Pandours

wolviex · 7th June 2006, 09:25 AM

From Polish Military Encyclopaedia, printed long tome ago, before the II WW so some informations might be out of date:

Pandours - from the beginning armed servants of magnates or even town clerks in Croatia and Slavonia, used as security service. In Hungary the troops formed of Pandours were rather irregular infantry. During the Austrian Succesion War 1701-1713 these troops were already mentioned as part of Imperial Army. In 1741 during 7Years War, Francis Trenck created squad of Croatian Pandours of 1000 men, as light infantry which, as of great merit, was enlarged to 2500 men in 1744. Known because of their bravery and of skills in individual fight, were used especially in mountain terrains, and soon Empire decided to creat more squads of Hungarian and Croatian Pandours. But at the same time those people were know as savages and plunderers, especially for civilian people, often dangerous for allies armies. In time Pandours were recreated as borders guards. In 1751 Pandours troops were created in Russia, of Serbian People from south of Russia. It was one infantry and one mounted (Hungarian) regiment. In 1752 there were created other 2 regiments but all of them were dismissed in 1764.

Sorry for crude translating

7th June 2006, 09:25 AM	#2
wolviex Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Krakow Posts: 418	From Polish Military Encyclopaedia, printed long tome ago, before the II WW so some informations might be out of date: Pandours - from the beginning armed servants of magnates or even town clerks in Croatia and Slavonia, used as security service. In Hungary the troops formed of Pandours were rather irregular infantry. During the Austrian Succesion War 1701-1713 these troops were already mentioned as part of Imperial Army. In 1741 during 7Years War, Francis Trenck created squad of Croatian Pandours of 1000 men, as light infantry which, as of great merit, was enlarged to 2500 men in 1744. Known because of their bravery and of skills in individual fight, were used especially in mountain terrains, and soon Empire decided to creat more squads of Hungarian and Croatian Pandours. But at the same time those people were know as savages and plunderers, especially for civilian people, often dangerous for allies armies. In time Pandours were recreated as borders guards. In 1751 Pandours troops were created in Russia, of Serbian People from south of Russia. It was one infantry and one mounted (Hungarian) regiment. In 1752 there were created other 2 regiments but all of them were dismissed in 1764. Sorry for crude translating