On this page I will put the answers to frequently asked questions,
both about the Polemos: GNW rules and about the war generally. At
this time there are no FAQ's about the rules because they have only
just become available. So to begin with I offer:-
WHAT DID POLISH GNW TROOPS LOOK LIKE?
The following is a slightly expanded version of this question that
I have been asked several times already. I am indebted to S. A.
Jasinski for the illustrations from his very useful site. It covers
a slightly early period than the GNW but still it is a useful source
of information on the Polish-Lithuanians at this time. Click
here to go to this site.
Question: Where I can get information on the Polish Army
during the GNW? Is it essentially the same as during the late 1690's?
Answer: The first thng to say is that information on Polish-Lithuanian
uniforms and dress is very difficult to find. So this is based on
what little information there is available. But the general answer
is "Yes the Polish army in the GNW is essentially the same
as the one in the late 1690's".
You have 'Polish' cavalry types - Hussar (of the winged kinds),
Pancerni, Light Horse, etc. These would be very similar to the same
types as in the previous century.The armour could be lighter but
usually was still worn. You should be thinking more of swords, pistols
and carbines as armament rather than lances, spears and bows. But
the 'old fashioned' weapons were still used and around generally.
So as far as the information I have essentially the 'Polish' cavalry
types looked the same as previously.
The 'foreign types, Dragoons and Arquebusiers/Rajtars (these last
two are just standard western Horse) are a little trickier. There
is no information at all on the Arquebusiers but probably standard
WSS/GNW 'Horse' are what we are talking about (i.e. Any figure that
is not Swedish from this time). The dragoons are supposed to be
in basically standard Western dragoon uniform but with a fur hat.
It seems likely thought that this would only be in the early period
& that 'tricorne' hats were used later.
Picture
courtesy of Polish Renaissance Warfare by S. A. Jasinski,
www.jasinski.co.uk/wojna/index.htm or click on the picture to go
to the original page.
Another thing was that Dragoons frequently dismounted to fight
and indeed could be 'mounted infantry' rather than cavalry that
can dismount. The reason for this was the infantry - there wasn't
any! or at least very few. In the 10 battles or armies in the field
Ihave information on the infantry top out at 3 battalions! In the
majority of battles there are no infantry at all. So the dismounted
draggons are often all you have in an army.
The infantry again are a little tricky. At the start of the war
they seem to have looked like 1690's infantry. But like the dragoons
it is likely that they changed during the war to standard western
type uniform. But they seem to have used Polish style dress at the
start of the war at least and 'normal' dress later on. Some of the
private armies infantry seem to have worn Western style uniforms
from the beginning of the war, some Lithuanian infantry are noted
as wearing green uniforms.
Most likely the infantry were now all musketeers but pikes may
have lingered on, similarly with axes. Both are likely to have disappeared
by the end of the war.
Here are another couple of excellent pictures from Polish Renaissance
Warfare by S. A. Jasinski, www.jasinski.co.uk/wojna/index.htm or
click on the picture to go directly to the original page.
So yes use them as GNW Poles but don't be in any rush to paint
any infantry you may have. If you want to be absolutely accurate
cut down some of the lances/spears/bows to pistols/swords/carbines
but personally I wouldn't bother! But that of course is up to you
:)
The current list of available and planned lists and scenarios from
Gaming Research and Resources is here - including some samples.
To return to the Polemos: GNW home page click here -
