Militia portalis

The militia portalis (Hungarian: telekkatonaság), also known as peasant militia, was the first institution that secured the peasants' permanent participation in the defence of the Kingdom of Hungary.[1] It was established when the Diet of Hungary obliged all landowners to equip one archer for 20 peasant plots on their estates to serve in the royal army in 1397.[1][2] The unprofessional soldiers were to serve in the militia only during the emergency period.[3]

  1. ^ a b Rady 2000, p. 150.
  2. ^ Engel 2001, p. 205.
  3. ^ Cole 2014, p. 110.