A “Town” on the Move: Regulating Camp Life and Logistics in the Army of the Principality of Transylvania (Seventeenth Century)
A “Town” on the Move: Regulating Camp Life and Logistics in the Army of the Principality of Transylvania (Seventeenth Century)

Summary/Abstract: Early modern towns and armies shared many common features and were faced with similar logistical issues. Recent research in the field of military history has emphasized the importance of logistics and in particular the aspects of supply (food and fodder), marching and quartering. This article analyses the logistical aspects approached by two military regulations issued for the Transylvanian army during the seventeenth century. The first was issued by Prince Gabriel Bethlen (1613–1629) in 1616, on the eve of the expedition set to conquer the rebel fortress of Lipova (Lippa), while the second regulation was prepared in 1683 by Prince Michael Apafi I (1661– 1690) on the occasion of the Ottoman siege of Vienna. Both documents deal to a large extent with various logistical problems faced by the army on campaign. A significant proportion of articles (more than half in both cases) approach issues such as: marching order, camp organization, the distribution of logistical responsibilities among high ranking officers, provisioning, weapons and other equipment, camp followers, and the organization of the baggage train.

• Details
• Contents