The
vanguard (also called the
advance guard) is the leading part of an advancing
military formation. It has a number of functions, including seeking out the enemy and securing ground in advance of the main force.
The vanguard derives from the traditional division of a
medieval army into three
battles or
wards; the Van, the Main (or Middle), and the
Rear.
[1] The term originated from the medieval French
avant-garde, i.e. "the advance guard". The vanguard would lead the line of march and would deploy first on the field of battle, either in front of the other wards or to the right if they deployed in
line.
The makeup of the vanguard of a
15th century Burgundian army is a typical example. This consisted of
- A contingent of foreriders, from whom a forward detachment of scouts was drawn;
- The main body of the vanguard, accompanied by civil officials and trumpeters to carry messages and summon enemy towns and castles to surrender; and
- A body of workmen under the direction of the Master of Artillery whose job it was to clear obstacles which would obstruct the baggage and artillery travelling with the main army.[2]
In an English force of
the period, the foreriders of the vanguard would be accompanied by the harbingers, whose job was to locate lodgings for the army for the following night.
[3]