Sutlers (redirected from sutler)

Sutlers 

petty merchants of food and articles used by soldiers, who accompanied the army during marches, exercises, and maneuvers; often, especially in France, they were women.

Sutlers appeared as early as in ancient Greece and Rome but were most widespread in the European feudal armies when there was no centralized army supply. From the 18th century (in the Russian Army from 1716), the rights of sutlers were regulated by special instructions and charters. Sutlers existed until the early 20th century.