Chorągiew
# Chorągiew

Chorągiew (Polish pronunciation:; literally: "banner") was the basic administrative unit of the Polish and Lithuanian cavalry from the 14th century. An alternative name until the 17th century was rota.

## 14th to 17th centuries

Between the 14th and 17th century the Chorągiew was composed of smaller sub-units – the Poczet.

Types of Chorągiew were:

* Chorągiew ziemska (District banner), formed by knights of a district.
* Chorągiew rodowa (Clan banner), formed by clans.
* Chorągiew nadworna (Court banner), formed by troops of the King.

## 15th century (2nd half) to 18th century (1st half)

In the cavalry, since the second half of the 15th century until the first half of the 18th century, a Chorągiew was formed according to the "companion system" (system zaciągu towarzyskiego). See: Towarzysz (companion).

Types of Chorągiew were:

* Chorągiew husarska (Hussar banner), formed by Hussars.
* Chorągiew lekka ("Light" banner), formed by light-cavalry.
* Chorągiew pancerna ("Armoured" banner), formed by Pancerni.
* Chorągiew tatarska (Tatar banner), formed by Tatars.
* Chorągiew wołoska (Vlach banner), light cavalry, not only formed by Vlachs.
* Chorągiew kozacka (Cossack banner), light cavalry, not only formed by Cossacks.

Typical family/village clans of the Chorągiew Rodowa who provided men for battles consisting of approximately 100 men were:

* Topór, Dołęga and Gryf

## Gallery

* District Banner of the Land of Grodno (1613–1619)
* A Hussar banner during the Battle of Kircholm in 1605
* A Hussar banner during the Battle of Kluszyn in 1610
