pikemen
Pikemen were infantry soldiers armed with long spears called pikes, typically measuring 10 to 20 feet in length. They played a crucial role in battles from the late Middle Ages to the early modern period, particularly in European warfare. Their primary function was to create a defensive wall of pikes to fend off cavalry and protect other troops.
The use of pikemen peaked during the Renaissance and the Thirty Years' War, where they often fought in formations known as pike squares. As firearms became more prevalent, the role of pikemen diminished, leading to the development of combined arms tactics that included musketeers and artillery.