kerne

Kerne, or kerne(s), was the term used in English-language sources to describe light infantry in Ireland during the late medieval and early modern periods. The kern were typically Gaelic Irish foot soldiers who operated as mobile, lightly armed skirmishers and raiders, in contrast with heavier infantry and with professional mercenary regiments such as the gallowglass. Spelling varied in sources, with kern or kerne both appearing in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Origin and role: They were raised by Gaelic rulers and later by English authorities in Ireland when mobilization required fast, inexpensive troops. They fought in flexible formations, conducted hit-and-run raids, screening maneuvers for heavier units, and could be deployed in rough terrain where heavy troops could not maneuver. They were often recruited locally and could be drawn from commoners rather than feudal levies.

Equipment and tactics: Kern typically wore light armor or none at all, and wielded swords, pikes, spears, bows, and darts, sometimes bucklers. They were valued for mobility, stealth, and endurance rather than discipline or armor. In battle they operated as skirmishers, pursued fleeing enemies, or formed irregular lines to harry foes.

Decline and legacy: Following the Tudor conquest of Ireland and the flight of Gaelic elites in the early 17th century, kern units declined in importance. The term survives as a historical reference to Ireland’s early modern infantry and is often contrasted with heavier mercenaries like the gallowglass and with English trench and line infantry in later periods.