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Re: Questioning these Pikemen we keep seeing

To clarify the history. All major nations still had pikes at the beginning of the WSS but some of the smaller nations had stopped using them.

The numbers of pikes used varied but was usually between 1 pike to 2 - 5 muskets. The exact ratio is often complicated as it depended on how many grenadiers were used.

The Austrians, and the French in Italy, stopped using pikes in 1702 & so wouldn't have them in 1703.

The French issued a general withdraw in late 1703. Some were still in use in garrison units in 1704 but were soon gone.

The 'British' stopped using them in the field in 1704 but retained them until 1706 elsewhere. It is not known if the 'British' units in the Blenheim campaign had swapped their pikes and so could be with or without pikes - there are arguments either way.

The Dutch issued the order to stop using pikes in late 1708 and withdrew them in early 1709.

Going to other armies of the time the Swedes officially used 1 pike to 2 muskets, but grenadiers were extra to this, until the end of this era. But shortages of pikes meant many low quality/status units had less than this or even none. After 1709 the shortages became more widespread but pikes were still used if available.

The Russians varied the numbers of pikes used during the period and also didn't always use them, although they did when fighting 'Western' foes. It was not until the 1720's that they stopped using pikes.

I have not seen the figures but pikes were used extensively in the early part of the WSS. I would also guess it would be relatively easy to convert the pikes into spontoons/halberds/standard bearers/etc.