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A '''poczet''' ({{IPA|pl|ˈpɔt͡ʂɛt|lang|}}, "fellowship" or "retinue"; plural ''poczty'') was the smallest organized unit of soldiers in the [[Crown Army|Royal Polish Army]] and later also the [[Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army]] from the 15th until the 18th century. The name of a medium or heavy-cavalry soldier in a poczet was '''pocztowy'''.
In the cavalry, each poczet was commanded by a [[Companion (military rank)|Companion]] or [[Armoured companion]]. Several poczets were combined to form larger units like a [[Banner (cavalry)|banner]] (the equivalent of a Western [[Company (military unit)|company]]). In this context the poczet is the equivalent of the medieval [[Lances fournies]].
A '''pocztowy''' was an assistant and subordinate to the Companion, and usually a [[peasant]]. In some respects this role was similar to the older [[Page (occupation)|page]] or [[squire]] of a [[knight]]. He was armoured like his superior, but fought in the second or third line and was responsible for guarding his back and flanks in a battle.
==See also==
* [[Offices in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]
==Further reading==
* Richard Brzezinski, ''Polish Winged Hussar 1576-1775'' (Warrior Series 94), Oxford: Osprey, 2006. {{ISBN|1-84176-650-X}}
* Richard Brzezinski, ''Polish Armies 1569-1696'', 2 vols, London: Osprey Publishing, 1987, {{ISBN|0-85045-736-X}} and {{ISBN|0-85045-744-0}}
[[Category:Polish cavalry]]
[[Category:Military history of Poland]]
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