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https://doi.org/10.17234/RadoviZHP.57.31
Barbarians on European Battlefields in the 18th Century: Portrayal of the Grenzer in the Seven Years War (Summary)
Juraj Balić
; Hrvatski institut za povijest
Sažetak
The security of the vast borders of the Roman Empire was maintained by the limes, a system of defense consisting of a series of fortifications used for centuries to prevent the incursions of barbarian tribes. However, barbarian groups formed an important component of this defense system, as well as of the Roman army in general. More than a thousand years after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, a new defense system – the Military Frontier (Militärgrenze) – was established along the southern borders of the Habsburg Monarchy. Although the main purpose of this institution was to protect the territories of the Monarchy and the Holy Roman Empire from Ottoman incursions, in the 18th century, its role was transformed into a source of additional military manpower that could be used on other European bat-tlefields. This paper focuses on the role and perception of these particular soldiers – the Grenzer – in the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763). The research is based on an analysis of contemporary British newspapers which intensively followed military developments on the Continent, most notably the activities of the aforementioned light infantrymen specialized in an unusual and unconventional style of warfare, i.e. “small war”, which included raids, ambushes, surprise attacks and the interception of enemy supply and communications lines. By distinguishing the features of the Grenzer as soldiers within the ranks of the Habsburg military forces, certain links with Roman military practices are identified. Because these soldiers practiced a peculiar style of warfare, which was at odds with the more “civilized” values of the Enlightenment, they were often perceived as “barbaric”.
Ključne riječi
Roman army; auxiliary troops; Seven Years War; British newspapers; Grenzer; small war
Hrčak ID:
349082
URI
Datum izdavanja:
21.12.2025.
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