Translated by PhDr. Zdeňka Kopková.
Translation notes: After consideration, I translated the term „fuhrweyn“ as „war wagon“. Based on the description, it refers to a sturdy wagon, somewhat larger than the others.
The term „lotbuchse“ has so far only been found in connection with the Teutonic Order. It should refer to a firearm shooting lead bullets without further specification. Both lotbuschen, which are handheld weapons, and lotbuchsen, which are mounted on carriages, are mixed together. Here I chose the equivalent light cannon, i.e. a small carriage-mounted cannon, but it could also be a hook gun.
The term „warpen“ is probably an abbreviation of „warpenweyn“, which in Prussian German is a wagon for transporting military material.
Translated by PhDr. Zdeňka Kopková, corrections by Daniel Burger.
Translated by PhDr. Zdeňka Kopková, corrections by Daniel Burger.
Ouch haben wir fürgenommen und lüte bestallt mit der wagenburge dem volk zu widerstehn, und sollen tusent wagen, iglicher mit zwein starken knechten, die wohl gefahren können, und vier starken wagen- hengsten, wohl gemähnet und gestallt, mit leitern, zäunen, starken lüssen [leisten], halb mit leinem tuch gedeckt, und unden zwischen den zwein achsen an der langwide ein stark brett an ketten hangen, gestalt, dass man das anhenken und abthun möge, wann man will; und sollen je zween wagen ein ketten haben, die acht ellen lang sei, mit einem ring und einem hacken, dass man die an und abthün möge, wann man will; und sollen zu iglichen wagen zwo handbüchsen, und zu iglicher handbüchsen zum minsten sechzig bleiklötz, und zu zwein wagen ein kammerbüchs und darzu zum minsten dreissig stein, als gross als ein haupt ist, und zu iglichem wagen zween flegel, die beslagen und mit ketten angehenkt sind, zwoo gleen [gleven] und hacken daran, drei setztartschen von borten mit stecken hinden daran, ein schufel, ein haue und ein bickel gehören, und darumb so wollent uwer wagen also zustellen, und auch stein, pulver, blei und pfeil, so ihr meiste mögent mit uch bringen.
Dat. ut supra.
And we have arranged and enlisted men with the wagon fort to resist the enemy, and there shall be a thousand wagons, each with two strong servants who can drive well, and four strong draught stallions, well maned and formed, with ladders, fencing, reinforced braces, half covered with linen cloth, and below between the two axles on the longitudinal side a strong board shall hang on chains, arranged so that it can be attached and removed whenever one wishes; and every two wagons shall have one chain, eight ells long, with a ring and a hook, so that it can be attached and removed whenever one wishes; and to each wagon two handguns, and to each handgun at least sixty lead bullets, and to every two wagons one chamber gun and at least thirty stones the size of a head, and to each wagon two flails that are iron-clad and attached with chains, two glaives with hooks on them, three set pavises with boards and stakes at the back, one shovel, one mattock, and one pick; so therefore equip your wagons thus, and also bring stones, powder, lead, and bolts as much as you can carry with you.
Translated by PhDr. Zdeňka Kopková.
It was printed in Chroniken der deutschen Städte, Nürnberg, II, on pages 252 to 254. It mentions the expedition to Spalt, which ended in June 1450.
Translated by PhDr. Zdeňka Kopková
Translated by PhDr. Zdeňka Kopková
Translation notes: In German, the term wagenberg is used for the wagon fort, which corresponds more closely to the translation wagon castle. When the text speaks of the wagon fort, it refers to all the wagons collectively, regardless of whether the wagon fort, as understood in the Czech context, has been established, or whether the wagons are in motion, as discussed in the following text.
Item es zeihet (ziehet) E. G. mit einer grossen wagenborg, und sunderlich wenn die wagenborg im zoge ist, so bestelle E. G. die warte gar wohl und vorn, hinder und vordern wagenborg, und blibt mit allem volk in der mitte neben der wagenborg, ab sie hindern oder vorn angegriffen worden, dass man kan zu holfe kommen. Ein wagenborg kann nicht an allen orten ubern wasser, graben, thale, berge und holz in ihren IV zeilen, wie sich das geboret, gehen; und also sic IIzeilicht gehet, mussen sie sich gar lang erstrecken, daromb kann man zu zeiten hinden oder vorn ein rad abgehen, sunderlich als ich gehort, E. F. G. habe uber tausend heerwagen, ane (ohne) futterwagen, nechstmals im felde gehabt.
Your Grace marches with a large wagon fort, and especially when the wagon fort is on the march, Your Grace shall arrange the watch very well at the front, rear, and before the wagon fort, and remain with all the men in the middle beside the wagon fort, so that if they are attacked from behind or in front, one can come to their aid. A wagon fort cannot travel in its IV rows as is proper at all places across water, ditches, valleys, hills, and woods; and when it goes in two rows, they must stretch very far, therefore one wheel can sometimes come off at the back or front, especially as I have heard, Your Princely Grace had over a thousand war wagons in the field last time, not counting the supply wagons.
This order was issued by Elector Albrecht Achilles of Brandenburg for the Pomeranian War. It was first printed in Archiv für die Geschichtskunde des Preussischen Staates I in 1830.
Translated by PhDr. Zdeňka Kopková.
This wagon order in the manuscript of Philip of Seldeneck, a Franconian nobleman, preserved in the Grand Ducal Library of Baden-Baden under signature Durlach 18, contains a German translation of Vegetius in transcription and then a transcription of Ordnung und geschick der vagenburg. Into this codex, in empty spaces, Seldeneck wrote various treatises for his sons, relating especially to army formation and military matters in general. From notes on folios 111b and 115b, concerning his person, it is evident that he made his additions as an old man who recalled the wars in Bohemia, Poland, and Prussia as though they had been waged in his youth, i.e. about 50 years earlier. The order on wagon formation was not, as already mentioned above, written in Seldeneck's hand and contains 76 paragraphs. To this, Seldeneck added a supplement of 7 paragraphs, Wie du mit wenig wägen ein wagenburg machen sollt, intended for smaller circumstances, which he considered with regard to his sons. This order is particularly significant because it largely explains the manner of manoeuvring with wagons and the wagon formation both on the march and in battle. Unfortunately, its explanations are sometimes incomprehensible.
Translated by PhDr. Zdeňka Kopková.
Zu merken notdurft, ordnung und geschick der wagenburg in ein feld zu den feinden und von den feinden.
Zum ersten.
To note the necessities, order, and skill of the wagon fort in the field towards the enemy and away from the enemy.
Firstly.
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