H. Bathó Edit – Horváth László – Kaposvári Gyöngyi – Tárnoki Judit – Vadász István szerk.: Tisicum - A Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok Megyei Múzeumok Évkönyve 15. (2006)
JÁNOS BOTKA: HUNGARIAN BANDERIAL ARMY ORGANISATION UNTIL 1715
JÁNOS BOTRA HUNGÁRIÁN BANDERIAL ARMY ORGANISATION UNTIL 1715 The word "bandérium" comes from the Italian language and originates from the word "bandiera" meaning "flag" and means "battalion". Military units serving monarchs, princes and feudal lords of different ranks and going intő war under their flags were called "banderiums". Its equivalents include thel3 th century "druzhina" in Russia, and the French "banniere". Banderial army organisation meant that the basic tactical units of the army were banderiums, that is, the defence force of the country was built on them. In this country the institution itself dates back to the age of the Árpád Kings. As early as the ll th century, King Stephen I felt it was desirable to introduce armed escorts based upon the 10 th century roving campaigns, saying: "every lord should have his own warriors". King Kálmán made legislation to regulate the duties of raising troops and going to war and how landlords should contribute to the maintenance of the royal army. King Károly Róbert institutionalised the armed escorts around feudal lords making them lead their forces that they kept according to their ránk and lands (under their own flags) to the royal army in case of emergency. The new army organisation was built upon national foundations and requirements (defence laws, priváté armies etc.) and it meant up-to-date military force of the time. (See the campaigns of King Lajos the Great) Noble up-risings - first recorded in The Golden Bull of 1222 incorporated intő banderial warfare during the Anjou era. It remained part of the Hungárián defence forces evén after the 8 th Law of 1715, which established a permanent national army. AH this, in fact, expressed great division between the King and the aristocracy in the area of national defence. So, in spite of the fact that the shortcomings of the individual noble warfare became apparent from the 16 th century onwards (difficulties in organising, out-of-date armament etc), its existence was preserved, because it was guarded by the fear of noble privileges and the devotion to them. This paper is trying to review the significant characteristics of the Hungárián army organisation during the centuries before 1715 and the relevant historic facts. It is an attempt to sérve as background to the understanding of the components of the banderial military force, to the interpretation of changes, among them the military roles of somé privileged areas, e.g. Cumanian and Jazygian districts, the Hajdús, royal towns and counties. 120
