深川吉國

A depiction of a 17th century Russian strelets armed with a musket and a bardiche for close combat fighting. These troops were initially formed around 1550 by Ivan the Terrible as an elite Russian professional firearm infantry. By 17th century streltsy became a larger hereditary military caste as service became lifelong and passed down in families. They lived in special settlements (slobody) and received pay or land. However due to meager means of living they started combining their military life with trade, crafts, and farming to survive. This dual civilian-military life gradually decreased their military effectiveness and their importance declined in 17th century as Western-style regiments expanded and took over most campaign roles, while the streltsy increasingly served as garrison and police forces. The discontent streltsy revolted twice over pay and status, and after their second revolt in 1698, Peter the Great essentially crushed them, executing and deporting many of them. Streltsy can ultimately be seen as a transition of Russian military into early modern age. Troops with a very interesting aesthetic that eventually outlived their purpose.

This image from 1530 depicts a Landsknecht squad leader (Rottmeister). A Rottmeister was chosen by the Landsknechts themselves and led a squad of roughly 8-12 men. He handled quarters, guard duty, and the distribution of provisions. This particular Landsknecht squad leader reveals that he fought against Ottomans in Hungary: "I am called Veyt Rottmeister, I arrange good lodgings, In which we lock ourselves in overnight, And keep watch for the alarm. That was necessary for us in Hungary; Otherwise we would all have been struck dead."

Landsknecht mercenary armies were well-organized and had their own version of military police called Steckenknechte ("staff-knechts" because they carried around a staff as a symbol of their office). They served under provost and could arrest Landsknecht soldiers for various offences such as brawling, causing trouble when drunk, cheating at games of dice etc. Once a Landsknecht was arrested by the Steckenknechte, he would be handed over to the jailer (Stockmeister) and would be imprisoned until the case was dealt with. Men who were part of this Landsknecht "military police" were paid double, as ordinary soldiers saw this post as dishonorable. In this contemporary image made in 1530, these two Steckenknechte introduce themselves: "We are two Steckenknechte appointed Wherever a soldier behaves dishonorably Swearing by God and false gambling, Or wanting to take from his comrades, Or making the innkeeper pay the bill, Or otherwise breaking our order Him we hand over to the Stockmeister, Who then locks him in irons. Listen, Provost, hear me rightly: I and the other Steckenknecht Were walking through the camp the other night And caught a drunken soldier Who struck someone in a quarrel. Him we have, on further instruction, Just now handed over to the Stockmeister. Advise us how we should proceed further with him."

I really like this series of contemporary images made in 1530 which introduce random Landsknechts and their background. This one depicts a weaver from Ulm named Ulrich. He decided to leave his trade to become a mercenary! His adventure started well. He was elected as a Waibel, an intermediary between the Landsknechts and officers. This was a well-paid post within the Landsknecht hierarchy. On the inscription on this image he proudly claims that he is now earning much more than he did as a weaver: "I am appointed a common Waibel, Elected by the men of a company, From which I receive three months’ pay in gold That makes three pieces of gold a week. From that I make many a proud drink, Which I truly could not earn, in my opinion, With fustian weaving, Even if I worked night into day."