seregek

Seregek is the plural form of the Hungarian noun sereg, meaning an army or host. In Hungarian historical writing and literature, seregek is commonly used to refer to large, organized military forces, especially in the context of battles, campaigns, or wars in the medieval and early modern periods. The term can denote the armies of a kingdom, the combined forces of opponents or allies in a given campaign, or mobilized military power described in chronicles and epic narratives.

In historical contexts, seregek were typically composed of a mix of infantry and cavalry, and in later periods could include archers, artillery, and siege troops. Organization and command varied by era and polity, but armies were generally led by a senior commander such as a vezér or tábornok, with subordinate officers managing units, logistics, and tactical formations. Logistics, provisioning, recruitment, and supply lines were critical factors influencing the size and effectiveness of seregek during campaigns.

In modern Hungarian usage, seregek remains primarily a term of historical or literary reference. Official military language more commonly employs terms like had, hadsereg, or katonai szervezet to denote a contemporary army. Nevertheless, seregek continues to appear in academic works, historical novels, and rhetorical or descriptive passages to evoke the scale and drama of past military mobilizations.

See also: had, hadsereg, csata, katonai történelem.