DRAGONADE Meaning and
Definition
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Dragonade is a noun that refers to a military tactic employed during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, specifically by the French army. It encompasses the act of bombarding a fortified town or area with heavy artillery fire to induce fear, panic, and surrender among its defenders, rather than attempting a direct assault. This strategy typically involved the use of large-caliber mortars or cannons to launch massive projectiles towards the target.
The term "dragonade" originates from the French word "dragons," which refers to mounted infantry soldiers armed with muskets, as they were often the ones who executed this tactic. Dragonade was characterized by the ferocity and intensity of the artillery fire unleashed upon the fortifications, aiming to weaken morale and destabilize the defensive forces. By inflicting severe damage to the fortifications and causing chaos and terror among the defenders, it aimed to compel their surrender without subjecting the attacking party to the risks associated with a full-scale assault.
The effectiveness of dragonade relied heavily on the psychological impact of bombardment and the threat it posed to the safety and survival of those inside the besieged stronghold. Successful dragonades often resulted in capitulation or early surrender of the defenders, ultimately granting an advantage to the assaulting army.
Although dragonade has become an obsolete military tactic today, its historical significance lies in its innovative use of artillery as a psychological weapon, demonstrating the strategic value of fear and intimidation in warfare.
Common Misspellings for DRAGONADE
- sragonade
- xragonade
- cragonade
- fragonade
- rragonade
- eragonade
- deagonade
- ddagonade
- dfagonade
- dtagonade
- d5agonade
- d4agonade
- drzgonade
- drsgonade
- drwgonade
- drqgonade
- drafonade
- dravonade
- drabonade
- drahonade
Etymology of DRAGONADE
The word "dragonade" originated in the late 17th century and comes from the French compound noun "dragonnade". The term "dragoons" refers to mounted infantry soldiers armed with firearms, and they were used extensively by the French army during that time. The French word "dragoon" is derived from the Middle French "dragon" (variant of "dragonne") which means "dragon". This French term, in turn, was likely influenced by the Spanish word "dragón", which means "dragon" or "dragoon". The term "dragonade" itself reflects the usage of dragoons in a specific context. In the late 17th century, the French used dragoons to repress the Huguenots (French Protestants) during the period of religious conflicts.
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