Push of pike

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The push of pike was a particular feature of late medieval and Early Modern warfare that occurred when two opposing columns of pikemen—often Swiss mercenaries or landsknechts—collided and became locked in position along a front of interleaved pikes. The push of pike would continue until one of the opposing formations collapsed, which would generally lead to massive casualties.

The feature was present in many of the larger battles of the Italian Wars, including:

• Battle of Ravenna (1512)
• Battle of Novara (1513)
• Battle of Pavia
• Battle of Ceresole

[edit] Reference

• Oman, Charles. A History of the Art of War in the Sixteenth Century. London: Methuen & Co., 1937.