Organizacja, struktury i udział w walkach regimentu piechoty Bogusława i Jana Leszczyńskich w latach 1658–1662

Abstract

In the years 1655–1660, there were many military units operating in the territory of the proper Greater Poland. The reason for this was the invasion of the Kingdom of Sweden into the Republic of Poland, and the increased mobilization effort of the Polish army. Fighting against the invader took various forms, from regular army combat, through partisan warfare of the levy in mass to expeditions of the łans infantry. In 1658 the troops from Greater Poland were divided into two groups, one of which went on an expedition to Denmark and the other took part in the siege of Toruń. Boguslaw Leszczynski’s regiment, consisting of 5 companies, took part in the siege. It was a typical foreign levy infantry regiment, consisting of musketeer and pikemen rotas (military unit of the time consisting of 8–10 men). The only difference from other units of this type was the lack of the regimental staff and extensive company staffs. It consisted mainly of plebeians, and officer functions were performed by the nobility of both foreign and domestic origin.