The Polish armies of this period were patterned largely along Western lines, particularly German and Bohemian. Both uniform/armor styles and tactics from the West were adopted by Polish forces althouth this Western influence was most pronounced in those areas such as Silesia and Wielopolska which had direct contact with the Imperial German Empire. In addition, the proximity of the Malopolska and Kuwany regions of Poland to Russ and Hungarian contacts resulted in the mixing of patterns of dress and tactics between East and West.

During this period Polish princes regularly entered into alliances with German, Hungarian and Russ forces in their ongoing disputes with other family members or neighboring regions. These alliances also resulted in Polish forces being sent into Hungary and Russia to assist various allies.

The tactics of the Polish armies in this period focused on the role of heavy cavalry, but contact with the Pecheneg and later Cuman tribes introduced light cavalry into the Polish forces. The disastrous experience of the Mongol invasions starting in 1241 also reinforced Polish use of bow-firing light cavalry to supplement their knights. As with most armies of this period foot was relegated to a secondary role. Polish infantry were armed with either long spears or axes and also were characterized by large contingents of archers, although the cross-bow does not seem to have been used in significant numbers.

Armor varied, with hastily armed militia having little or no armor, but each Prince or Duke would have had available a core of Polish infantry that was outfitted in complete armor similar to their Western neighbors. The Poles adopted several tactics from their contacts with the horse tribes, including feigned flight and a horned formation that put the light cavalry on either flank, enveloping the enemy forces and exposing them to flanking missile fire and attack.. Several German accounts also speak of the significant use of archers by Polish armies. Very few Poles participated in the Holy Land Crusades and it is unclear whether any of the tactics developed in those Crusades would have been available to Polish forces, although exposure to German armies might have resulted in use of the wedge formation and crusader mixed tactics. Throughout this period the Poles were regularly engaged in their own Crusade against the pagan tribes of the Baltic, including the Prussians and Lithuanians.

Early Medieval Polish:

Early 11th to early 14th

1-4 CiC/Generals HC Veterans, L/Sh 3 @ 52/37
6-18 Polish Noble HC Veterans, L/Sh 3 @ 12
4-8 Polish Heavy Infantry, HI, Average, LSp/Sh 4 @ 6
to 8 Polish Heavy Infantry, HI, Average, Axe/Sh 4 @ 6
12-32 Polish Spearmen, UI Average, LSp/Sh 3 @ 3
to 8 Polish Axemen, LAI Average, Axe/Sh, 4 @ 4
to 4 Polish Crossbow, UI, Average, CB, 3 @ 2
6-24 Polish Archers SI Average, B/Sh 2 @ 2 Or UI Ave, B/Sh 3 @ 3 or Give UI Archers Axe or Javelin @ +1
to 12 Slingers SI Average, S/Sh 2 @ 2

Before Late 12th Only:

to 12 Slav Spearmen UI Average, Jav/Sh 3 @ 3
to 8 Slav Archers SI Average, Bow, 2 @ 1
to 24 Pecheneg Cavalry, SC, Average, B/Sh 2 @ 4

Mid 12th to Mid 13th Only

1* German General FMC Veteran, L/Sh 3 @ 39
2-4* German Knights FMC Veterans, L/Sh, 3 @ 14
4-8* German Mercenary Spearmen, HI (T) LSp/Sh 4 @ 7
to 4* German Mercenary Crossbow, LAI (T) CB 4 @ 5

1* Russ General, HC, Veteran, L/Sh 3 @ 37
2-4* Druzhina Heavy Cavalry, HC, Veteran, L/Sh 3 @ 12
4-8* Polk Spearmen, HI, Average, LSp/Sh, 4 @ 6
to 8* Polk Axemen, HI, Average, Axe/Sh 4 @ 6

1* Hungarian General, FMC, Veteran, L/Sh 3 @ 39
2-4* Noble Cavalry, HC, Veteran, L/Sh, 3 @ 12
Any Upgrade to FMC @ +2
6-8* Heavy Cavalry, HC, Average, Javelin/Sh, 3 @ 10
12-24* Light Cavalry, SC, Average, B/Sh 2 @ 4

Mid 12th Only

All upgrade Polish Generals and Nobles to FMC @ +2
All Upgrade Axemen to Hal/Pa @ +0

After Mid 13th Only

All Upgrade all FMC to PAC @ +2
to 12 Lithuanian Cavalry SC Veteran, B/Jav/Sh 2 @ 6
to 12 Cumans SC, Average, Bow 2 @ 3

Note: *Minimums apply if any of that nationality are used. German cavalry and Polish knights after the mid-12th century may use wedge.