Tross
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The Tross was the
Many women of the Tross were wives of the soldiers, or other family members such as sisters, nieces, or daughters. Some of the women were betrothed to a member of the military unit. Very few single, unattached women were permitted into the ranks of the Tross in fear that their possible turn to prostitution would cause unrest in the baggage train by disrupting family relationships. Unattached women allowed into the Tross were those who possessed a skill or trade which made them a valuable asset, not only to the Tross unit, but to the military unit as well. However, they were closely watched until they took a legitimate husband.
The custom of a regiment being followed by the Tross continued beyond the period of the Landsknechte. During the Thirty Years' War, it could occur that a 1,000-man regiment would be accompanied by 500 women and 300 children. The Tross was indispensable for supply purposes, although it limited the freedom of movement of the army. At times, the Tross fell prey to opposing armies.
Notes
Portions of this article were translated from the German Wikipedia.
References
- ISBN 978-0-19-977169-1.
- Möller, Hans-Michael. Das Regiment der Landsknechte: Untersuchungen zu Verfassung, Recht und Selbstverständnis in Deutschen Söldnerheeren des 16. Jahrhunderts. Frankfurter Historische Abhandlungen (Steiner), 1976.
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