"Ottoman Pike Men?" Topic

Hello all, I have been looking at starting a 15mm Ottoman Army for the Renaissance Period and looking at a few different rules sets and army lists.

Could anyone give me any information about whether any pike men would have been present in Ottoman Armies. I have looked at various lists for C15th-C17th period and can't find any pike listed. However, various 15mm manufacturers do produce Ottoman Pike Men in various forms.

Just wondering if anyone could shed any light on this for me.

Many thanks.

I'm not aware of any Ottomans using pikes during that period but some of the Balkan regional commanders may have raised some locally in response to Imperial developments.

I am not aware of the Ottoman's using pikes in the 15th-17th century either. Maybe Transylvaian allies?

Lists are often more about creating clearly defined and differentiated unit types than precisely reflecting historical practice, so inconvenient weapon assortments that don't fit one of the rules' categories, and other anomalies, sometimes get 'simplified'. Many Turkish formations were allowed a high degree of latitude as regards armament, so it's likely that pikes were to be found somewhere amongst the mix. The figures probably derive from period illustrations of such troops.

You see the same effect with Cossack Moloitsy in say, DBR. Units that historically, although certainly dominated by long spears/pikes, were actually armed with whatever melee weapons individuals brought to the party, are rated as 'pike'.

Spears yes, pikes no.

The only time you get pikes in the Ottoman army is to stick beheaded head on.

Pikes need tactical usage to be usefull – and afaik the Ottomans never used pike formations. The weapon might be there, even locally raised units, but no employment as pikes that I am aware of.