Rout 1531483 222898616 2008-07-01T17:26:47Z Neelix 1169106 Added link to surname {{for|the surname|Rout (surname)}} A '''rout''' is commonly defined as a chaotic and disorderly [[withdrawal (military)|retreat]] or [[Withdrawal (military)|withdrawal]] of troops from a battlefield, resulting in the victory of the opposing party, or following defeat, a collapse of [[discipline]], or poor [[morale]]. A routed army often degenerates into a sense of "every man for himself" as the surviving combatants attempt to flee to safety. A disorganized rout often results in much higher casualties for the retreating force than an orderly withdrawal. On many occasions, more soldiers are killed in the rout than in the actual battle. Normally, though not always, routs either effectively end a battle, or provide the decisive victory the winner needs to gain the momentum with which to end a battle in their favor. It can also be a form of evening [[party]]. == History == <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:17th.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The 17th Lancers at the [[Battle of Ulundi]]]] --> Historically, lightly equipped soldiers such as auxiliaries, light cavalry, partisans or militia were important when pursuing a fast-moving routing enemy force and could often keep up the pursuit into the following day, causing the routing army heavy casualties or total dissolution. The slower moving heavy forces could then either seize objectives or pursue at leisure. However, with the advent of [[armoured warfare]] and [[blitzkrieg]] style operations, an enemy army can be kept more or less in a routing or disorganized state for days or weeks on end. == Tactics == Routs may be feigned to entice an enemy into pursuing the "retreating" force, with the intent of causing the enemy to abandon a strong defensive position or leading the enemy into a prepared ambush. It is thought that [[Brittany|Breton]] cavalry performed this maneuver at the [[Battle of Hastings]]. However, this is a high-risk tactic, as the feigned-rout may often develop into a real rout. ==Evening assembly== In the [[eighteenth century|eighteenth]] and [[nineteenth century|nineteenth]] centuries, the word 'rout' was commonly used to mean a large party or fashionable evening assembly, but this is now described as an archaic use.<ref>Kirkpatrick, ed. ''[[Chambers Dictionary|Chambers 20th Century Dictionary]]'' (1983 edition)</ref> == Other uses of the term == A rout is also a synonym for an overwhelming defeat as well as a verb meaning "to put to disorderly retreat" or "to defeat utterly", and is often used in sports to describe a blowout. Can also be found as "rought" in Great Britain. == See also == *[[Crowd psychology]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{Unreferenced|date=December 2006}} [[Category:Military strategy]] [[Category:Lists of battles|Routs]] [[Category:Military tactics]]