. in same time light cavalryman dropped out armour @ (like first hussars) or stayed mail (like pancerni). novelty personal fire weapon of soldier, pistol , arquebuss, replaced musket. infantry of times formed of mercenary regiments of foreign style (pol. cudzoziemskiego autoramentu), or of field infantry (pol. piechota łanowa) recruited peasants.

the gunpowder domination of battlefield became complete in europe. armour, of little use against either small arms or artillery fire, gradually disappearing, not everywhere: in nearest future light hussars of battle of orsha wore heavier breastplates, helmets, gorgets, , forearm pieces.