ODP: Re: ODP: Question about cavalry charges

["Tomaszek"]

Hi there!!

So a few more examples - this time from more interesting You period...

Period between 1453 and 1466 is known in Polish historiography as the
"thirteen years war" - it was fought between Poland (allied with the
confederation of Prussian cities )and The Teutonic Order... It was last war
fought with the Teutonic order (in the XV century it was plenty of 'em ;) )

During this war a few nice (from Yours point of view :) ) battles were
fought...

1. Battle near Chojnice (north of today's Poland) in the first part of
battle Polish heavy cavalry (nobles militia) charged through (yes - through)
a bridge and started fight with the Teutonic cavalry. Teutonic cavalry was
pushed away and  dispersed (Prince of Zagan (Sagen? In German I presume) was
killed, and Bernard Szumborski - Czech - was temporally taken prisoner -
both of 'em were the Teutonic leaders). But the attack was stopped at the
strengthened Teutonic camp - by infantry. Shortly after that teutonic
garrison of besieged city of Chojnice (commanded by von Plauen) attacked the
rearguards of Polish army, King's camp & Polish army camp. Panic occurred
and Polish army fled in disperse... the most important thing for You is that
the massive cavalry charge in the beginning of battle is visible...
counterattack of the Teutonic army wasn`t successful at all - it was
infantry who stopped the charge. Charge - what is important - set through
quite narrow bridge... at the end - numbers:
Teutonic army: 9000 of cavalry, 6000 of infantry
Polish army: 16 000 of cavalry (infantry: not mentioned)

2. Battle near Swiecin (1462) - fought also during The 13 Years War.

Polish army - commanded by Peter Dunin, consisted of 2000 people ( about 100
of heavy cavalry, 900 of other cavalry, 1000 infantry) 

Teutonic - of 2700 (1000 of cavalry, 400 infantry, 1300 armored peasants -
commanded by Fritz Ravenneck & Kaspar Nostyc). 

The battle was started by Polish cavalry charge, which broke the lines of
Teutonic cavalry. But then Poles were stopped and pushed by Teutonic mounted
reserve. But counterattacking Teutonic mounted knights rode into the close
range of Polish crossbowmen, waiting in forest at their flank. After being
showered with arrows Teutonic cavalry lost their array/formation, and -
after Polish cavalry counterattack - was completely dispersed. Then Polish
cavalry & infantry together  attacked the strengthened Teutonic camp and
captured it after bloody battle (1000 of Teutons were dead, what - comparing
to Polish loses of 100 dead and 150 wounded gives an interesting thing)...

That is all for now... 
Please inform me if it is OK, and are You interested in other (than late
middle ages) period...

Regards,
Tom



-----Wiadomosc oryginalna-----
Od: living-history-bounce-at-companie-of-st-george.ch
[mailto:living-history-bounce-at-companie-of-st-george.ch] W imieniu Tim Bray
Wyslano: 28 lipca 2004 07:15
Do: living-history-at-companie-of-st-george.ch
Temat: Re: ODP: Question about cavalry charges


>Those are three loose examples... I will try to find out more if You`ll be
>interested...

Yes, definitely.  Especially interested in examples where the classic 
"cavalry charge" is known to have occurred.

Thanks,
Tim