Wojsko komputowe
Encyclopedia
Wojsko komputowe (ˈvɔjskɔ kɔmpuˈtɔvɛ, comput army) is a type of military unit used in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
in the 17th century and the 18th century.
Until the mid-17th century, Polish forces were divided into permanent units and supplemental units , which were created in the time of military needs. In 1652 this distinction ceased, and both types of forces were merged into wojsko komputowe.
The etymology
of the name is from (account, calculation), and Old Polish komput—an army budget which was voted for by the Commonwealth parliament
, the Sejm
.
Wojsko kwarciane was composed from various units, both Commonwealth-born soldiers and foreign mercenaries
. The Diet voted to pay for certain amount of infantry
and cavalry
.
Personnel number (which was a kept a state secret
) varies, because often the commanders (hetman
s) paid for additional manpower from their own purses. During peacetime, the Commonwealth komput army numbered about 12,000 for the Crown
(Poland proper) and 6,000 for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
. During wartime it was increased to around 24,000–40,000 for the Crown and 8,000-22,000 for Lithuania.
In addition, wojsko kwarciane was supplemented with peasant
-based recruits of piechota wybraniecka
and from 1653, piechota łanowa, registered Cossacks
(until 1699), pospolite ruszenie
, royal guard
, armies of magnate
s and cities, and wojsko ordynackie.
In 1717 the Silent Sejm
introduced under Russian pressure komput values of 18,000 for Crown and 6,200 for Lithuania. This marked the beginning of Russian control over Commonwealth armies, which would last until the May Constitution of Poland.
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
in the 17th century and the 18th century.
Until the mid-17th century, Polish forces were divided into permanent units and supplemental units , which were created in the time of military needs. In 1652 this distinction ceased, and both types of forces were merged into wojsko komputowe.
The etymology
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
of the name is from (account, calculation), and Old Polish komput—an army budget which was voted for by the Commonwealth parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
, the Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
.
Wojsko kwarciane was composed from various units, both Commonwealth-born soldiers and foreign mercenaries
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
. The Diet voted to pay for certain amount of infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
and cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
.
Personnel number (which was a kept a state secret
State Secret
State Secret is a 1950 British drama film directed by Sidney Gilliat and starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Jack Hawkins, Glynis Johns and Herbert Lom. It was released in the United States under the title The Great Manhunt.-Cast:...
) varies, because often the commanders (hetman
Hetman
Hetman was the title of the second-highest military commander in 15th- to 18th-century Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which together, from 1569 to 1795, comprised the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or Rzeczpospolita....
s) paid for additional manpower from their own purses. During peacetime, the Commonwealth komput army numbered about 12,000 for the Crown
Crown of the Polish Kingdom
The Crown of the Kingdom of Poland , or simply the Crown , is the name for the unit of administrative division, the territories under direct administration of Polish nobility from middle-ages to late 18th century...
(Poland proper) and 6,000 for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
. During wartime it was increased to around 24,000–40,000 for the Crown and 8,000-22,000 for Lithuania.
In addition, wojsko kwarciane was supplemented with peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
-based recruits of piechota wybraniecka
Piechota wybraniecka
Piechota wybraniecka was a type of an infantry formation in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Formed in 1578. Consisted of "royal" peasants from not charged and revendicated royal lands....
and from 1653, piechota łanowa, registered Cossacks
Registered Cossacks
Registered Cossacks is the term used for Cossacks formations of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth armies.-Establishing:The registered cossacks were created on the King's edict of Sigismund II Augustus on June 5, 1572 confirming the orders of the Crown Hetman Jerzy Jazłowiecki. The first senior ...
(until 1699), pospolite ruszenie
Pospolite ruszenie
Pospolite ruszenie , is an anachronistic term describing the mobilisation of armed forces, especially during the period of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The tradition of wartime mobilisation of part of the population existed from before the 13th century to the 19th century...
, royal guard
Royal Guard
A Royal Guard describes any group of military bodyguards, soldiers or armed retainers responsible for the protection of a royal person, such as Emperor/Empress, King/Queen, or Prince/Princess...
, armies of magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
s and cities, and wojsko ordynackie.
In 1717 the Silent Sejm
Silent Sejm
Silent Sejm is the name given to the session of the Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of 1 February 1717. A civil war in the Commonwealth was used by the Russian Tsar Peter the Great as an opportunity to intervene as a mediator...
introduced under Russian pressure komput values of 18,000 for Crown and 6,200 for Lithuania. This marked the beginning of Russian control over Commonwealth armies, which would last until the May Constitution of Poland.