The Polish Army () is the name applied to the military forces of Poland. The name has been in use since the early 19th century, although it can be used to refer to earlier formations as well. Polish Armed Forces consist of the Army (), Navy () and Air Force () branches and are under the command of the Ministry of National Defense (). History Kingdom of Poland (10th century–1569) The first Polish Army was created in the 10th-century kingdom of Poland, under the Piast dynasty. The prince's forces were composed of a group of armed men, usually mounted, named drużyna. Their key role was the protection of the monarch and supporting the taxation effort. Their organisation was similar to other such armed units of other Slavic rulers, and were often of foreign origin. With time, the early tribal warriors gave rise to knights and eventually, by the 15th century, the whole social class of the szlachta or Polish gentry. The Polish gentry formed a distinct element within the ancient tribal groupings. This is uncertain, however, as there is little documentation on the early history of Poland, or of the movements of the Slavonic people into what became the territory so designated. Around the 14th century, there was little difference between those called knights and those referred to as szlachta in Poland. Members of the szlachta had the personal obligation to defend the country (pospolite ruszenie), and thereby became the kingdom's privileged social class. It was them who were obliged to build and support castles as well as to keep peace and order on territory they were assigned. Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795) The armies of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, or the First Polish Republic, were commanded by four hetmans. The armies comprised: Wojsko kwarciane: Regular units with wages paid from taxes (these units were later merged with the wojsko komputowe) Wojsko komputowe: Semi-regular units created for times of war (in 1652 these units were merged with the wojsko kwarciane into a new permanent army) Pospolite ruszenie: Szlachta levée en masse Piechota łanowa, piechota wybraniecka and piechota dymowa: Units based on peasant (later, townsfolk) recruits Registered Cossacks: Troops made up of Cossacks, who were recruited until 1699; included many infantry Royal guard: A small unit whose primary purpose was to escort the monarch and members of his family Mercenaries: As with most other armies, hired to supplement regular units Private armies: Usually paid