The Fähnlein (in Swedish: fänika) was an infantry unit approximately equivalent to the company or battalion which was used in parts of Europe during the Middle Ages. The size of the unit varied; originally a Fähnlein could consist of as many as 1,000 soldiers, but numbers were generally less, around 500. It was sub-divided into sections or "Rotten" (singular: "Rotte") of between 6 and 12 men.
Origin and usage.
The "Fähnlein", meaning "small banner", consisted of small number of soldiers that were organized under a single banner, hence the unit's name. "Rotte" comes from the Middle Latin word "rupta" which means "dispersed troop". The word "company", which was used throughout Europe, superseded "Fähnlein" in the 17th century, even in German-speaking regions. It was later used by the scouts and Wandervögel as well as by the Deutsches Jungvolk during the Nazi era. "Rotte" was later also used in the organisational structure of the SS and has survived into the Bundeswehr.
History.
By the Middle Ages, the "Fähnlein" was already the administrative unit with military forces, especially in the infantry. It initially had 400 to 600 men, sometimes up to 1,000. In France it usually consisted of 300 men. Georg von Frundsberg had 380 "Landsknechte". However, these numbers were target strengths, which were almost never attained. Thus, the actual strength of the French "Fähnlein" for a long time was no more than 100 to 200 men.
The regiments of different armies had very different numbers of "Fähnlein":
The "Fähnlein" consisted of a mix of archers, pikemen and halberdiers.
In the 17th century, some "Fähnleins" or "fänikor" would have a strength of only 100 to 200 men, and it was at this time that the designation "company" came into widespread use.
Germany.
In Germany, a "Fähnlein" was the subordinate formation within a "Landsknecht" regiment. Each "Fähnlein" consisted of several "Rotten" (singular: "Rotte"). As a formed unit, a "Fähnlein" consisted of around 400 "Landsknechte", commanded by a captain ("Feldhauptmann", "Hauptmann" or "Kapitän").
A "Rotte" consisted of eight to twelve "Landsknechte" or six "Doppelsöldner" and was led by a "Rottmeister". It equates roughly to the modern section or fireteam.
At the beginning of the 17th century, i.e. before the Thirty Years' War a "Fähnlein" in Germany was supposed to have the following strength:
Under Charles V the staff of a German "Fähnlein" was as follows:
This structure was also called the "prima plana" (Latin for "first sheet") because these appointments were on the first page of the muster lists.
Sweden.
Roughly the same organization was used in Sweden, where each province raised a number of "fänikor", which were organized into a provincial regiment. Many of the regiments of the Swedish Army of today trace their origins back to the "fänikor" of the 16th century. The "fänika" was led by a "Kapten", the equivalent of a Captain. The corresponding cavalry unit was called "ryttarfana" (rider banner).
Ensigns.
The military rank of "Fähnrich" (Germany) or "Fänrik" (Sweden) was held by the ensigns or low ranking officer who carried the banner (German "Fahne", Swedish "Fana") of the "Fähnlein" or "fänika". The Spanish army has a similar formation called a "Bandera" (flag, banner).
References.
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