Key Military and Political Concepts from Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover essential military and political concepts from the provided lecture notes, facilitating effective study for the upcoming exam.

What were Akinji in the Ottoman army?

Unpaid light cavalry who raided enemy territories for captives and booty.

What was the role of an Army intendant?

A civilian official responsible for distributing justice, managing funds, and supplying the army during wartime.

What is the significance of Arrière-ban?

It refers to French noblemen providing personal service in armies, required to serve without pay.

Define Asiento.

A contract between a private entrepreneur and the king of Spain for provisions, ships, or slaves.

What is a Bagno?

A holding pen in port cities for captives awaiting ransom.

Explain the term Bastion in military fortifications.

An angular projection from the wall serving as a platform for artillery.

What does the term Cadastre refer to?

A public register containing descriptions and dimensions of land parcels for taxation.

What are Casemates?

Bomb-resistant compartments underneath fortifications for security and storage.

Define Chevauchée.

A medieval style of warfare involving devastating raids across enemy territory.

What is a Countermarch tactic?

A military formation allowing rows of soldiers to advance and fire in unison.

Describe the role of Circle (Kreise) in the Holy Roman Empire.

Ten administrative subdivisions coordinating war funding and troop recruitment.

What is a Citadel?

A fort built at city walls to control the community with a small garrison.

What is a Condottiere?

A military entrepreneur specializing in raising and leading soldiers.

What were Contributions in military context?

Forcibly levied money or provisions from civilians for armies.

Define Cordon sanitaire.

A buffer zone to prevent the entry of contagious diseases like plague.

What does Corvée mean?

A work detail obligation of serfs for public infrastructure upkeep.

Who were the Cossacks?

Former Russian/Ukrainian serfs who defended frontiers and raided territories.

What is Gabelle?

Taxes on objects of consumption, notably the salt tax for controlled acquisition.

Explain Counterscarp.

The area on the edge of a moat designed for infantry defense opposite fortress walls.

What was Devshirme in the Ottoman Empire?

A tax on Christian households for adolescent boys to serve as soldiers.

Define Dienstgeld.

Retainer payments to military commanders in peacetime to ensure readiness for war.

What are Dragoons?

Mounted infantry that served as cavalry and effective skirmishers.

What does Étapes refer to in military logistics?

A place where troops find food and lodging during their march.

What are fortifications ‘à la huguenotte’?

Medieval walls reinforced with earth and labor, protecting against attacks.

What is Forward panic in a military context?

An instinctual fear causing soldiers to pursue and kill a fleeing enemy.

Describe Galeass.

A large galley adapted to carry cannon and soldiers, repurposed by Venice for warfare.

What does Gallispan refer to?

Combined Franco-Spanish military forces under the Bourbon King Philip V.

Define Gendarmes in military history.

Armored aristocratic cavalry companies, limited in number due to high costs.

What were Ghazis?

Warriors fighting to expand Islamic influence against non-Muslims.

Explain the term Grands (les).

Senior aristocratic houses dominating the French court in the 16th-17th centuries.

What role did Grenadiers play in warfare?

An elite unit skilled in throwing bombs and detailed for dangerous tasks.

What is a Grenzer?

Border militia on the southern frontier of Hungary skirmishing against raiders.

Who were Haiduks?

Irregular infantry defending their lords against Ottoman invaders.

What was the Hofkriegsrat?

The Imperial War Council in Vienna overseeing troop recruitment and provisioning.

Define Hussars of Hungary and Polish Hussars.

Hungarian hussars were light cavalry, while Polish hussars were heavily armored.

What is Insurrectio?

A general mobilization by lords in response to threats in Poland and Hungary.

What are Janissaries in the Ottoman Empire?

Slave soldiers converted to Islam and trained for military service.

Define Landesknecht.

Professional infantry following German princes, influenced by their conditions.

What are Letters of marque?

Licenses issued to privateers to capture enemy ships.

What was the Maison du Roi?

A military force guarding the French royal household and participating in ceremonies.

Who were the Malcontents (kuruç)?

Irregular troops in rebellion against Habsburg sovereigns.

Describe the Matchlock musket.

An early firearm mechanism using a burning wick, reliable until the flintlock's introduction.

What was the Military frontier in Habsburg Hungary?

A jurisdiction enjoying freedom from feudalism with local militia companies.

What does a Munitionnaire do?

Supplies armies with large quantities of goods, requiring quick transportation.

Explain the Ordre du Tableau.

A promotion chart established to manage military officer rank advancements.

What are Palanka forts?

Makeshift forts along the Ottoman-Habsburg frontier for command and surveillance.

Define Parallels (Vauban).

A trench-digging method protecting work crews and advancing artillery.

What is Parasympathetic backlash?

A reaction causing soldiers to lose morale after surviving danger.

What were Pioneers in military terminology?

Work parties building defenses and infrastructure under an officer's direction.

What is the Pragmatic Sanction?

A document ensuring female succession in the Habsburg hereditary states.

What is Pré carré (Vauban)?

A defensive strategy with interlocking fortresses on the frontier.

Explain the role of Provincial intendants in France.

Officials overseeing royal administration and tax levies in provinces.

What is a Ravelin?

A structure in a fortress ditch to block enemy movement and host artillery.

What are Reichs contingents?

Troops levied by Holy Roman Empire circles for collective defense.

Who are Renegades in historical context?

Christians converting to Islam for personal gain, serving the Ottomans.

What is meant by Royal domain?

A prince's prerogatives to monetize resources and rights over the land.

Define Taille.

A direct household tax assessed by local authorities.

What are Sea beggars (Gueux)?

Protestant rebels harassing Spanish shipping during the Dutch Revolt.

What is a Ship of the line?

A large warship designed to take part in naval battles.

Define Sipahi.

The armored cavalry of the Ottoman Empire, supported by revenue-bearing timar.

What is Sortie in military terms?

A surprise attack by defenders on besieging forces.

What was the Spanish Road?

A series of roads connecting Spain to its territories in the Low Countries.

Define Stadtholder.

The military governor with command over local troops in the Dutch provinces.

Who are Tatars?

Golden Horde descendants involved in agriculture and Ottoman military.

What is Tax farming?

Leasing tax collection rights to individuals to recoup advanced sums with profit.

What are Tercios?

Permanent Spanish infantry formations crucial for military campaigns.

Define Timar.

A local jurisdiction in the Ottoman Empire funding a mounted cavalry.

What was the Union of Arms?

A quota system by Count Duke of Olivares to equalize war contributions.

What does Venal office-holding refer to?

Buying and selling government positions for profit.

What was the Venice Arsenal?

A vast complex for shipbuilding and outfitting in Venice.