The Uskoks - DBR Army List

An unusual Balkan army list for the popular De Bellis Renationis (DBR) renaissance wargame rules. With thanks to the contributors to RenList (particularly Ian Grey) and to Petar Trumbic in Zagreb.

USKOKS 1532-1617

Warm. Ag.1 WW, Rv, H(S), H(G), O, RGo, Wd, BUA Max N300

CinC Ln(F) @ 31 AP or Bd(S) @ 29 AP if embarked 1

Horse LH(S) @ 5 AP 0-1

Casalini Bd(F) @ 5 AP 0-1

Stipendiati Sh(I) @ 4 AP 0-2

Venturini Wb(O) @ 4 AP 5-15

Sharpshooters Sk(S) @ 4 AP 1-4

Townsmen Hd(S) @ 2 AP 5-25

Heavy Guns Art(S) @ 25 AP 0-1

Light Guns Art(I) @ 5 AP 0-2

Grande Bracere Bt(S) @ 3 AP [Bd,Wb,Sk(S),Art(I)] 2-5

Bracere Bt(O) @ 2 AP [Wb] 4-10

Small petaches, pinks, tartanes and feluccas Shp(I) @ 3 AP [Bd, Wb,Sk(S),Art(I)] 0-6

After 1580

Regrade townsmen to include wider introduction of firearms Hd(F) @ 1 AP ½-all

Allies:

Austrian - List: Austrian Imperial (not against Venice except 1615-17)

Venice - List: Venetian Colonial (1537-41 and 1570-74)

Other Uskok - List: Uskok

Spanish - After 1615

Allied General Bd(S) @ 29 AP 1

Tercio Foot ½ Bd(F) or Sh(I) @ 4 AP rest Sh(O) @ 6 AP 2-8

Gallease Gal(S) @ 5 AP [Bd or Sh] 1

Galleys Gal(O) @ 4AP [Bd or Sh] 1 per Tercio Foot

Transports Sh(I) @ 3 AP [Bd, Sh, Bg] 0-4

This list covers the Uskoks as the defenders of Klis in 1532 until their expulsion inland to Otocac at the conclusion of the Uskok War in 1617. From around 1537 they were based at the Dalmatian port of Senj. The Uskoks were mainly Slavs driven north by the Ottomans. However, as their colourful reputation grew they attracted recruits from far and wide including several English.

Until 1566 their main opponent would be the Ottoman Turks on sea and land. After 1566 they attacked any shipping and ports all the along the Dalmatian coast, particularly the Venetians whom they accused of betraying the Christian cause. This led to a savage conflict and the Venetian cry "May god preserve us from the hands of the Senj".

Senj was in the Hapsburg domains and both the Ottomans and later Venice frequently protested. The Austrians whilst sometimes remonstrating with the Uskok 'Captain', in practice found their harassment of Venice and the Turks useful. The end came as a result of the Uskok War 1615-17 between Venice and Austria. The Austrians agreed to garrison Senj and forcibly transfer the remaining Uskoks to Otocac in the military frontier.

Uskok allies represent other Dalmatian towns. The allied Uskoks need not included any townsmen if the contingent is provided with sufficient naval elements to fully embark it. The Spanish represent Ribera's Adriatic squadron. Only Spaniards can serve in this command and the minima only apply if used.

[Image]

Modern reproduction of Uskok dress.

Sources

Barker, P De Bellis Renationis (Rules and army lists) WRG 1995

Bracewell, C.W The Uskoks of Senj Cornell1992

Edwards, L.F The Yugoslav Coast Batsford 1974

Gvozdenovic, D.A. The Yugoslav Coast YLI 1966

Longworth, P The Senj Uskoks Reconsidered S&EER. July 1979

Nicolle, D The Venetian Empire 1200-1670 Osprey 1989

Norwich, J.J. Venice: The Greatness and the Fall Allen Lane 1981

Shaw, S.J History of the Ottoman Empire Vol1 Cambridge 1976

Tenenti, A Piracy and the Decline of Venice 1580-1615 Longmans 1967

West, R. Black Lamb and Grey Falcon Vol1 MacMillan 1944

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