piątek, 25 grudnia 2015

400 dragonów, dobrych Walonów


Ciekawa notka z początku historii dragonii w ‘naszej’[1] części Europy. W czasie tzw. Długiej Wojny (Tureckiej) 1591-1606, oddziały cesarskie po raz pierwszy wystawiły do boju dragonów. W końcu grudniu 1602 roku arcyksiążę Maciej Habsburg[2] wydał bestallung na cztery kompanie tej formacji, rekrutowane spośród Walonów. Dowódcami tych jednostek, które miały liczyć po 100 ludzi każda, byli:
- Charles de Argentea
- Mercure de Marilof
- Laurentio de Rame
- Guiliome de Waux
Dragoni nie mieli posiadać żadnego uzbrojenia ochronnego, zaś ich bronią zaczepną miały być miecze (pałasze?)[3], długa broń palna o zamku kołowym[4] noszona na bandolecie[5],a także jeden pistolet za pasem lub przy siodle. Oczywiście brak tu wzmianki o pikach, które tak chętnie u dragonów widzieli później teoretycy wojskowi. Wymóg jednego pistolu jest podobny do wzmianki o tej broni u arkebuzerów, którzy także mieli unikać walki wręcz – pisałem o tym kilka lat temu. Jako formacja lżejsza od wspomnianych arkebuzerów, dragoni zdawali się być idealnym wsparciem dla cięższej kawalerii w czasie walk przeciw Turkom. Wybór Walonów nie jest przypadkowy,  ceniono ich zarówno jako dobrą jazdę zachodnioeuropejską[6] a także i piechotę, stąd też wydawali się być idealnym źródłem żołnierza do swoistej formacji-hybrydy jaką była dragonia.



[1] No dobra, trochę naciągam, bo bardziej południowa niż wschodnia Europa…
[2] Od 1593 roku gubernator Austrii, od 1612 roku cesarz.
[3] Mam tylko angielskie tłumaczenie jako ‘sword’, nie wiem jakiego słowa użyto w oryginalnym dokumencie.
[4] Zapewne arkebuz.
[5] W znaczeniu pasa, a nie broni oczywiście.
[6] Także i w Polsce. 

7 komentarzy:

  1. The word used in the orginal "bestallung" for the swords was "guetten seittenwöhren" i.e "good sidearms". "Seittenwöhr" is a classic example of how irregular German spelling was in this period, the modern spelling is "Seitenwehr" (Sidearm) and the word was used as a sort of "catch all" term for cold steel sidearms.

    The exact type of sidearm would depend on the type of soldiers that made up the unit, the men were expected to be properly armed for their type of service. I.e Cuirassiers had to have robust cut and thrust swords that could withstand being used against fully armoured enemies http://digitaltmuseum.se/011024417432?locale=no-NB

    Dragoons on the other hand could make do with a less specialised sword as they were usually not expected to fight heavily protected enemies. Their swords could include weapons like these
    http://www.hermann-historica.de/auktion/hhm71.pl?f=NR_LOT&c=3071&t=temartic_AW_GB&db=kat71_AW.txt
    http://www.hermann-historica.de/auktion/hhm71.pl?f=NR_LOT&c=3079&t=temartic_AW_GB&db=kat71_AW.txt with
    These sword could still both cut and thrust but were intended for use against unarmoured enemies first and foremost.

    It may be interesting to know that Laurentio de Rame was the senior captain and commanded all 4 companies. As you certainly already know the companies were recruited from Tilly's Walloons but perhaps the following details are new to you and other readers. Tilly had originaly raised a regiment of infantry and a unit of Cuirassiers in 1600 which saw extensive action in the campaigns of 1600 &1601- However after the difficult retreat in November 1601 Tilly's Walloons like most of the rest of the army were disbanded rather than kept in service during the Winter. In May 1602 Tilly got a new "bestallung" for a 3000 strong Walloon regiment and returned to Lüttich and the Netherlands to recruit it which left the remenants of his old units unemployed in the Austrian lands. Enter Laurentio de Rame and the project to raise dragoons from the old soldiers. One reason that pistols were included in the equipment was probably due to more than a few of the new dragoons being former cuirassiers and already owned the weapons.

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  2. Great info Daniel, thanks. What is especially interesting here is that former cuirassiers would be willing to serve in such lower-grade unit as dragoons ;) In mid-17th century Lithuanian hetman Radziwiłł was treating one of his unit of reiters that, if they will not improve their equipment and horses, he will have them demoted to dragoons.

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  3. Dragoons were very new in 1602 and had probably not fully established their status or lack of it. In many ways these Walloon dragoons were more like mounted arkebusiers than classic dragoons. Tillys Walloon Cuirassiers also had showed willingness to fight on foot. In an earlier action they dismounted and fought in square when attacked by very superior numbers of Tartars. Last but not least service as dragoon was probably better than starving far from home.

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  4. Yeah, 'the last but not least' is definetely very important. Am I correct to say that it was the first time when dragoons shows on Austrian payroll?

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  5. Yes, all my sources have these 4 companies as the first dragoons in Austrian service.

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  6. Lovely, lovely history-porn. Keep it coming.

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