Medieval Polish Armies 966–1500

Poland became a Christian country in AD 966, and in military terms the state was unified under the rule of Prince Mieszko I. However, the new kingdom was constantly threatened by numerous enemies, and consequently Mieszko and his successors were obliged to recognize the Western or German Emperors – later known as the Holy Roman Emperors – as their overlords. At the same time they often continued to find themselves in conflict with neighbouring German feudal lords, as well as with the Emperors themselves. Other foes during these early centuries included the pagan tribes of Pomerania; the Russians, including those now identified at Belarussians and Ukrainians; and the Bohemians (Czechs). Such conflicts were partly in defence of the newly formed Kingdom of Poland, and partly wars of conquest or expansion by the Poles themselves. In military terms this period was typified by units of professional household troops called the druzhina, who were supported during wartime by local militias or woye.

The next period of Polish history is known as the Division in the Provinces, and lasted from 1138 to 1320. This long era of fragmentation was characterized by a decline of part-time militias in favour of professional – or at least, better-trained – household and local troops. It was upon these that the rulers of Poland now relied. It was also during this period, from the mid-12th to early 14th century, that a true Polish knightly class emerged as part of a gradually developing feudal system of government and social organization. Furthermore, in 1154–55 the crusading military orders – the Hospitallers and Templars – gained their first footholds on Polish soil. Later in this notably turbulent period the Teutonic Knights joined the older-established military orders, arriving on the scene in 1226, almost simultaneously with the foundation of the specifically Polish Brethren of Dobrzyn (Knights of Christ). Then came the Mongol invasions, with raids deep into Europe that culminated in the battle of Liegnitz/Legnica in 1241.

The 14th century saw the reunification of Poland under the rule of King Wladyslaw I Lokietek, known as the ‘Short’, and his son Casimir III, ‘the Great’. It also witnessed a growing threat from the Teutonic Knights, until the latter were defeated at the battle of Plowce in 1331. As a consequence of his relatively peaceful reign, King Casimir III went down in Polish history as one of the country’s greatest administrators and castle-builders; about 80 strongholds were constructed during his time.

In 1370 the still relatively small Kingdom of Poland was joined with the sprawling Angevin state in central Europe, based upon the Kingdom of Hungary. This was, however, merely a personal union, that came about when King Louis of Hungary succeeded the childless Casimir the Great as ruler of Poland; it fell apart soon after Louis’ own death, there being little or no economic, political, ethnic or even strategic reason for its continuing existence.