Spontaneous
Sponton (Esponton, French ), a half-pike in the style of the halberd , was used by officers of the infantry next to the sword as a parade weapon until the beginning of the 19th century .
In the late 17th and 18th centuries, the spontaneous movement was widespread in almost all European armies and probably emerged from the Saufeder (gag spit). It was also used as a sign of status for infantry officers. There were fixed rules for handling spontaneous speech; saluting was always one of the actions of officers with this service weapon. H. greeting with the spontaneous. Such a greeting was due to visiting and commanding generals and sovereigns. When setting up for the parade (revue), the officer had the Sponton held on his feet, i.e. with his arm outstretched, standing on the ground, as is the case e.g. B. on the picture The Revue of the Electorate of Hanover Army 1735 , exhibited in the Military History Museum Rastatt , can be seen.
For the clout of a troop it was very important that a formation was kept exactly, that one could pass from the column formation into line as quickly as possible. These movements often took place under fire and in powder steam. Under these conditions the long spontaneous calls were helpful. If necessary, the line was also put in order with the spontaneous by standing behind the soldiers with the spontaneous crossed when they began to give way backwards. Therefore, the spontaneous carrier usually stood behind the shooting line.
The spontaneous of the NCOs , also called partisans , was about 2.5 m longer and with the former was called the short rifle in contrast to the longer Pike. After the spontaneous and partisans had long since lost their function as weapons of war, they were still found for a long time at European rulers as part of the equipment of various princes and palace guards.
In Prussia the Sponton under King was Frederick I introduced. Its use disappeared with the abolition of all polearms in 1807 from the Prussian army .
Esponton was also called a short pike that was used on ships when boarding.
At the time of the colonial wars in America, the Espontoo was also used for signaling in minstrel trains .
literature
- Hans-Peter Stein: Transfeldt. Word and custom in the army and the navy. 9th, revised and expanded edition. Stuttgart 1986.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Kurhannoversches Infanterie-Regiment von Behr 1735 revue at Bemerode (photo file of an image section on Wikimedia Commons )
- ↑ Esponton, entry in Pierer's Universal-Lexikon, 1857 (viewed Aug. 13, 2009)
