In the last decades of the seventeenth century, a fascinating struggle took place between the forces of the resurgent west and the declining east. Europe faced and conquered the once mighty Ottoman Empire in eastern Europe. The period is a fascinating mixture of many aspects of wars and wargaming usually separated by period and nationality. For example, there are a number of “native levy versus European regular” engagements, since the Ottoman armies always included thousands of troops from subject states in Africa, Asia and Europe. To give an idea, the Ottoman army besieging Vienna in 1683 included Tartars, Syrians, Ukrainians, Babylonians and Transylvanians (yes, Bela, there is a Transylvania). These levies were usually armed with scimitars, lances, shields, dagger’s and other weapons pre-dating the matchlock. But the Turks also had a ‘standing army” of sorts. The regular infantry, or Janissaries, were fanatics: Christian infants captured by the Turks were raised as Moslems, bred for nothing but fighting. The Janissaries used traditional weapons, but also carried matchlocks. They were feared because of their repeated and deadly charges, and were also stubborn defenders of fortified installations. The regular cavalry, or “Spahis”, wore helmets and chain mail. They carried lances, swords, bucklers and were competent archers as well. The European armies facing the Ottoman horde were usually much smaller in numbers, but better organized, more mobile and commanded by a better caliber of officers. Only a few renegade European soldiers of fortune joined the Ottoman forces and it was not until later that they were able to westernize Turkish artillery and tactical practices. Austria, Bavarian, Saxon, Polish, Venetian and troops of many other nationalities joined in this “Last Crusade”. The Alliance, known as the “Holy League” was masterminded by Pope Innocent XI and resulted in an all-out offensive against the Turks on several fronts. Russia was eventually dragged into the effort, but with minimal success since Peter the Great was not yet in power and the Russian army was corrupt and antiquated. Venice, aided by papal war galleys and German mercenaries, recaptured most of Greece from the Turks. But the main front was in Eastern Europe along the Danube where Turks faced Christian in a long series of battles and sieges. Rules for these battles present some interesting challenges and somebroad choices. Ottoman levies have the fighting capabilities of ancient Persian or Syrian troops. The Janissaries are exceptionally good shock troops, but also have a certain amount of “regular” discipline and organization, and firepower almost, but not quite on a par with European troops. Tartars, mounted, are excellent horse archers, lightly mounted, fast moving and needing virtually no “line of communication”. They can live off of the land. Not so with the Spahis, but these are much better heavy cavalry and shock troops. European infantry of this period still employed the pike to a limited extent. Usually about a fourth of each company was made up of pikemen, the remainder being musketeer’s with a scattering of grenadiers. Polish infantry is less organized, but still has morale and tactical superiority to Turks. Regular cavalry consists of cuirassiers and dragoons. The pistol is widely used, the “Caracole” still being a popular tactic. But cavalry also has considerable shock value, and is instrumental in breaking up enemy infantry once it has begun to weaken. The armored Polish Winged Hussar was probably the finest cavalryman of his day, and fought in most of the major battles of this period. European artillery was superior to its Turkish equivalent, firing more rapidly, moving more easily, and was better manned. There is plenty of ready reference material on this period., I would especially recommend John Stoye’s ‘The Siege of Vienna” and Nicholas Henderson’s “Eugen of Savoy”. ED NOTE: The Courier ran a definitive 2-part article in issues #68 and 69. Available on MAG WEB or as back issues from The Courier at $8 ea. ppd. Back to Table of Contents -- Courier #84 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com