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Doppelsoldner
A soldier who earned double the standard wage was called a "double soldier," or Doppelsoldner. The duties of Doppelsoldneren required experience and would often double their chances of dying. A Dopplesoldner would carry either a halberd, two-handed war sword, or match-lock musket and he would maintain the pike square's formation by any means necessary. If an enemy attempted to get in to the square or a spooked soldier attempted to escape from the battle, the Dopplesoldneren would kill them. "Doppelsoldner" is a term specific to the mercenary companies.
Fähndrich
This is the man who carried the flag and therefore carried the soul and unity of his Fählein. If the commander of the Fählein died in battle, the Fähndrich was the next in line to assume command. After the battle, a new officer would be assigned to the unit and relieve the Fähndrich of command. In many cases, the Fähndrich was the younger son of an impoverished noble who would inherit nothing from his family but could use his nobility to become an officer in the army.
Fähnlein
In German, this literally means "little flag." A Fähnlein is a unit of Landsknecht soldiers who rallied around the flag that represented their unit. A pike square was usually one Fähnlein. Fähnlein units were usually composed of people who came from the same area and named after the commander or the region from which it originated. Often an Obrist, Fähndrich, and Trommelschläger would process through a town and lead those who followed them to a table where they could enlist to be a Landsknecht.
Fechtbuch
Fechtbuch translates as "fight book." These books instruct students of defense how to conduct themselves with the descriptions of combat within. Commonly, the Fechtbuchen will describe techniques for fighting with wrestling, dagger, knife, sword, and many other odd weapons. The teachings that sculpted the German school of fencing were written by Johannes Liechtenauer.
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was the umbrella that enveloped the different lands of the German people during the Renaissance.
Kampfrau
Literally, Kampfrau means "camp woman." She is a woman who goes on campaign with a Landsknecht and takes care of everything. She prepares meals, mends clothes, treats wounds, tends to her children, and carries any personal belongings. Without the Kampfrauen, a Fähnlein would collapse. She is often the wife, sister, cousin, or niece of the Landsknecht she travels with. Unlike other women in the 16th century, Kampfrauen were allowed to own private property and would often loot dead soldiers so they could pawn the objects to pay for food and clothes. They traveled with the tross.
Landsknecht
Landsknecht literally means "land servant," or "servant of the land," with the plural form of the word being Landsknechte. These men were mercenaries first employed by Emperor Maximilian during the late 1400s before being named the Holy Roman Emperor. Emperor Maximilian and future emperors, including Charles V, continued to employ them in wars against the Ottoman Empire, various Italian city-states, and the Kingdom of France. Landsknechte were the best soldiers of their time and pioneered many military conventions used to this day. Landsknechte are best known for their outrageous, colorful clothing. The dominant fashion was having their pants and sleeves slashed. The back-bone of the Landsknecht army was the Spießträger and the back-bone of the Spießträger was his Kampfrau. Being mercenaries, they did not hold political alliance and would fight for the highest bidder.
Pfeifer
A Pfeifer was the person that played the fife, which is a wooden transverse flute. The fife's shrill pitch allows it to be heard across the noisy battlefield, making it a good way to communicate orders to soldiers. The Pfeifer also played the fife to entertain his fellow soldiers.
Pike
A pike is a specific type of spear. The sole purpose of a pike is to thrust and is capable of penetrating armor. A light tap with the blunt end of a pike is enough to push a person over. These spears can be anywhere between 10 to 21 feet in length, though the most common lengths are 10 feet and 16 feet long.
Renaissance
A renaissance is any period of enlightenment and rebirth. What is referred to as "The Renaissance" describes the period of European history when art, science, trade, and education began to flourish. There isn't a set date for when the Renaissance began, since each country developed at its own pace, but the modern-day countries of Italy and Spain are credited with initiating the Renaissance during the 1400's. After the fall of western Rome by the Goths and Mongols, Europe entered a Migration Period, followed by the Medieval era, from which the Renaissance developed, and the Age of Enlightenment was born from that. The eras that follow are the Industrial Age and the Modern Age.
Rottemeister
The word Rotte in German means gang, mob, crew, horde or pack. It is like saying "a pack of Wildschwein" (wild pigs). The Rottemeister is the person in charge or the leader of the Rotte. When the soldiers were lined up, he was placed at the front to lead by example. He was the role model that the other soldiers aspired to be.
Spießträger
Literally, this means "spear carrier." This soldier fought with the pike and was the primary force of a Landsknecht army. These soldiers fought in tightly packed squares and were capable of combating all forms of foot soldiers and mounted knights. Without them, there would be no point in having any other troops because all the other troops were there to support and make the pike square stronger. While advancements in gun-powder-based firearms rendered the pike square obsolite, spears continued to be used by soldiers into the 19th century.
Trommelschläger
He was the "noise maker," the man who played the drum. The fife and drum has been a musical combination since the 1400s, used to issue commands over the loud noises of battle.
Tross
The tross is the baggage train. While the Landsknecht army traveled to their destination, this is where the women and children would travel.
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