Eastern European Irregular Troops in the XVIII Century: Crisis and Evolution

The article is devoted to the evolution of Eastern European irregular troops in the XVIII century, when they were forced to compete with the regular armies of the Western European model. In it are analyzed shortcomings and advantages of irregular system of the organization which became actual in this century. The author comes to a conclusion that the elimination of the most part of the East European irregular troops was made possible only when regular armies start using their tactics and weapons. Similar influence was mutual, and preserved irregular troops adopted more and more elements of the organization of a regular army.