Explanation from Original OP:
Context: The Battle of Keresztes was fought in 1596 between Austrian Habsburg forces under Maximilian III and the Ottoman army led by Sultan Mehmed III. The Habsburg army succesfully broke the Ottoman lines, but instead of pursuing the routed forces, decided to loot the Ottoman treasury in the camp. The camp followers defended with everything they could and their sudden attack made the surprised and confused Austrians retreat. The cries of “the Christian enemy is fleeing” were heard by the Ottoman troops still fighting what seemed like a losing battle on the frontline. The boost of morale allowed them to recover the battle. With a major action from the Ottoman artillery cannons, the Ottoman forces started another attack on the Austrians across the front and the remaining Ottoman cavalry outflanked the Austrian-Transylvanian army, routing them.
Camp followers are the non military retinue that come along with the troops to service them, right?
Yep! In some armies, they were purely civilian (merchants, priests, prostitutes, etc); in others, they included paramilitaries as well (the equivalent of ‘military contractors’ who know how to fight but aren’t really supposed to end up on the battlefield; armed wagon drivers, artisan/engineering advisors, personal servants of nobility, etc)
So basically they were roadies (wiki link) for the army?


