Título: Gaelic Ireland
Seção: Warfare
Background: Gaelic Ireland (Irish: Eire Ghaidhealach) was the Gaelic political and social order, and associated culture, that existed in Ireland from the prehistoric era until the early 17th century. Before the Norman invasion of 1169, Gaelic Ireland comprised the whole island. Thereafter, it comprised that part of the country not under foreign dominion at a given time. For most of its history, Gaelic Ireland was a "patchwork" hierarchy of territories ruled by a hierarchy of kings or chiefs, who were elected through tanistry.

Conteúdo: Warfare was common in Gaelic Ireland, as territories fought for supremacy against each other and (later) against the Anglo-Normans. Champion warfare is a common theme in Irish mythology. In the Middle Ages all able-bodied men, apart from the learned and the clergy, were eligible for military service on behalf of the king or chief. Throughout the Middle Ages and for some time after, outsiders often wrote that the style of Irish warfare differed greatly from what they deemed to be the norm in Western Europe. The Gaelic Irish preferred hit-and-run raids (the crech), which involved catching the enemy unaware. If this worked they would then seize any valuables (mainly livestock) and potentially valuable hostages, burn the crops, and escape. The cattle raid was often called a Tain Bo in Gaelic literature. Although hit-and-run raiding was the preferred tactic in medieval times, there were also pitched battles. From at least the 11th century, kings maintained small permanent fighting forces known as "troops of the household", who were often given houses and land on the king's mensal land. These were well-equipped professional soldiers made up of infantry and cavalry. By the reign of Brian Boru, Irish kings were taking large armies on campaign over long distances and using naval forces in tandem with land forces.  A typical medieval Irish army included light infantry, heavy infantry and cavalry. The bulk of the army was made-up of light infantry called ceithern (anglicized 'kern'). Th

user: Tell me about warfare in Gaelic Ireland.

assistant: Warfare was common in Gaelic Ireland, as territories fought for supremacy against each other and (later) against the Anglo-Normans.

user: Which territories were fighting?

assistant: Irish kings were taking large armies on campaign over long distances and using naval forces in tandem with land forces.

user: What other tactics were they using to fight?

assistant: The Gaelic Irish preferred hit-and-run raids (the crech), which involved catching the enemy unaware.

user: How often did they use the hit-and-run tactic?

assistant: By the reign of Brian Boru, Irish kings were taking large armies on campaign over long distances and using naval forces in tandem with land forces.

user: Did they prefer naval or land forces in general?

assistant: A typical medieval Irish army included light infantry, heavy infantry and cavalry.

user: How did these work together?

assistant: The ceithern wandered Ireland offering their services for hire and usually wielded swords,

user: What else can you tell me about their warfare tactics?

assistant: The cavalry was usually made-up of a king or chieftain and his close relatives.