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Companion (military Rank)
Companion (Polish: ''Towarzysz'' ), plural: ''towarzysze'') was a junior cavalry officer or knight-officer in the army of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from the 16th century until its demise in 1794. Name During the 20th century, ''towarzysz'' assumed the same meaning as the Russian ('' tovarishch'', "comrade"), with the military meaning fading in use. Use of cultural expressions such as '' pan'' ("sir") was frowned upon and the communist regime encouraged use of ''towarzysz'' ("companion") or '' obywatel'' ("citizen"). Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth In the military of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, (until the 1775 AD reforms) companion was usually a noble who served in the Army for a period of time, usually less than 5 years, as a horseman with his mounted retainers (cavalry) and ''free servants'' (hussars, cossack – Armoured companion, Petyhorcy, Hajduk), or with none or one retainer and very few free servants (light cavalry e.g. Wallachian, Lisowczyks, Li ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Petyhorcy
Petyhorcy (singular: Petyhorzec, la, pientho-horcensis, ) was a type of regular medium-armoured light cavalry exclusively in the Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army during the 17th and 18th centuries. The petyhorcy are viewed as the Lithuanian equivalent of the Royal Polish Army's Armoured Companion, or as a cavalry type that was between the Winged Hussars and the Armoured Companion. They were organised in Banners. Originally, the Petyhorcy were spear-armed cavalry from Circassia. The Petyhorcy were supposed to finish off and defeat the enemy line that was breached by the Winged Hussars. While the Winged Hussars were more prestigious, the Petyhorcy enjoyed high reputation, hence their banner's rotmistras were frequently high-ranking officials. In fact, the Petyhorcy developed in the late 16th-century from the mounted shooters who protected the hussars. Etymology The name of the Petyhorcy comes from Mount Beshtau (in Turkic languages, means five and means mountain). The name of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Towarzysz Kozacki
Companion (Polish: ''Towarzysz'' ), plural: ''towarzysze'') was a junior cavalry officer or knight-officer in the army of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from the 16th century until its demise in 1794. Name During the 20th century, ''towarzysz'' assumed the same meaning as the Russian ('' tovarishch'', "comrade"), with the military meaning fading in use. Use of cultural expressions such as '' pan'' ("sir") was frowned upon and the communist regime encouraged use of ''towarzysz'' ("companion") or '' obywatel'' ("citizen"). Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth In the military of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, (until the 1775 AD reforms) companion was usually a noble who served in the Army for a period of time, usually less than 5 years, as a horseman with his mounted retainers (cavalry) and ''free servants'' (hussars, cossack – Armoured companion, Petyhorcy, Hajduk), or with none or one retainer and very few free servants (light cavalry e.g. Wallachian, Lisowczyks, Li ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Medium Cavalry
Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry in the roles of reconnaissance, screening, and skirmishing in many armies, or as heavy cavalry for decisive shock attacks in other armies. An individual soldier in the cavalry is known by a number of designations depending on era and tactics, such as cavalryman, horseman, trooper, cataphract, knight, hussar, uhlan, mamluk, cuirassier, lancer, dragoon, or horse archer. The designation of ''cavalry'' was not usually given to any military forces that used other animals for mounts, such as camels or elephants. Infantry who moved on horseback, but dismounted to fight on foot, were known in the early 17th to the early 18th century as ''dragoons'', a class of mounted infantry which in most armies later evolved into standard cavalry while retainin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Winged Hussars
The Polish hussars (; pl, husaria ), alternatively known as the winged hussars, were a heavy cavalry formation active in Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, Poland and in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1503 to 1702. Their epithet is derived from large rear wings, which were intended to demoralize the enemy during Charge (warfare), charge. The hussars ranked as the elite of Polish cavalry until their official disbanding in 1776. The hussar dress was ostentatious and comprised plated Body armor, body armour (cuirass, spaulders, bevors, and arm bracers) adorned by gold ornaments, a burgonet or lobster-tailed pot helmet and jackboots as well as versatile weaponry such as lances, koncerz, Szabla, sabres, backswords, pistols, Mace (bludgeon), maces, and hatchets. It was customary to maintain a red-and-white colour scheme, and to be girded with tanned animal hide. The wings were traditionally assembled from the feathers of Bird of prey, raptors, and the angel-like frame was fast ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heavy Cavalry
Heavy cavalry was a class of cavalry intended to deliver a battlefield charge and also to act as a Military reserve, tactical reserve; they are also often termed ''shock cavalry''. Although their equipment differed greatly depending on the region and historical period, heavy cavalry were generally mounted on large powerful warhorses, wore body armor, and armed with either lances, swords, Mace (bludgeon), maces, flail (weapon), flails (disputed), battle axes, or war hammers; their mounts may also have been protected by barding. They were distinct from light cavalry, who were intended for Reconnaissance, scouting, Screening (tactical), screening, and skirmishing. History of heavy cavalry Persians Iranian tribes such as the Massagetae were believed to be the originator of the class of heavy cavalry known as cataphract. During the time of Achaemenid Empire, Achaemenid Persia cavalry was the elite arm of service (as was the case in most civilizations), and many Persian ho ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rotmistrz
__NOTOC__ (German and Scandinavian for "riding master" or "cavalry master") is or was a military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in the armies of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Scandinavia, and some other countries. A ''Rittmeister'' is typically in charge of a squadron (a company-sized unit called a "troop" in the United States, as opposed to the U.S. cavalry squadron of larger battalion size), and is the equivalent of a ''Hauptmann'' rank (en: captain). The various names of this rank in different languages (all Germanic, plus Estonian) were: * sv, ryttmästare * da, ritmester * no, rittmester (bokmål; the spelling ''ritmester'' was used until 1907) or ''rittmeister'' (nynorsk) * german: Rittmeister * et, rittmeister The Dutch equivalent, ''Ritmeester'', is still the official designation for officers in the cavalry branches of the Royal Dutch Army. The Norwegian rank, ''rittmester''/''rittmeister'', still serves as the official designation for officers in the armoured ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Poczet
Poczet (, "fellowship" or "retinue"; plural ''poczty'') was the smallest organized unit of soldiers in the and later also the Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army from the 15th until the 18th century. The name of a medium or heavy-cavalry soldiers in poczet was pocztowy. In the cavalry, each poczet was commanded by a Companion or Armoured companion. Several Poczets were combined to form larger units like a Banner (the equivalent of a Western Company). In this context the poczet is the equivalent of the medieval Lances fournies. Pocztowy was an assistant and subordinate of the Companion, in some respects similar to more ancient knight's servant - page or squire. He was armoured like his superior, but fought in the second or third line and was responsible for guarding his back and flanks in a battle. See also * Offices in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth This article discusses the organizational and administrative structure of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Polish–Lith ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pocztowy
Poczet (, "fellowship" or "retinue"; plural ''poczty'') was the smallest organized unit of soldiers in the and later also the Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army from the 15th until the 18th century. The name of a medium or heavy-cavalry soldiers in poczet was pocztowy. In the cavalry, each poczet was commanded by a Companion or Armoured companion. Several Poczets were combined to form larger units like a Banner (the equivalent of a Western Company). In this context the poczet is the equivalent of the medieval Lances fournies. Pocztowy was an assistant and subordinate of the Companion, in some respects similar to more ancient knight's servant - page or squire. He was armoured like his superior, but fought in the second or third line and was responsible for guarding his back and flanks in a battle. See also * Offices in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth This article discusses the organizational and administrative structure of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Polish–Lith ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Banner (cavalry)
Chorągiew (; literally: "banner") was the basic administrative unit of the Polish and Lithuanian cavalry from the 14th century. An alternative name until the 17th century was '' Rota''. 14th to 17th centuries Between the 14th and 17th century the ''Chorągiew'' was composed of smaller sub-units – the ''Poczet''. Types of ''Chorągiew'' were: * Chorągiew ziemska (District banner), formed by knights of a district. * Chorągiew rodowa (Clan banner), formed by clans. * Chorągiew nadworna (Court banner), formed by troops of the King. 15th century (2nd half) to 18th century (1st half) In the cavalry, since the second half of the 15th century until the first half of the 18th century, a ''Chorągiew'' was formed according to the "companion system" (system zaciągu towarzyskiego). See: '' Towarzysz'' (companion). Types of ''Chorągiew'' were: * Chorągiew husarska (Hussar banner), formed by Hussars. * Chorągiew lekka ("Light" banner), formed by light-cavalry. * Chorągiew pan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lithuanian Tatars
The Lipka Tatars (Lipka – refers to '' Lithuania'', also known as Lithuanian Tatars; later also – Polish Tatars, Polish-Lithuanian Tatars, ''Lipkowie'', ''Lipcani'', ''Muślimi'', ''Lietuvos totoriai'') are a Turkic ethnic group who originally settled in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at the beginning of the 14th century. The first Tatar settlers tried to preserve their shamanistic religion and sought asylum amongst the non-Christian Lithuanians.Lietuvos totoriai ir jų šventoji knyga - Koranas Towards the end of the 14th century, another wave of Tatars – this time, , were invited into the Grand Duchy by |
