Moldavian Serf Levy
The serfs, known as 'vecini' in Moldova, are the one of the lowest classes in society having only the slaves or 'robi' beneath them. The serfs are landless peasants that live in poverty and occupy a plot of land alloted to them by a boier. They are required to work for the boier who owned that land, and in return were entitled to protection, justice and the right to exploit certain fields within the boier's property to maintain their own subsistence. Serfs were often required not only to work on the boier's fields, but also his mines, forests and roads. The serfs are legally and economically dependent on the boieri. Unlike other societies where the serfs are bound to the estate of the boier in the Principalities they may move freely from one estate to another. In exchange for the right to exploit their alloted land the serfs were required to to provide the so called 'feudal rent', this included labour obligations, monetary payments and produce payments. The serfs are also required to join the army of the Principality if the Great Host is summoned by the Voivode. Due to their poverty their only weapons are scythes, pitchforks and other farming or household objects. These men are untrained and should only be used in the most desperate of times. They are not likely to hold their ranks for long if faced by greater numbers or better armed opponents.
Moldavian Strajeri
The word 'straja' has slavic origins and stands for 'guard'. The strajeri are peasants from certain villages which were given the task of guarding the land against raiders. The villages of strajeri were located in the valleys where important rivers came through the mountains, along the important commercial roads. During the times of peace the strajeri acted as the town watch and kept vigil from strategic outposts. During the times of war the task of the strajeri is to ensure that the roads are safe for the passing of the Great Host and scout the enemy positions. The strajeri come from both the ranks of the land owning peasants but also from amongst the serfdom. The commanders of the strajeri are called 'vatafi'. The strajeri use little armour but their traditional wool clothing and a wooden shield to defend themselves and are armed with spears. Since they are lightly armed and armoured they should not be relied upon too much on the field of battle except to form a sponge against charges by using their shields and spears.
Moldavian Plaiesi Archers
The Plaiesi are the inhabitants of the villages in the mountainous regions close to the borders of Moldova. Their name comes from the word 'plai' meaning mountain plains. The task of the Plaiesi is to guard the mountain passes and man the border fortresses. The obligation of the villagers from these settlements to guard the borders dates from before the foundation of the feudal state when the villages had the knezes as their overlords. This obligation has not changed but instead of the knez the villagers now owe their fealty to the Voivode. The Plaiesi are usually free peasants, however on occasion serf villages from the border regions also have the obligation to join their ranks. For the role in protecting the borders the Plaiesi received fiscal benefits and certain tax cuts, especially being exempt from paying the customs duties. The Plaiesi are not allowed to abandon their guard posts and are severely punished if caught. Since they live close to the border regions and the mountain passes the Plaiesi know the terrain very well and are very mobile being able to use secret passes and less known ways. The main weapon of the Plaiesi is the recurve bow and they are protected by nothing more than their traditional and woolen clothing. They should be placed behind the main lines to support the better armoured units or sent out as scouts, skirmishers or to flank the enemy armies.
Moldavian Macemen
The two-handed mace, known as 'maciuca', is one of the most common weapons amongst the Moldavian peasants. The forests of Moldova offer ample material for the peasants to craft the maces out of the sturdy wood. Metal spikes are then added to the wood to create a deadly weapon. The ease with which the mace can be created means that even the poorest of peasants and even serfs can be armed with it but higher social classes such as the razesi also use this weapon in large numgers. This means that the macemen are available in large numbers. The large size of the mace means that it has to be handled with two hands by strong sturdy men. A hit of the mace can go fell even the most armoured knights and crush shields and armour alike. The macemen can be used as shock troops to outweigh the Moldavians lack of heavy infantry. Due to the fact that the mace is two handed the macemen sacrifice the protection of a shield. They are also slow and can be vulnerable if they miss their target.
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Razesi Archers
Like the Wallachian Mosneni the Razesi represent the class of free land owning peasants. They own strips of land in common with their extended family and organise the field work by splitting the land between each member of the family. In the XIVth and early XVth century the bulk of the population of the Principalities was represented by free peasants and large segment of these were land owning razesi. However, as the tribute to the Ottoman Empire grew the economic situation of this social class worsened with many of the razesi being forced to sell their land or even fall into serfom by the XVIth and XVIIth centuries. The razesi do not have tax obligations, however they do have military obligations to the voivode in times of war. They are required to constantly keep their weaponry at the ready and train periodically. The razesi and the free peasantry make up the core of the Moldavian medieval army. Since they own some land the razesi were able to buy or make medium leather armour, chain mail and metal helmets. Armed with both spears and bows, these men use their bows pepper the enemy with from a distance and then drop their bows and meet the enemy head on with their spears. They are a multirole unit which can be used both in defensive and offensive situations. Since they fight for their possessions and their lands they are very reliable and can be trusted to hold the main line of the Moldavian army.
Curteni Archers
The Curteni are the servants of the Voivode's or an important boier's court. They usually fight mounted as their status and their lands allow them to grow good mounts, however on occasions they dismount and fight as archers. Historically, the Polish chronicles mention that in 1410 at the Battle of Grunwald the Moldavian Voivode Alexander the Kind sent a contingent of cavalry to help his Polish overlord. During the battle the Moldavian curteni were charged by the heavy Teutonic knights. The curteni retreated from the incoming knights into a nearby wood, dismounted their horses and then used their bows to shoot the horses of the Teutons. Being servants of the state and having spent more time training with the bow the curteni archers are more accurate and deadly than their razesi and peasant counter parts. However, due to their origin as light cavalry they wear little armour and should be kept away from the front lines.
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Hunters of Neamt
The Hunters of Neamt are an elite unit of Plaiesi border guards originating from the mountainous region of Neamt. The Plaiesi are the inhabitants of the villages in the mountainous regions close to the borders of Moldova. Their name comes from the word 'plai' meaning mountain plains. The task of the Plaiesi is to guard the mountain passes and man the border fortresses. The obligation of the villagers from these settlements to guard the borders dates from before the foundation of the feudal state when the villages had the knezes as their overlords. This obligation has not changed but instead of the knez the villagers now owe their fealty to the Voivode. For the role in protecting the borders the Plaiesi received fiscal benefits and certain tax cuts, especially being exempt from paying the customs duties. The Plaiesi are not allowed to abandon their guard posts and are severely punished if caught. Since they are an elite unit the Hunters of Neamt have better protection than the regular Plaiesi including chainmail and metal helmets. The heavier equipment means that the Hunters lose some of their mobility in exchange for the ability to hold out and withstand enemy attacks for longer.
Voinic Spearmen
The term 'voinic' refers to the general notion of a soldier. Just like the Calarasi the Voinici are part of the slujitori, the servants of the Voivode or the great boyars. The role of the Voinici is to cover the gap between the Razesi and the Portar Guardsmen. The Voinici are free men, some own their own land while others make their living from the wages received from their role as servants. The Voinici fight in the first lines alongside the Razesi. Due to their stately duties they are better trained and more battle ready. Their equipment consists of leather armour and wooden shields and they use spears as weapons. They fulfill the role of medium infantry and are able to form shield walls to protect against cavalry attacks.
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Portar Guardsmen
The Portar of Suceva is the most important function in the Moldavian administration after the Voivode himself and the Metropolitan. The Portar was part of the Princely council and later the office of the Hetman also held the office of Portar of Suceava. The Portar ensured the security of the palace gates and had under his command the garrison of the Moldavian capital. The Portar Guardsmen were the elite corps that formed part of the garrison and looked after the personal safety of the Voivode and the court. These men are the heaviest infantry available to Moldova, armed with halberds that can pierce armour and cut a man in half and armoured with metal helmets and breastplates. The Guardsmen are loyal to the last man and ready to die defending the Portar and the Voivode. They are available in very limited numbers and should only be used at key points in battles. They can hold the line against most enemy infantry and even some cavalry but may break when charged by heavy cavalry.
Lefegii Handgunners
The first recorded use of handguns in the Principalities is in the XVth century. The Wallachian Voivode Vlad the Impaler and the Moldavian Voivode Stefan the Great successfully used handheld arquebuses in several battles including the Battle of Valea Alba in 1476 and at the Battle of Vaslui in 1475 when Stefan ordered his artilery, followed by the archers and handgunners to fire on the Ottoman army from three sides. However, the Wallachians and Moldavians themselves refused to use gunpowder until later on because it was associated with brimstone and the devil. As such, in the XVth century the handgunner corps of both Moldova and Wallachia were made up mainly of mercenaries, generally Hungarians, Szekely, Germans, Serbians, Bulgarians and other South Danube nations. The word 'lefegii' literally means wage earners as the hangunners served in exchange for wages. By the start of the XVIth century the locals started using the arquebus and joined the ranks of the Lefegii. In Moldova the arquebusiers were known as 'sânețari' from the word 'sâneață' meaning gun and in Wallachia they were known as 'pușcași' with the same meaning. These men are armed with experimental weapons which have more an psychological impact on the enemy. The handguns can not be used in rainy weather and are prone to misfire but if used at the right moment they can break the morale of the enemy and cause them to rout.
Mounted Plaiesi
The Plaiesi are the border guards from the villages close to the mountainous passes. The Mounted Plaiesi are also known as 'calareti de margine' literally meaning border riders. These men ride along the borders of the state making sure that foreigners do not cross without notice and also stopping potential fugitives or thieves trying to leave. The main asset of these cavalrymen is their speed and endurance. Their steeds are able to travel long distances without rest and food and the riders are hardened men. The Mounted Plaiesi sacrifice most armour and protection in exchange for mobility. They wear very light leather or woolen brigantines and are only protected by small wooden shields. Since their main role is to alert their commanders of any threats in times of war they should only be used for scouting operations and to harrass the enemy lines. They are not suitable for open field battles or for charges.
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Hansari
The destruction of the South Danubian states meant by the Ottomans in the XVth century led to numbers of soldiers making their way North of the river to continue the struggle against their foes. Foremost amongst these soldiers are the Serbian Hussars that joined the Moldavian armies and took part in numerous battles such as the Battle of Razboieni in 1476. The Moldavians soon learned from these horsemen and formed their own corps of cavalryman known as Hansari. This army corp had a special status in the Moldavian army as, unlike other corps such as the Curteni or Lefegii which went to war in exchange for tax exemptions or for wages, they went to war in exchange for receiving loot from the battle fields (this known as 'dobanda'). The Hansari were usually free men or small landholding peasants and their number never exceeded several thousands. This army corps appeared in the second half of the XVth century and continued to be part of the Moldavian army all the way to the XVIIIth century. Like the Curteni the Hansari were organised in units called 'vatafii' and were commanded by an officer called 'vataf'. Like the equivalent Hussar corps in other armies the Hansari are very lightly armoured being protected only by a wing shield and are armed with a long cavalry spear. The Hansari exchange armour for speed and the ability to strike in the battlefield wherever the enemy is weaker.
The 'slujitori' or the servants of the lord are a class of free peasants which served the Voivode in exchange for tax exemptions and the right to use the land which belonged to the Voivode. The Calarasi, literally meaning horsemen, are the mounted corps of the slujitori and represent the largest segment of this social class. They are part of the standing army known as the small host or the 'oastea mica' and their main duty is to go to war for the Voivode at their own expense. The Calarasi are also tasked with the transmission of the news and letters sent from Constantinople. The main weapon of the Calarasi is the bow. The Moldavians learned the art of horse archery from the migratory people that passed through their lands, most recent the Tatars. The Calarasi should be used to counter other horse archer units or to harass the enemy lines. They are very lightly armoured and not suitable at all for close combat so they should be kept away from approaching enemy forces.
Curteni Light Cavalry
The word 'curte' literally means court, the place where the courtiers gathered, the administrative and military centre on which the courtiers depended. The Curteni also known as Rosii are either the men that served at the Voivode's court or that came from the villages which were dependent on the princely court. In the Lexicon of Mardarie Cozianul from 1649 the verb 'a se curteni' was translated into 'giving orders'. Thus, the courts are the administrative centres from which the various commands of the Voivode or boieri came from and which the Curteni were charged with executing. There are two types of Curteni, the more important ones which serve the court of the Voivode directly and the lesser ones which serve the courts of the great boieri. In their role of servants of the state the Curteni put down revolts, collected taxes, gave fines and coerced the peasantry into doing their feudal duties to their overlords. The Curteni are freemen that own land and have their own estates. They have crazing fields for their war horses and get paid a wage from their overlord and are also exempt from paying taxes. The XVth century was the period of glory for the Curteni as they reached their peak number with the Voivodes introduced more freemen into their ranks to strengthen their authority. Like other social classes the Curteni started falling from grace in XVIth century mainly due to the heavy economic burden of the Ottoman tribute. The Curteni are part of the 'large host' which means that they only join the Voivode's army when called upon. They usually fight mounted with spears and use large shields for protection. They fulfill the role of light cavalry lancers with the ability of lightning strikes on enemy armies. Due to their light armour they can outrun heavier cavalry and outflank enemy positions. However, they are lightly armoured and can not engage in sustained melees or face heavily armed opponents.
Nemesi Medium Cavalry
The moldavian nemesi are the equivalent of the wallachian viteji. These men are common soldiers and peasants who were raised to a higher rank due to their deeds and valour proven in battle. Referring to the raising of the peasants to the ranks of nemesi the Polish chronicler Jan Dlugosz said that ‘plurimi agrestes ex peditum numero in equitum et peditum numerum militum translati’. Historically, in the second half of the XVth century the central authority of Moldova underwent a process of strengthening due to the raising of simple peasants to noble ranks as a direct result of their deeds in battle. These new nobles received various administrative duties during peace time. The process of raising a person from peasant to noble status was called ‘nemesire’. When the voivode ordered that a peasant became a ‘nemes’ it meant that he would receive a property as a gift and in exchange the person would become a servant of the voivode who had the duty to serve his lord both in times of peace and in times of war. From a social standing point of view the ‘nemesi’ occupied a similar place as the ‘curteni’, with the difference being that the curteni were born into their rank while the nemesi earned their rank. The reason for the raising of the ‘nemesi’ was that the Moldavian Voivodes did not want to be dependent on the military might of the boyars and needed faithful servants who were loyal to them and would support their long wars against their neighbours, especially the Ottomans. Historically, the ‘nemesi’ declined and began to disappear in the XVIth century due to the Turkish domination. The ‘nemesi’ fulfil the role of medium cavalry, protected by chainmail or lamellar armour and armed with a light lance they can fight side by side with both the ‘curteni’ and the ‘boyars’. They are reliable in battle, their past deeds standing as proof of this, and can be used against both infantry and cavalry.
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Boieri Heavy Cavalry
The boieri class emerged from the chiefs (knezes or judes) of rural communities in the early middle ages, initially elected, who later made their judicial and administrative attributions hereditary and gradually expanded them upon other communities. After the appearance of more advanced political structures in the area, their privileged status had to be confirmed by the central power, which used this prerogative to include in the boieri class individuals that distinguished themselves in the military or civilian functions they performed (by allocating them lands from the princely domains). Being a boyar implied three things: being a land-owner, having serfs, and having a military and/or administrative function. A boyar could have a state function and/or a court function. These functions were called "dregătorie" or "boierie". Only the prince had the power to assign a boierie. In time the boieri split into two different classes the boieri mari (great boyars) who owned large swathes of land had important functions in the administration and the boieri mici (lesser boyars) who owned less land and less important administrative positions. Starting with the first half of the XVth century the boieri became the most important political class in the Principalities. Since the boieri of the Princely Council had amongst their attributes the election of the voivode this led to increased instability as successive voivodes were elected and then overthrown at the whims of the powerful boieri. During the times of war the boieri have the obligation to raise all the fighting from their domains and join the army of the voivode. Since they are the wealthiest class in the land the boieri use heavy armours and shields for their protection and are armed with cavalry lances. They fulfill the role of heavy cavalry on the field and if their loyalties can be harnessed they can prove to be formidable foes.
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Every Moldavian Voivode kept at his side a core of his most trusted guards. These men are trusted with the safety of the Voivode, they keep vigil in the throne room or in the bedroom when he is sleeping and follow him in his travels. During battles the guards ride by the Voivode's side and must give their lives to protect him. The guard is made up of the most loyal boieri and servants of the Voivode as well as foreign mercenaries on occasions. Historically, at the Battle of Valea Alba in 1476 the Moldavian Voivode ordered the bulk of his force to retreat keeping with him only the most trusted boieri as his guard. As the Moldavian army was defeated by the far numerous Ottomans the men of the Garda Domneasca formed a gauntlet around the Voivode and dragged him out of the battle thus saving his life. The guard is equipped with the finest plate armour and is armed with heavy lances. Garda Domneasca is the heaviest cavalry available to a Moldavian Voivode and is capable of facing any armoured enemy on the field of battle. This should be used to charge at enemy positions to break their ranks and turn the tide of battle.
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Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Principality of Moldova
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