pikemen

Pikemen were infantry soldiers whose primary weapon was the pike, a long spear typically five to six meters in length. The weapon gave them reach and massed formation tactics to deter cavalry and to form a protective shield for other troops. In combined-arms warfare, pikemen often served alongside early fire-armed troops in formations designed to absorb and disrupt enemy movements while muskets fired.

Pike-bearing troops rose to prominence in late medieval and early modern Europe, with notable development by Swiss and Italian infantry. They evolved into dense formations such as the pike square, a compact block that could resist cavalry charges and maintain a firm frontage. In conjunction with musketeers and arquebusiers, pikemen formed pike and shot units, where firearms provided offensive firepower while pikemen protected shooters from melee and mounted threats.

Equipment and organization varied over time. A typical pikeman carried a pike with a steel head, wore a helmet, and sometimes light armor or a brigantine; shields were used to a limited extent. Pike blocks were organized into companies and battalions within larger armies, and their tactical use emphasized discipline, formation integrity, and coordinated movements.

The use of pikes declined as firearms and, in particular, the bayonet became standard issue, reducing the need for long polearms in infantry formations. By the late 17th and 18th centuries, pikemen had largely been replaced in front-line roles, though the term and some ceremonial units persisted in certain armies into the modern era.