Fighting Techniques of the Early Modern World (AD 1500-AD 1763). Equipment, Combat Skills, and Tactics

257 Pages·2006·108.82 MB·English

by  Michael F. Pavkovic

FIGHTING TECHNIQUES
OF THE EARLY MODERN WORLD
AD 1500 ~ AD 1763
EQUIPMENT, COMBAT SKILLS, AND TACTICS
FIGHTING TECHNIQUES
OF THE EARLY MODERN WORLD
AD 1500 ~ AD 1763
EQUIPMENT, COMBAT SKILLS, AND TACTICS
CHRISTER JORGENSEN MICHAEL F. PAVKOVIC ROB S. RICE FREDERICK C. SCHNEID CHRIS L. SCOTT
THOMAS DUNNE BOOKS
S1 MARTIN'S PRESS ~ NEW YORK
THOMAS DUNNE BOOKS
An imprint ofSt.Martin's Press
FIGHTINGTECHNIQUES OFTHE EARLY MODERNWORLD.
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Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
on file at the Library ofCongress
ISBN:0-312-34819-3
BAN: 978-0-312-34819-9
First U.S. Edition 2006
Editorial and design by
Amber Books Ltd
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Printed in Singapore
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
The Role of Infantry 6
CHAPTER 2
Mounted Warfare 68
CHAPTER 3
Command and Control 130
CHAPTER 4
Siege Warfare 170
CHAPTER 5
Naval Warfare 210
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 250
INDEX 252

CHAPTER 1
THE ROLE
OF
INFANTRY
Through much ofthe European Middle Ages,
mountedwarriors were·the single most
importantcomponentofthe majorityof
field armies. Butbythe middle ofthe
itfteenth centurychanges in European
warfare led to the creation oflarge standing
armies. These armies came to relyon ever
increasing numbers ofhighly trained
andwell-equipped infantry.
O ver the next three centuries infantry
would once again be the dominant force
on the battlefield.Two overarching factors
contributed to the increasing role of infantry on
the battlefield. First, and perhaps most important,
was the development of administrative structures
that would allow the early modern state to recruit
and eventually maintain ever larger forces of
standing foot soldiers.While states initially relied
on military contractors and mercenary soldiers to
AFTERTHE ROUT oftheAustrians, Frederick the Great
searchedfor shelter in the village ofLeuthen.Some
ofthe troopsfollowing him struck up a hymn, ~Now
thank we allour God', which became known as the
Leuthen Chorale.The hymn was soon taken up by
virtually every man in the Prussian army.
7
FIGHTING TECHNIQUES OF THE EARLY MODERN WORLD
staff their new infantry units, improving such troops from 1500 onwards were the
administrative and financial organization soon companies of Swiss mercenaries who were to
allowed states to retain soldiers with the colours become a fixture in French armies ofthe period.
for longer periods of time.This in turn provided The Swiss had earned a formidable reputation
opportunities for the development of unit during the fifteenth century, defeating the
identities,cohesion and discipline. Burgundians at Grandson and Murtenin 1476 and
Secondwastheintroductionofanewweapons again at Nancy in 1477.These victories were won
system, based on the combination of the pike, a bythe Swiss'aggressive use ofcolumnsofinfantry
weapon of great antiquity, and the hand-held armedprimarilywiththe pikes,supportedbymen
firearm - referred to as 'shot' - based on the new wielding the halberd.The Swiss pike was a long
technology of gunpowder. The widespread spear,up to six metres (18 feet) long.The halberd
introduction of infantry was a polearm mounting a
polearms, especially the combination of axe blade
(When they engaged thefight)
pike, in the hands of and spear point, with a
disciplined mercenary foot the Swisspressed so hard upon hooked blade or spike
soldiers, or the standing oppositethe axe blade ona
the enemy with theirpikes that
units of the early modern two-metre (six-foot) shaft
state, allowed infantry to of hardwood. The pike
they soon opened their ranks)
keep even the most heavily allowed infantry to form in
armoured horseman at bay. but the Spaniards) under the deep ranks that could be
When combined with the closely packed together,
range and stopping power cover oftheir bucklers) nimbly sometimes with only 15
of gunpowder weapons, centimetres (six inches)
rushed in with their swords
disciplined infantry forces separating files, and with
became a formidable andfought them sofuriously four or five pike heads
battlefieldinstrument. protrudingbeforeeachfoot
that they slaughtered the Swiss soldierin the front rank.
Swiss, Landsknechts Standing ready on the
andgained a complete Victory. )
and Tercios defensive,pikemenwerean
In theValois-HapsburgWars intimidating obstacle, to
- MACHIAVELLI (ONBARLETTA)
at the beginning of the cavalry especially. The
fifteenth century, bodies of halberd's weight and reach
infantry armed with pikes made it a potent weapon
and firearms came to play an increasingly against infantry or even armoured horsemen. It
important role in battle. While both close-order did,however,requirealargeamountofspacetobe
infantry armed with pike and other polearms and wielded effectively and so was not suitable for
firearm-equipped infantry appear during this time closed ranks.Up until about 1450,the Swiss were
and are usually considered in tandem as'pike and primarily armed with the halberd, but after a
shot', it is important to recognize that they defeat at the hands of some Milanese heavy
developedindependentlyofone anotheranddrew cavalry some 20 years earlier, the Swiss quickly
onverydifferent traditions.The resultwas that the began to field a preponderance of pikemen. Men
evolution of pike-and-shot tactics reflected armed with the halberd were still used to guard
constant experimentation and adaptation over the the units' colours and as separate detachments to
period ofnearly two centuries. support the pike units. Many troops would have
Although there had been pike-armed foot worn a breastplate and helmet, although some
soldiers during the thirteenth and fourteenth seem to have foregone armour altogether.Those
centuries, often based on urban militias, in the front ranks had heavier armour, usually
particularly in the Low Countries, the model for adding tassets (plates protecting the front ofthe
8
THE ROLE OF INFANTRY
thigh), as well as armour for the upper arms and unit with strong ties to the community and the
perhaps the forearms as well. cantonofwhichitwasapart.ThismadeSwissfoot
But the success of the Swiss cannot be soldiers willing to make incredible sacrifices for
attributed to their weapons or formations alone. their communal comrades, with units often
Theirsocialorganizationplayedamajorroleinthe fighting to the last man.
effectivenessoftheirfighting techniques.Although Moreover, the importance of maintaining the
the pike is a reasonably easy weapon to master, Haufen's integrity on the battlefield may have
especially on the defensive in closed ranks, since playedarole in the Swissnotgivingquarterto the
there is not a great deal of individual weapon enemy since the unit would need to detach some
handling, the pike in and of itself did not make a of its members to guard the captives. The
pike unit successful on the battlefield. Rather, the communal nature of Swiss units also reinforced
cohesion of the pike unit was the critical factor, training since communities could train men from
and the Swiss form of social organization their youth onwards. Indeed, by the end of the
re-inforced the cohesion oftheirunits. fifteenth century a formal school teaching pike
Swiss pikemen were'organized into Haufen drill had opened in Bern.
(companies), ofapproximately 200 men each.The
Haufen was composed of men from the same
region, recruited from both urban centres and ANARRAY OF INFANTRYpolearms ofthe 16th and 17th
outlying rural communities. The company was centuries shown here includes,from left to right,
three varieties ofpike, halberd, billhook, glaive
commanded by a Hauptmann, or captain, who
and military hammer.The lengthy iron slee"ve
was an appointed representative of the town
extending down the length ofthe shaftofthe
council;other officers in the unit were elected by weapons, especially thepikes, made itdifficultfor'
the men.The Haufen was therefore a tightly knit the enemy to hack offthe headofthe weapon.
9
FIGHTING TECHNIQUES OF THE EARLY MODERN WORLD
S"\Viss Halberdier
These typicalSwiss halberdiersfrom the late
15th orearly 16th century do notwearany
significantarmour, exceptfor the soldieron
the left, who isprotectedby a sallet-style
helmet.They are armedwith a simpleform of
halberdthathasa long, heavy cleaver-like
blade thatcouldhack its way through
armourorthe shaftofan enemypolearm.
The halberdis also equipped with apoint
on the opposite side ofthe staff.This
couldbe used topierce evenplate
armour, as wellas being usefulas a
speartipfor thrusting.The length of
these weapons made them
effective againstboth infantry
andcavalryIn addition, each
isprovided with a sword.The
soldieron the leftcarriesa
shortswordknown as a
Katzbalger, meaning cat-gutter,
while the soldieron the right
has a longer broadsword.
10