On the topic of Ottoman equipment, it would be interesting to see some documentation of where it came from. The Ottomans relying solely on imports seems hard to credit - its just not practical, and they did too much to be the kind of people who would willfully neglect something this basic, though that doesn't rule out imports or using captured European equipment. Something based on official records - as in, the records of the people responsible for keeping the army fed and shod - would be best.
And examples (with citation) of the letters where the Ottomans themselves speak of it in the era in question - say up to 1700, unless the question is solely about the first siege, in which case we should stop sometime before 1600.
It would not greatly surprise me if the Ottoman army at the time of Prince Eugene (despite my earlier comments on it being unfair to consider his triumphs proof due to his unusual skill) had become less than supreme.
It would not surprise me if exceptionally well equipped and trained Christian forces such as the Knights of St. John were better than the average Ottoman infantryman.
But that European troops used the pike square - as opposed to what? What did the Ottoman troops do for the situations in which Europeans used that?
And examples (with citation) of the letters where the Ottomans themselves speak of it in the era in question - say up to 1700, unless the question is solely about the first siege, in which case we should stop sometime before 1600.
It would not greatly surprise me if the Ottoman army at the time of Prince Eugene (despite my earlier comments on it being unfair to consider his triumphs proof due to his unusual skill) had become less than supreme.
It would not surprise me if exceptionally well equipped and trained Christian forces such as the Knights of St. John were better than the average Ottoman infantryman.
But that European troops used the pike square - as opposed to what? What did the Ottoman troops do for the situations in which Europeans used that?
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