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The swiss didn't ise a classic wide phalanx formation but a more densely packed square formation. Their pikes would stand out in all directions as a sort of hed
by Sander_Marechal 12y ago
The swiss didn't ise a classic wide phalanx formation but a more densely packed square formation. Their pikes would stand out in all directions as a sort of hedgehog. Only the corners would be a weaker point. The flanks and rear would be well covered by pikes.
- Tuna-Fish 12y agoThe pikes would generally stand only in one direction at once, and their drills had diagonal forms, so the corners would not be a weak point. When people think pikemen, they think of very static formations, with little mobility. This is true of a lot of historical pike units, but the Swiss pikemen are the opposite of it. They drilled as small companies of ~100 men, and they were so successful because they made mobility as an unit into an art. A swiss pike block was drilled to change facing in seconds, and they liked to charge pikes levelled at near running speed. Many a condottiere got their last surprise when they were at the last stretch of their charge against an exposed flank or rear of a swiss block, and suddenly all the pikes rise, everyone turns, all the pikes come down again, and the swiss start charging the would-be attackers like madmen.