جيوش عصر النهضة البولندية 1492-1569

Polish Renaissance Armies 1492-1569 This illustrated study evaluates Poland's armies in the wars during the first half of the sixteenth century, in the transition from feudal to regular forces. An almost continuous war, the eighty years after 1492 saw the gradual transformation of Polish forces from feudal armies into regular armies. The bloody conflict between Poles, Lithuanians, Hungarians, Muscovites, Cossacks, Turks and Tatars culminated in the Union of Lublin in 1569, which united the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This crucial period in Polish military history witnessed the emergence and development of famous military classes, such as the Polish Hussar Hussars, and a tactical shift with the introduction of hand rifle archers from infantry and horses to replace crossbowmen. Drawing on extensive sources, the author explains the methods of recruitment in the Polish armies, their organizational structure, the unit structure of the different force categories, their weapons, armor and equipment, and their strategies and tactics. In this engaging book, custom-designed artwork and rare illustrations combine with authoritative text to bring this under-researched topic to life for an English-language audience.