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Armoured companion (Polish:Towarzysz pancernyPolish:[tɔˈvaʐɨʂpanˈtsɛrnɨ], plural:towarzysze pancerni) was a Polish medium-cavalryman in 16th to 18th centuryPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, named after theirchainmailarmor. These units were the second-most-important (and successful)cavalry in the Polish-Lithuanian army, after thehussars.
| Towarzysz pancerny | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Allegiance |  Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth |
| Type | cavalry |
| Role | Standing professional military |
| Equipment | war hammer,Mace (bludgeon),hatchet,sabrespearLance |
Mostpancerni were recruited from the middle or lower classes of thePolish nobility.[1]
Thesecompanions were organized into companies, with each company (Polish:chorągiew orrota) consisting of 60 to 200 horsemen.
The Cossacks were renamed armored cavalry (jazdę pancerną) in 1676 as the Cossack name was associated with theKhmelnytsky Uprising. After the reforms in 1776, both hussars and armored companions were transformed intoNational Cavalry units.[2][3]
Arms and armour
editThey usedchainmail orbechter armour to protect the upper body,vambrace sometimes withgauntlets,secretes (rarelylobster-tailed pot helmets),buckler shields,sabre,composite bow,pistols, andcarbine. Earlier companies would sometimes be equipped with ahorseman's pick,mace, orlance. During the rule of kingJohn III Sobieski, lances became compulsory.
During theMiddle Ages, under the rule ofMieszko I andBolesław I the Brave, the namepancerni applied to the members of the duke's retinue. They were the wealthiest warriors in the Polish army, and as such, they could afford to wear sophisticated armour, most commonly chainmail. Their weapons includedarming swords,axes,spears,shields, and straitbows.
Armour and equipment of a Polishtowarzysz pancerny, in the late 17th century atMuzeum Wojska Polskiego
Towarzysz pancerny by Dariusz T. Wielec
Pocztowy pancerny by Dariusz T. Wielec
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Sikora, Radosław (2005).Wojskowość polska w dobie wojny polsko-szwedzkiej 1626-1629. Kryzys mocarstwa. Poznań: Sorus.
- ^Sikorski, Janusz (1990).Polskie tradycje wojskowe: Tradycje walk obronnych z najazdami Niemców, Krzyżaków, Szwedów, Turków i Tatarów (in Polish). Wydawn. Min. Obrony Narodowej. pp. 191–199.ISBN 978-83-11-07675-4.
- ^Konstanty, Górski (1893)."Historya piechoty polskiej".Biblioteka Uniwersytecka W Poznaniu: 153.