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The defence of the provincial borders of Moravfia and Silesia in the early modern age was not only due to the geographical location of these geopolitical entities; it was also inextricably connected with the political development of the Habsburg Monarchy in this era. The focus of the paper is a specific period which was marked by frequent military conflicts – from the mid-16th century to the turn of the 18th century. Irregular armed units were supplementary components of the military structure at the time; instead of being a permanent force, they were called into action ad hoc, wherever needed. These units, which were mainly recruited from the local Wallachian population, playe dan important role in defending the eastern borders of Moraviaq and Silesia from the late 16th century to the first decades of the 18th century. In the mid-17th century the structure of the units was reorganized, leaving the Episcopal Militia as the only truly irregular unit. During the second half of the 17th century, the Silesian units in fact grew to become a regular military force, using a similar structure to the „Portáši“. In view of the ongoing centralization and professionalization which characterized modern armies in the 18th century, these units became increasingly anachronistic, and eventually their role was completely taken over by regular military units. Nevertheless, the Moravian and Silesian irregulars remain an important illustration of the diverse variety of defence structures and the complexity of the military sector in the early moderm age.