Vieršnik

If in Western Europe the army was formed primarily of warriors, the majority of the army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania consisted of vieršniks (horsemen). The cavalry, armed with spears and protected by shields, was brought to the Belarusian lands by the Serbian-Hungarian tradition. During the battle, the knights on the tall and hardy Arab, Turkish, Italian horses broke through the rival system and mixed its order.

At the beginning of the 17th century, for the first time, the legendary winged Litvin cavalrymen swept over the battlefield, terrifying every horse and warrior they encountered: the warriors attached huge black wings made of falcon feathers to their saddles. They were ruled by the famous hietman Jan Karol Chadkievich.

Cavalry of the Great Duchy of Lithuania in the Battle of Klushin. The famous "wings" of the vieršniks are clearly visible. Painting by Szymon Boguszowicz, 1620. Fragment.
Partial armor of Mikalaj Radziwill Chorny, 1555. The Imperial Arsenal in Vienna. Photo: topwar.ru

Mobile, able to maneuver and make rapid accurate strikes, the horsemen determined the outcome of many battles. They acted independently and decisively, overcame huge distances in a short time, suddenly appeared behind the enemy, did not know doubt and fear.

Нават сёння выгляд крылатых вершнікаў уражвае. Фота: к/ф "1612"
Even today, the sight of the winged riders is impressive. Photo: movie "1612"

Vieršniks of Belarusian and Litvin chess at the beginning of the game are located to the left of the kniažyč and the vieža: c1, h1 - white; b9, g9 - black. They feel free enough - walk in any direction, but the trajectory is defined: two squares in one direction and one square perpendicular to the original line of movement. Each move changes the color of the square on which they stop.

One of the defining functions is manifested in the endgame: it is the vieršniks who most often bring down from the field the last figures of the rival army, which, separated, remained on the board.

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