Petro: A Multi-agent Model of Historical Warfare

Numerous mathematical and computer models were used to simulate a situation on a battlefield. We introduce Petro, a new agent-based model of historical warfare, designed to maintain a structure of command between a regiment and its soldiers. It can model various tactics of different kinds of military forces and is simple enough to build massive simulations. We use the model to simulate the warfare of 17th century Europe. Paper presents modeling of various types of military forces - Tatar riders, line infantry, hussars and reiters. We show how general patterns of combat are the result of basic rules directing the behavior of soldier and regiment agents. Finally, we use modeled troops to simulate the Battle of Kokenhausen (1601), waged between armies of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Kingdom of Sweden. After producing results very close to historical data, alternative scenario of the battle is considered.