More Polish Haiduks for the 1620s

[Friends of General Haig]

The latest unit to join my Polish 1620s army is a banner of Polish Haiduks.  I’ve painted these inspired by a unit on the Stockholm Scroll.  More pictures and details here:
https://theviaregia.blogspot.com/2022/01/more-haiduks.html

[Paul Richardson]

Lovely painting and grouping.

I'm afraid I know nothing about Polish armies, so, out of interest, how did haiduks protect themselves against cavalry? I see that neither Foundry nor TAG make any armed with pikes, so presumably haiduks didn't use the pike.

[traveller]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing!

[OSHIROmodels]

Nicely done 

[pete]

super job.
 
Upload to the Gallery please
https://theassaultgroup.co.uk/my-account/user-gallery/?ug-gallery=upload-photo

[Sparrow]

Very nice

[sepoy1857]

Nice indeed!

[Galloping Major]

Very nicely done 



www.gallopingmajorwargames.co.uk

[Thaddeu]

Great to see such progress on this army!

I'm afraid I know nothing about Polish armies, so, out of interest, how did haiduks protect themselves against cavalry? I see that neither Foundry nor TAG make any armed with pikes, so presumably haiduks didn't use the pike.

Hope no one minds if I jump in here...

As I understand it, there are a few answers to your question. First off, as described in one of his previous blog posts, every 10th haiduk was armed with a polearm, and while this was primarily for NCO-type command duties, they could also ward off cavalry to some degree.

Another factor is that Polish-Lithuanian armies of this period could generally assume to have cavalry superiority over their foes. Even their "german-style" musketeers usually operated without pike support, trusting in friendly cavalry support against any opposing horse.

Finally, Polish musketry of either style often made use of existing terrain. Most battle summaries put any Polish musketeers in villages, or woods, or even firing out of the fortified camp; there is very little of the TYW/ECW style infantry set piece battle line type deployment, and therefore much less vulnerability to cavalry charges.

[Friends of General Haig]

Thanks everyone for your really kind comments; much appreciated!

Also, thanks Thaddeu - that is a great explanation and I think exactly the points I would have wanted to make, but I would probably not have put it as eloquently as you did.

Certainly in the battles I’ve looked at for the 1620s in Prussia, the Polish infantry are often fighting from behind field fortifications. The wagon lager (tabor?) was used to protect the camp and infantry. 

[Paul Richardson]

Thaddeu: many thanks for the explanation. It makes perfect sense.

[Metternich]

Beautifully painted figures.