DBA Armies

This list covers the Polish armies from the reforms of Kazimierz III (Casimir the Great) until the widespread use of firearms. Rycerz were the direct equivalent of western knights, originally in full mail supplemented by a lamellar corslet, but with a tall conical Lithuanian helmet and semi-rectangular shield, but from 1400 in full western plate armour. From 1454 they began to be replaced by the famous “winged hussars”. Support was provided by czeladz wearing scale, helmet and mail hood and armed with lance or crossbow, sword, but no shield; then from 1400 substituting a quilted doublet over a mail haubergeon for scale, armed with crossbow and sword and often called strzelcy “shooters”. These originally formed a second line, but this failed when fighting Tartars or Lithuanians, so their units afterwards deployed alternately with the rycerz in a single line; with light horsemen such as Lithuanians slightly in advance on the wings. Foot were seldom used. When they were, they formed a second line. The best were town militia of crossbowmen fronted by spear and pavise. Others with long axes were described by opponents as “murderous rustics” and were especially dangerous in woods. Reference: Armies of the Middle Ages Vol 2 1. Heath.