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DAVID NICOLLE was bom In
1944, the son 0' th lIIu.1ratorPat Nicolle. He worked In theBBC Anlblc service betoregoing 'back to school', gaining
n MA from th School 0'Orl ntal Studies nd a PhDfrom Edinburgh Univer.llity.He later taught world and1lIIl,Imic art and architecturalhilltory at Yarmuk UnlveMllty,Jordan, He has written a
number 0' books and ertlcle.on medieval and llllamicwarfare, and hn been aproll1lc contributor to theMen-at-Arm aerles for manyyo Ml. He currently lives andworks In lelceateMlhlre.
ANGUS McBRIDE, one 0' theworld's moat respectedhlatoricalillustnitora, hascontributed to more then 70Ollprey title. over the past26 years. Born In 1931 0'Highland parents butorphaned u a chfld, hereceived a mUlllcal educationat Canterbury Cathedral ChoirSchool In 1940-46. He workedIn advertllling agencies 'rom1947, and Is a selt-taughtartlst. After national serviceIn the Royal Fuslllera, 194951, In 1953 Angus emigratedto South Africa. He retumedto the UK In 1961, and hasworked freelance ever since.With his wif and two childrenhe retumed to South Africa In1978, since when he has livedand worked In Cape Town.
,.-.. puClIIIIleO .. 2OllO bV CIsprwy f'I.C:*I/Wlg.
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p__ Act. !llllll. /'Ill I*l of~ pubkeaon <NV be reptOClUICed. WInId in •
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IdchINd IG ItoII PuI:lIiIIlle<s.
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For Joey. ltIe smaJlesl oIlhe smalls - buI I doubt lor Ioog
Artist's Note
Readers may Cllf8 10 note that ltIe ongonal paWltng3 !Tom which thecolour plates In thl$ book were prepared are available for privatesale. AI reproduction copvrigtIt wNlSOfM!If is retaroed by thePublishers. Aa enquiries should be addressed to:Scofpto Gallel"y. PO Box 475. Hailsham. East Sussex BN27 2SL UKThe Publishers regret that they can enter into no correspondenceupon this maller.
FRENCH ARMIES OFTHE HUNDRED YEARS WAR
1337-1453
Brass of William Wenemar, a
captain and magistrate of Gent,
first half of the 14th century. As
a senior militia officer of one of
the wealthiest cities In Europe
he would have the best available
military equipment; nevertheless,
this still has much In common
with that of the late 13th
century. (BIJlokemuseum, Gent)
was
during thi P ri d. hSL rrom an incre ing-I
3
4
Effigy of a lord of the ChlUeau de
Bramevaque, first half of the
14th century. He wears an
old-fashIoned style of armour
which persisted In the deep
south of France - see Plate A2.
(in situ Cloisters of the Abbey of
St Bertrand de Comminges;
author's photo)
Int41rior of the Porte 5t Michel at
Cahors, a typical example of
14th century urban fortification
In south-central France.
(Author's photograph)
I he lahli bmen in embl fa perman nland prof'e"ion<ll r n harm' 1 I Lhe end of th lundr d Years War,
RECRUITMENT
Til arm \ hi h a ed an nglish inva i n of Fran at th starl of thelIndr dears ar consisted of f udal onLin n u'oops recnlit d
und I' nlra t, and ror ign pro~ 'ion-l! all of" \Vh III \ er paid, hf.'udal ·tru'lUr r Fra \ <' hanging hut Lhe kingdom till on:ist rlfaR,cldmin,fi gr'a uhi', 70unti raldoz-ni counti ' " and nUIllc:'rous other fj r.., \ ilh dif~ I'ing lill ilhin Llli'
, 't'm wer hundred of rha,/f'llainie. nsi 'Ling fa m ~or .3. tI witl iu;Uri" lInding mpa t t rrito ; and Lhousand r less rsf'ignp'll'/-il's. a
result Fran e had up to 50,000 n ble familie -the nobles,f'or chev(derie-
llil ani a 'mall proporLion or Ul . e auld alTOI'd Lh' r Ic of rullknighLho d. Lh maj riL r maining squir .
Thi. I robabl 1 ft Fran \iLh I tw n 2 350 and 4,000 fighLing III nof knighLl rank. Man, 'quire' fought al ng id th s knigh\..S. but forI IV pa, and it LOok man d cade Lor th m to a hie c a 'ornp'trablmililal I ,talll.. M 'am hil . the I r porLi n f knighLs from t1l wealthupp r arisl ra ro-, 'md knighlh od o-racluall GlmC to be a' '0 ial d\ ilh a h I' ditar CtSV 1, iming priviJag u has ta 'xcmpLion,
he IIgh Fnnc'. till had a gen ralmilital ummon', th 1)(111 and Iharrih-p 1)(//1 whi h appli .d l) all mal ~ -u~j .. ' ag d fr 111 I l 60 ear"lh . \ r virluall ' abandon 'd arl' in lh Hundr d Y, ar War, In l adth main fonn f feudal I' ruitmelll was th ("monee des obles dir Cl clat Lhos holding li·r ,Iu an arrii!'reIJrm atn'P-. bataill.e\ hi 'h sm, 10 h:-. eb n U' din m rg n i ',Knights all d up L1nd'r U1 'emu'Y/ade. Noble.\ 'r' ,LIsa paid 'I dail \ ag ,imilar lO m n r WiL d LInd I' nlracl.
h T' inhntr w r n ern 'ei llt servilw/l. debitu1II had virtuallcollap'ed b lhe lart fthe 141h c nlLlry nd all Lhal r m in d fruralI' cruitm I l wa a r I'm of 10 al rg anlr n I •. rl s rvi
rth I 5S, during a wid spr ad lIap flaw alld order Lheg) rnm I1l did issue allordnan \. hi hallow dp a ants l Lake up arm'again't brigand' a
onsid rabl can' ssi n ala lim when th o~ n or/mrl d finne, wa r gard d aa lhr at to Lh so ial rder,
Th militar I obligaLi nof Lho living in lown
r in .. -asinglimporLanl. ncl I Ih ~
1 Lh n Ut ' Fr nch t.owns'ould Ii lei 'mall anni ofinfanu' and cavaJry 'omeof Lh _ milici w r ba, dIp n h il)" ri h
h h vi. g i own aptain
Lra lili nal Lh irw r
rrar
r
or
I'm J'
r
oth rligh
The only surviving original statue
of a member of the Gent militia,made around 1340, which once
decorated the famous Belfry.
These have now been replaced
by replicas. (Stonework Museum,
St Bavon's Church, Gent)
5
6
Men operating an esprlngal In aFlemish manuscript made
between 1338 and 1344. Thissiege engine, shown with awheeled 'rame carriage, was
powered by twisted skeins 0'horsehair, and shot massive
arrows - though not actually aslarge as this picture suggests.(Bodleian Library, Ms. B~d. 264,'.201r, Oxford)
French king_ during the
Hundred Years War
Philip VI de Valois (1328-1350)
John II The Good (1350·1364)Chat1es V The Wise (1364-1380)Charles VI The Mad (1380-1422)
Charles VII The Well·Served(1422-1461)
infant , aval and land lor cs from the rbcri-ln penin ula help d thr n h during a Br LOn campaign of 1342 whiJ' fift· n aI", 1, l r,had' f avanT S J I 22 men-'Ll-arm, and 1,120 in ["a III I' 111 JIb sea
ormand.
f Fr n hnni t wilh
parLi 'uhl'1
p
Mu 'h 0 th heroi m of th knightly elite was, il fa t, 1'0 U d nllrflam n and qui li r a of arm' ralher than real battl •. In 1369
ELl.ta·h· Deschamps omplained lhm . oldit>rs de lroy flu' (ounlry Iln'o-ughpillage. all hOI/our i' TO/1e, lhe) lille 10 be ralled ens d 'armes bul lhe)' roam fhe(0'111111)', tll'slro inK flW Ithing in lheir 7110,)', and till' l)oor pea/)I" are JOlTed 1o jler'bf'joI"I'Ihem. If fh,' soldir'l" mr!nrl"'l' I Imvrillltref lfftgues in a day hi' Ihinks hi' 11mdm/p 7111'11.' By the I, - of th Ilh nt II' D champ \ a al
mplainin al Olll the knight. 'I ck r training, idlen ss, d .:ire ~ r go d\ in an I fin 10lh S, and lh fa l tInt bo' [l'n l IWclv' wcrckni hi d It n b fore lh had am d. Ll .h ral k on 11 balLl ~i -Id.
Hired companiesIn general, those m n direcli inl k a m r r~l ti'at t ltilud l war , \ arfar . Manof arm. ' wil h \~<lrious col1ea~ue.. Th s' 'ollld b ontra 'L" f' rvi r f1l111l11al Sllpp m, ciLl r r. I' 'I 'p> ifie I p iod or r; I' lif" nd' m 'Limin luded agr '('menl In shar> bOlh in[or-Illation and profit.s from ran. ms.
venti BrOLherhOtld' mighl cst<i1 Ii 'h lIiall'" or hain' or )1 ligation,.0111 Lirn . resulLing in milit<1 rom/)flgnie.· . mulin '\ ill) a orporale nameano badl-{c.
Such comp::lIli 'S or roulp..~ mightlh n b> recruiled b lRares de'l'elenue bwhich th ' king or hi, Ii 'uten'UIl 'I' Lain d"~ aplain with a p ified onling-'nl in r 'llll'll (1)1' 'I 'p~ 'j(j sum f mon . BUl in a Lim limil \ asr I' I J llll'nliOIl d ill the 'C 'onlra l.~, th nmpanies were generall I' 10go elsewhere aJlcr as liltle a<; lwe months's rvi e. This mad il dim ull r; r
A 19th century facsimile of a
lost wall painting from theLeugemeete In Gent. These
Illustrate units of the city's
militia, here armed with
crossbows, ordinary bows,
swords, and a pointed form of
mace or club called a
goedendsg. Note the unifonn
appearance of the clothing of
this company. (Photo Studio
Claerhout, Gent)
7
8
Archers with longbows In a
Flemish manuscript of 1338-44;
note the arrows carried In their
belts. The bowmen of England
were by no means the only ones
to use longbows, but In most
parts of westem Europe archery
was practised more for hunting
than warfare. (Romance of
Alexander, Bodleian Library, Ms,
Bod. 264, Oxford)
'The Order of the Star at Table',
In a late 14th century French
manuscript, The Order of the
Star was founded at almost the
sama time as the English Order
of the Garter, but did not survive
long - most of Its members were
killed In the early battles of the
Hundred Years War. (Grandes
Chron/qu9s da France,
Blbllotheque Nationale, Ms. Fr.
2813,1.394, Paris)
the rown to maintain cnlllrol, lo 'nsure lhm ommand 'rs k'i ltheir COI11
pani s up LO str >llh'1h and ad -qual I eqllipp d, (I' 'v n lhal th > pa~ sedon III pa! to lheir m'l1.
During- the s con I 1,.lIr or th [4Lh' nLlI til cr )wn also enli 't dsmaller cornpaniC',. so111 , or \ hi h \ cr' lillie hell'r LInn hanos or(uLlaw', 11 cxampl nm' have be: n Lh> 'ontraCl \ ilh Lon'nl .ollpe-;orge (' :Ul-ll roal. I ,a 1'1" .) 'Ill I hi. live 'quire., This ralh 'r hllphaz'\rd
: Sl III or 'olllra lual I' rUilllll'1ll C nLinu d weI! illl lhe [51h C 'null ,thou 11 llie crown \ a al'o It:mandin o' I' 'laLive! sm'",1! and proper!'equipped ~-udal' (ntillg' I'll'; rr 1ll:·1 t d lO\ n '.
mOllgo lh lor i n Lroops, C'IIO " 1'0, sbowm n slil! r allireel
prominenLl' <Ind th ir ommancl r in Iud >d 111 n or 'on'id nblcXlprience. For "<11111 I', onnrt .rimaldi had' rved ill [lal bel"or>signing til \ ith Lh ' Fr 'J h bet\ ccn J. 70 and 1395: d I. d' nS'IJ'l wa asqllire l"rom 'th' l'rrilOI' I' C'lIoa' and b "U11-' a ('on'lab!p of 19mOllnl-d ro sbowm'n, 1'h ro.b wmen them' I e. cam l"rom '\11
'v n \ ider ar a, and n l n I , ItaI . uch m n 'oulrl fi nel Lhem' IvI 'n in llnlikd plae': and th yw l' prohabl amongslLll- OOcros,
bowmen lak n b' elmiral d Vi nn LU 'uLland in 13th I' for 'igon troop, in "Iud 'el paniard and, more" llrpli ing a hancHi.t1
r uslim' from <lVaIT',
Am ng" th' lall'r \ asfbnhim a' a wh , in til 'lat 14Lh enLUl, 'pent 'i
ars . , a Ro aJ bla 'ksn iUlin LI e < 'u l"'h rb urg.P rhaps he aniv d with th
avan-' arm which hadcampaigned in BJiuan .
The consequencesof failure
I e Ii a l rs whi'h ran'ulTer-d after the I aul I'gin ourL ha I a pr ~ lun I
impa't on it. mililart m', In th "I orl term
This late 14th century Image
reminds us of the huge
quantities of arms, armour and
munitions which were
manufactured for the competing
armies; documentary evidence
shows that this was often on an
almost modern production-line
scale. Note also the separated
leg hose worn rolled down to the
knee by the soldier on the right.
(ehron/ques de Sf Denis, British
Library, Ms. Roy. 20, C.VlI.
London)
11ll? I 'c1 LO ev n more critici'm of a kni.,.hll ltL~S whi h had fail d lhcountr : CommCnlal r. lik AI"li, Charti r n dOll! l c1 lh alu 0 of
hivalr)' il Tlf. In hi. '/17'1' oj /3011/1'5 Honor" B n 'l . imilarl omplain dlhm the knig-ht.'1 r g< rei c1 war IT\ or ,] as a mans ,f winning walth.
:0111 arabic r-i ici. In wer~ .( nlain d in Jan d B I il'. manual ,(kni~1 h cI ·lllt.:d tP.!frt/v(>77ral, wriu n in the mi 1-1 h ·'lIlur-. Thi' wa'bas 'n on hi. 0\ 11 xpcricllcc an 1\ '1. modern in iD mph 'i on miliLaIprofessiol1ali'n abo e all othcr con ·ideralion.. nl ele.. k, ighlhoodrcwin'd its In ·ti'lu·, though the men-al-amlS ma 110\ ha in Iud cIlllor sCJllire. lhan knig-hL'i.
,c cmlleader' or I~lh emu companies - prurr/wurs or 'scor hcr, , a.'i
lh',\ r 11 woft-nknnwn,inrc1"r n·'toth IT tortll'irp·s.ag ~lll
tll'lorlllrl"'d oUnLry'ide - \ r. f r lali 1, hllmbl orig-in'. Ther- w ralso m'H sil11ilariti" b,tw n til .• ecorrhpw'S\ h au' >d ·u h \ id spr Isuflc\"illg in mid-I. lh ·enLul. Fr<lnce 'md th . tTouhlesom omp'lIlies ofthe mid-14th nllll. Th 1"(; sc'm t ha l' n thr .ons or Icupleinvolv 0: unempl cd s Ieli r - illuding- Englishmen - wh were amel ., . , to 'v 'ryone; brigand. ha, 0 ill LII . forests ~ ho tend d to rob alland 'unch ; and group' of peasants \ ho 0 'casionall '.joined lhe brigan Is.Th· ir 'leti, 'Li '. were prompted h the s'~mc la 'k of milit..'1I)' empla m 'nlan I a I r 'akdown in I w-allcl·ord'r. he l1lain c1incrcnc , fr III lhe 14lhc('null I \ ere lhattll emrdwurs nl' er h d Crusades launch d a1',rainstlh 'm,'md mall or lh'ir 1 ad·rs w r -Ro al amman I r. who w'rSllh. C1'I nlly rl'il1l'grat~ I into lhl' Fr n Il mililaf . stem,
F'udal re ruilmcnt mighl ha e disappeared for -(\ aIr but ilpersist>d ror inranlry. In a·t King Chari sUr vi d ~ udal r' ruiUTl-'nlin an, g-ui'l' to ereme a larg- and r liabl inlanlr fore und rRo alconlrol, Innsf< !'mjng the 1<1 urban 1 vi . inl th 0 new franc aTcher.', InI '( and agaill in 1451 .harl i u °d ordnan • to lh 0 rr, I.lhat
50 hou' 'hold' hould provid an archer and aer ., b wman, sel ned b Lh 0 10 al authoritierrom In 'll or g-oo I reputation, clrecti , militaral?; • r bu't ph i(ju net skill, ilh w'al 11.
Motivation uld b mix d, mo t U'()()P" stillIi hling larg I ror pOl or the hope of boot', whileran 'om r rnained a m.~or m tiv and a maj l'
"'<11' m ng'l th ir I al r. rn fa t a u'addIp eI in whi 'h middl -m n b ught and s Idp\ison rs along wilh the ri hts to thcil- ran oms.am lim !.hi \ a, don individually_ al alh l'
1m almo.l in bulk' for in tan e th FI rcntinem 'r ham Jol n Vitt r peciali 'cd ill su hhrok·rag .. and in 1 17 I ur has d alar' numb r
fEnglish apliv. from lh hbish I ol'Rou n .. pit Ih Engli h 0 lIpali 11 f half lh
ulInl , ~ Ir jan troop' 'ould till b round itrellch annie, ev n amongst tl f 11 w'rs or
J' nn' I' r harm' hied fr m'ull againstth 'nglish 11 t d a trang mixtur t1flig-hting-m'll along- the \ a, in [udin a omingclllcommanded b the cotsman Hugh de 1 ennedan I Italians und r Barlh lern' Bar 'tLa. 9
10
Tristan slays a rival in part of The
Story of TrIstan and Iseult on a
series of mld- to late 14th
century southern French wall
paintings. Note the 'fan' crests both men and horses have the
old-fashioned mllltary equipmentwhich seems to have persisted In
Isolated regions of France such
as the Auvergne. At right centre,
the colour contrast shows clearly
the straps and padded leather
squab on the Inside surface of
the shield. (In sItu Templer
Chapel of the Castle, 5t Floret;
author's photo)
Th I' J pi d b a'p pulaI' I' 'i,tan agdinsl n Li'h rule inonn. nd i. still a malt. r or d bat. Yet there wa undoubtedl
wid pI' ad anla oni m t th -ngli h 0 upaLion I' n cted in a popularson whi'h soun I d lik a huma lroU' 'all to ann: 'Among au, people ~I
lhe villa f:, who love lhe French "ing, lake good hew"[ [0 fighl the J!.'nglish. Leterzrh talle his hop Ihe bellpr 10 uproot them. nd if they do nol wish [0 go, al "Ylstmake afacp allhem. Do not fear to 'tril((: Ihem, Ihosp big bellied od-Damn Jorline of liS is worth fOlLr of Ihell1, 01' al (.,asl he is worth Ihret' of thern. '
ORGANISATION
in th I lh
I'd I' of the Lar, a' ular
onLinu d to 'lllnm 11 bar n' andhim, whil the en gr at
king'. C07l.l'eil Serret - to \ hi hJ sser nobl s w I' invitedwhen I' quir d, In purelmilitar t I'm, th rna t
s nior of£ic r \ as thonstabl of Fran e, whoommanel d in th king'
ab' n nel Is up 1'-
i I and U', buthad to unt for all hia tion to the king' Irks.Th ar hal' main duewac (0 mail1lain dis iplinand nsur~ suffi -j ~nt
miliLar suppli s nh major 'ampai'Tll ,
Th . ind· ntur'eI milila'ompani oft n had th irwn nam su h as til'ornjwgnie de to Forl7mp.
11
Archers and men-at-armsattacking a castle In a mid- to
late 14th century French
manuscript. The archers are
relatively well armoured while
the men-at-arms have visoredbascinets. (Chroniques de St
Denis, British library, Ms. Roy.
20, C.VII, f.13v, London)
(;OIll/JllglI;r ii" /\//I,rgo/,' and (;mnpflgnil' Blflnrl/f'. ir L
ici nlif II 'Ill mer ,I ' a.<; Eng-Ii h, Br L n I' whal uln hi cOll1ll1anc!l:rs II' rc som 'UI1lC:s 'allcd 'h adl r
parlicuhrl, feared a: I eing llLside L.h 'n rmal stru I II'
Captain or \lrtl'ln mililia w rc appointcd b th i or tm n; L\ 0 rthr e \ ould norlll:1lly accoml al ' Ih· militia n campaigl . Whmilitia caplain' lcndc:d tu b ' paid annuall mcml ers of lh ' nobiliauendcd IllllSIL'r \ I' paid by tI e mar heds ac r ling to h w man lath'Y served. lilila, e'p ndiLUre coull 1 arl Ie 'UIl ·id 'nlbl " and al
til' start or lh ' Hun lt~ d Y ar' "'ar lh king' holel or p 'I' ( nal reLinuealone co< l 30,000 iiI If'S loal'llois.
King' Jolin's I' ,form: larg -I r: it el, but th' rcmained the ba.<;is ofmol" . u .(' 'ssrt II crrol"1s b his su Ct:'. SI rs, In 137 a Ru a1 ordnan'eSletblishcri s()n1C'thing akir In et nlral milil"lr "laft, enabling thRoyal CUllSl'lbl' l) 'lppuinl Col Ii III nant an I the Royal far 11'11' to
appoinl fOllr Ii Ul nl2l l le I' i \ lllll.-ler d, The anilruops nOl liabl r>r such in p h lI' h I I- I' LhCon,lable and the hst'r uf Lh .rossbowm n - L.h laLLer being In
efl" CI command 'I' or all Fr n h in ran t r ,Ikl callI tllcsL' S 'llior onit' 'r.' '<tcll aptain fa tnp n ha I a R al
IcLter ofaullloril . an I would, III 'or 'U 'all, ommancllOO m 11. Caplain'wcre ah) respl nsihlc for bringing lh 'ir m 'n t mw t r al d a until gror lheir COil lu'1. I I11ll 1'1' '(i h man, hi.. kit and hi' h I' W rillsl ectecl: ()Ill, if lhe't' were in rder would a man b paid and'I' tained'. ea e was nl gr;tnl I [, r good r ,'\sun , bUl a man couldnot Iw replac ,tt tlltle.'s dismi 's 'd b his aplain,. IIlnmon eI elir L1! illlOlhe king's scrvi . >1' waswounrlf'd or ,ick. Pa 11) III
was mad lhrough L1rlul/lllm's or suhdivisions ora ('Iwi/Jaglii/' or 1"01/11', Ih >
Gil taill r'c 'i\'ill!{ 1110l1C
for his UWIl immedialehOllSt'hold \ hil J lhe r Slwt'nl slraight to his mell.
:u'h an arm was, or
'ours.. \' 'r'xp 'l1siv ';,IIHI ill 137!) and 1384 Col
violent re'lction againslthe Ill' 'ssal' tax's meanlthat this IlL'W struclure\ <IS abandoncr! ror manyear.. In l'-\ I th nlir
S 'Sl 'm had ollaps 'el bj-117-IH, by whi h timthe Engli ~h were 0 crrunning grccll ,wath -s of'Fr, nc(', Frt'lich Illililar
organisatioll at lht: limeof' in (un \Va. tl c
r~licall)' lh ' samC' as il hadbeen during lh, milil'lIill
SU 'c 'ssrul c1' 'a I· ... or th' lal r 1 lh IllUl', J1l1i· d r'Oil I ani ''i IT Tuil d h' {('/frl', de 1'I'II'/I/1f'. 'upp n >d b 'imil' rJI rll~ 's'ional eros. how-;lm1l'd inf:ml , and b I militia uni rrom. I t cILOwns, Lo 'al inhntrv also t n I I l 110 k LU LI • I UI' l pI' l' 'I lh 'irown I' ~i( 11, leam hile parall I 11 ilit;'}I' lilt lIlr" had d' 'Iop 111
aULOllllnHlllS dllchies SII 'il as Bdll.an 'an I Burg 1Il0 ,
Symbols and livery11 or King ,lulln's icl','
\Vil i h was IIOl r{'vi\' 'd\\~I lhat or Sl' ular Illilital I
ord 'I. ~L'; a f'ocus or !ovall ,His ,lIcn'ssor Charles \ha IlilLl . il1ll'n:'il in 'hi'",Itr ,while Charll''i VI dev>1 >p >d(th rill thods of' cem 'ntinl'{
10 ,dty. l\kanwhik IIwre wa.a slow 11l0\'('1ll 'nl to, ard,SOIlW limn or 'nalional'miliulI: insignia. t th' startor the HUll Ired ("II'S Warin ... ignia \ 'r' still slri'L1'r'lIdal; hill only a ('<.'\
y '11" lat'r .Jean. Umlt'
d':\rma~nac (riel' d 'dlnohll's and th 'ir ()lIm en. t
wcar a while (TO:S on Ih'irloth '" hi' while en ,s w"s
'\g,lil1 111 'Illion '(\ I'll 'J' in th '14L11 'nlUI '. '\11 I \ <I' W rn
I y Fr 'neil Ro 'ali'l rur"sagainst th Hurgllndian' in(·11+, It "IPl'an'd I.'V'II
111 >n.· refJlI '1111' b, th mi 1I!)lh e nlllr, wh 'n il Wcl.
onLra,lC I \ ith Ih I' dern s I' Lil' En rli hand th •bla'k TO'S or lh' Br'l n·.
In the I. 70s Ih' longestabl ish'd CIll bl 'Ill or LheFrt'II'il R) al 1~\l11il. til'Jlnll, '-f{r-{y.\. \ cL'i r du ·d \L1lr" 11m t'l: (th' ',m," ur'Fran IllodL' III , in, lead orlh(' I reviou, II ring >1'man a ross a sh i .\ I or1)'1n n 'r.
t\nolh 'J' V'I ' irnl >rlal11cnsign was lhe fJl'f/lflIllIlU'. aphin blood-red b<lnl1 'I'
wilich s'l'\'cd as Lh 'llmosl12 .acr 'c\ nag ur Franc' it. elf,
ABOVE LEFT Early 14th century
French sword (Daehnhardt Coli.)
ABOVE 14th century French
knife (Hermitage Museum, St
Petersburg)LEFT Mid-15th century Italian
sword (Sullivan Coli.)
13
French soldiers killing Jaquerie
rebels. The latter are shown In
middle-class costume rather
than as poverty-stricken
peasants. The soldiers are also
well equipped, wearing a variety
of helmets Including one covered
In scales. (Chroniques de Sf
Denis, British Library, Ms. Roy,
20, C.VII, f.133, London)
It as kell, LOg-elhel' with R 'al bann'rs, in R im athcc1ral, and walIsed ani, in d 'G'nc of Ih king-dom, th ' Chllr 'h or the hri tit n r; iLh,
LII l~ sorL~ of idelllificmion in Iud d ,20 bla 'k p 'nnons h ;;II-ingthe word jus/in> in silver r gold, di lrib IL 0 h the Daupl in har! 1
his men during- a .i\~1 \ ar again I the Duke of Burgund I in 14J l. lh rbanners II.\..' II V th~ Dauphin's I" Jrces i. ludcd a na r baring a d II hin,anOlhcr Iwal'illg" a I"ull>, anna II' d 1 Ii h >1 killing a ,erp nt, and athird wilh <In annoure I sainl holding a naked sword,
, 'eI 110 'Ilnil" nn, ' c 'isled, Ollllh Ro £II court mao in rasing us(r Ii, lin 'Ii (' 'Inlhil g for sp ifi gr up 01" ser an~ r r I.aio 'r" F r'x<lm I', lh . s 'I'!'{ealll," at arms >ft n w r I lu > ano bla k durin r threign 0(" Charll's ,I n I. 2 ,hal'l s I iIIln <lu ' '0 a n \ tem to creala SlJns' 01" cOlllradJship amongsl his I'll \ 'r', ·v r m mbJr of thoCOIII/JflJfllif dll Noy I'rOIll lit' king down 1 tI hUlIlbl'sl ervant, in luding",omen, had 10 ell' 'S: in I arti 'ular oswn s, colours and d vi ',withlh~ king- and his councillor' de 'iding" 'll \ hal point ill ';.I. -h <lr theselivcl'ks \ ould chang ,
Most liver' devi' s r n 1 d thimportanL such ba Ige' in Iud 'd Ihe \ ing I VIbcr >r' I:~ H, and 111(' gnu'sip (broom~hrlllous('tlCS hn ion \.()w(\rcls lhe nd~Ilal'le!; \ II. he baclg's \ orll b, ( relit al r tain rs IV 're of b .
\ hel'C'ls Ihosl' \ om b' s('ni >r m '11 \ '1'1..' U '(Iall 0 r orl-{old,
Be 'oncl Oll rt. ci I' 1 S
COSllll1W and hadges w 'IT
also llsed 10 shO\ all J_
gi';lIH.'e, For ~xamplc, inPari, in I: 75 Illan I pcopleadopt<, I hoo Is ha Iv('c! r 0'llIe1 bill' as a mark of allegiallce 10 [licllll' Marc I,poJi I i ,,,I It:arkr cll'lll<mcli IIgwidl'spn:a I re!"l rill, In 14 I Iall >ther Pari 'ian grOt'! ,I.hCabo hi 'nS' adopl 'c1 bluehal.. and tWO I ,.n. hl'rlh 'ir rivals LOok I IV 'aringwhite hal', At oth I' limLho, (' s mpaLhelic 1lI lheBlirgull litll1 laclion W IT
th ir ('On/dips raps I 1I1l dto Lh' right. lh' pro!\rl1lagnac. 10 Ih<: left.
Pil ancial w akl s. waIh' Illaj I n"ISOI1 \Vh>, lheFr 11 h 'I'm I auld 1101
~II her SII fliciclIl /{)rces 10
resisl Lll' English (clilowinglhe til Ie 01' gin oun,'illlilarlv Lll' lr 'al. \ hi hreconciled King ;h;trl·s
'The Militia of Paris', In a late14th century French manuscript..
The Infantry levy has been given
an almost uniform appearance
which was to some extent true
much of their equipment was
provided by the city, purchased
In bulk from manufacturers.
IGrandes ehron/ques de France.Blblioth quo Nationale, Ms. Fr.
2813, Paris)
VII and Ih 'Duk BUI'g'und in I 3. m am Ih, Ith I' wn uld on g,in gIll 'r lh J InillpLa s. r build an f~ ti ann, and Lam lhlrouble orne l'cmrheurs.
Charles VII's reformsFin Il ,01 !') J nil ry 1 45, lh I' alion of th-'Ro al rompagnip d'ordonnanff's wa announc d,Th I' - would 1 1 of lh s a h of 100 lances'ea h Ian e on i'l d of six m n (a ,m.ln-at-arnUi,
hi, ·w I' l-b arer pag , two arch 1', <lnd a vrlrle.lormilitar 'clV'al1l), Th '" n'w for e' weI' in aeLionagainsl Engli, h-h Id 'a 'n in I "wher thRo al ol1lil g n al 11 in lud'd 11,700 men-alums and 0,000 franrs orrhen,
he infanlI, frani'. ari'heJ:S w re eSlablish dal"ter the caval, mmll(lgnie. r/'nrrlnnnrt?1.re and Ul ir'LruClur' " as simpl r. n \ 're expe ted to lival horn" \\I r in. p I d I' 'gular! , and pra Li Iar 'h 'r . er 1 r ligi u r (\ I da. Th ' \sUPI as 'd to have suitabl armour but if lh w I'
I () poor lhi uld b ,lll plied b lh ir p''lri h,n aeLiv-' rvic' th \\I re paid four fran s a
month alld w 'I" , 'empt l'r m lh' laillp lax,N v rlh Iss, lh I' \ 'r' D'W I' I'han R.OOO 'U hfrancs au.-Jzers during Lhe rei '"n of Inri" II,
o mig'hl b p t d. 1 ann '" '1nd evenOS(lll1l s W 'IT similar!' me d rni' d. Ithough Ih 'fr ar hers' had no
ulliform 'I' 'U h. Lh ar h rs fth R al Guard in 14 9 \' re dres >d inblu " \ hil' tlncl red, or gr n, while and rcd, Thal ear 'had's \ I'nl 'r'c1 R II n in triumph, a ol1lpanied b 1 Lile 600 111' n r his 0\ n
'!Jalu .' or cavalr unil each havinO' a' ar WiUl a p nn n of r d salinWilh a g' Id Ull,
ARMOUR & WEAPONS
nnan , Larglh' 13 0 • and
I'm ur in Fr n wa." I'" val-i·d Lhan inamounts of mail raUl'r LInn plale w r
n ' -q I I LI 111 I'll r Lh ' Fr nth a allhav' b' n highl uln r. I· l ; ngli. h an \ .knight'; had al undant. quipl11 nL h will f B rtran I d' MonLibus. a
ren h knighl in 1327, in Iud d Ii armours a mnnrhp rtf' fer armpI' l t.i n. fiv warhor. sand fi ur I-iding hoI" ", in I aI', laL I' lhecCJlIipl11Cll1 "P L d ofa 111 ul1l'd .1 al in Hainault . Fr 'nch-sp akingpruvit c jll'l all the Imperial 'id _. of til fronLi r, wa a mail haubf'rh I''IInll or ltaubergeo1l, mail rlUlus l'sfol' Lil I'gs. pIllS a mail CO!for bm-biemf'or
lh n k and mail gallnu·n im I' . inO' ,l I ril ing LI armil g or a knighl 'lIorLl b for'
II 'l-Junrlr'r1 aI', VIaI' would prol ahl' slill ha appli d La 1I1'1n
I' 'n 'hm 'n, Th knighl began b pULling a shirt ov r hi br c he:' andcombing IIi - hair; lhen pUlling on lalher 'ho" and ho . Th fir l14
15
The Horsemen of the Apocalypse
on a French tapestry made
between 1375 and 1390. All
except one figure - who Is shownas a stylised Oriental - are given
normal French arms and armour
of the period. The foregroundrider clearly wears a mall
haubergeon over his cuirass or
brlgandlne, with plate limb
defences; note also his shield
cf.Plate A3. (Castle Museum,
Angers)
pi .. of armour \ t:r Ihigh and kn 'pr H li n fir n or hard n dI ather. fi Illow cl b '1 padd I allelOllja k l, mail hauberk and mail w{f.
e 't calll a' oat-of-plates' a defenc mad of, eral hUH d plat·atlach d (0 'I pc n h -lik' l" I ri gann >01. ann g01lS'rps I' thr atd fen "s' a :ur l eli 'pla ring hi, at f-anns; whal bon" auml\ I'd b 'It, ·word. a e and dagg r. I.a tl h' d nn d h a ' h 1m or
lighler ba:cillel. hi I Is \ ere. huw 'vcr, now rar I carri rl il war.Th arm. and armour of' rdinar part-Lim urban I ilitian en Oltld
1 r v<lri'd Illalil l,. m Lim '. b in v rdJ g n raU n (d, whilimpl il '111' like small bu kl'r 'hi lei fwillow or IliaI' w r prohabl'
mad locall I. Crossbo\ III n t 'nd d In w ar m I' armour than Ion b W111 n, Lheir main role b ·jng in ,ie e \ ariaI'. For exampl', he fullquipmclll issued to '1 rossbowman nam elJ· r'ln u. n 1a Ih> I s d
Gal'c in R II '11 ill I ~40 . n'j 'l d uf a • al- J~plat· '. a ror el p rh'lp_ fmail lO wcar I cI 1\ th' plat s. bras nt' jJlale or hi' arms and a gorgiftrP titl
IJlfllt' for h is neck,Th· ,los de 'al' in Rou n mal ul'a ltll' >d (Is/win ral 'jeg ngin
ann and armOllr 'IS w>1I as 'hip'. but th I .1 Tosshows C'm fromToulouse in th·· south. B the, Lart of Lhe IlIndr'd Y'ars War 1'ouloualso ll1anlll"a lllr'd silk-covcrt>d an I plain Cjuill d tollp. gambols'; platarmollr for m>n 'HI 1 hoI'S s ha' in IS, h 1m brimmed h 1m - call 'drhapPflux dl' '/0/1 III u!Jn11, g,1I11111 IS and 'IS.'Orl d hi ld (pi in \ hiv orread pailll d wilh lh' ann of Fran c), Am ng L less omm n item\ ere tOlI'/PfllI.Y dagg rs, Ian s, drt'l'ds ja 'lin" Iwtht'S norroise. (knowll inEnglan I as [ allish a c.) '1'0, b \VS, gnmJ('s for spanning r "bO\ Spill.
huge Cjuallliti 'S 01" cro:sh \ haiL>; ddivcr'c1 in iron-b und It 'l', Thelit"l I'ar I' '~'n'n t' to Lh . pro fin I' t 'Ling I' armuur in Fran e isfOllnrlin anothcr dOCllllH: III fr lin ROll n daLed 1340,
The pressures (f' \. al' ma have a LlIll·d foror olht.r Sl II'S or arl1l( lIr in lh inv nL r' I' Ih, ..I)in ludin the am,lS OWl' d jJlnlfiS rip Chll's ('of , n a''l I"), vass/m'ls dfl r;h/{~\. and'allvas-co c r'd Korgih7's dp
JI'I' m nLi( n d in 13'17.leam hil Lhe !lauverl,
generall In-I it, inlegral
mill n ''lnd oi whil "sl cVe' and h '111 were OIlrduc d ul1lil it b· ma 'mall'r hnubnf!:eon. Th
al.-o(~pl( te. had al I' d,t'volv 'd, proh bl f'rom ancarli >,. Ip,lIh T tllirip., and Ilhe III id-l..J Lh l1l.1I I' lh
old girdle-like t p' maall' ad hav' I Tn r gard das 01 1-(~lShiOl ed - although'I Fn:n h IOC-lImcnl of I, ~7did IllClI Lioll a 'oal-o/:phlCS1'1 king ilS IIsual fabric
vering"<tncllwillg aU h'dto a leaLher I acki I g.
The ba"le of Auray (1364), like
so many of the later clashes of
the 14th century, was largely
fought by heavily armoured
knights and squires. Here
Bertrand du Guesclin (centre
left) - who was captured at
Auray by Sir John Chandos - is
depicted wearing a tabardbearing his coat-of-arms, but
both armies fight beneath the
banner of Brittany In what was,
in effect, a civil war. (Du Guesclln
Chronicles, BibllothequeNatlonale, Paris)
16
II
1\ III . app 'ar-mo Hun wa' til . aoopli ntI 'arli 'r nm illg rob "(r narcd I IJ S, pufli'd
OPPOSITE 'Bertrand du Guesclln
appointed Constable of France',
In an early 15th century French
manuscript, King Charles V gives
a hand-and-a-half sword toFrance's toughest and most
successful soldier In 1370,
making him commander of allFrench forces under the king
himself. Du Guesclin (1323-80)
survived many ba"les against
English, French, Breton,
Navarrese and Castilian armies,
and was captured and ransomed
several times. It was he who
presided over the patient
campaign of containment and
siege warfare which soweakened the English position In
France in the 1370s, and he also
laid some of the foundations for
French military reforms. The
artist depicts him here 'warts
and all' - his equ Ily unsparingtomb effigy shows that his looks
did not match his prowess.
(British Library, Ms. Sloane
2433A, f.2.20v, London)
· h ul Iers and, ad I -r! h 5 ; whil· eV'n bell'i, il 'hiding sw rd -Its.Caille 10 I t' wom 10\ 011 lh hips in a fa hion pr ·viou. I 5S iaL d \ iLh(ellnle CO"llimc. miliLar v r i n r the padderljnponja k l wa al\ on over ,lnll011 r. he I arrow \' ai, I whi h I ara t rio d nn UI" S I 'h'L the brigandine, ;aqul' and plate uira s reflecLed su h ivilian fashionthL 'wa. p' ",ai.'L rCl11ainin~ a f, alllr I' ann ur lhrough LIt II 15lh'l'llIlI ry,
I urin~ Ihe c nd hall' or Ihl' l<llh 'cnllll I rharmour IWl'<II11e larger 'Ill I fl'\' c.:r unLil, I I c.1 0 lh' great p riod'whil ann( Ill" ha I b' n r a h·d. Thi. Lerm indicaLCd LhaL il wa madentirel 'or iron plate', LI ough lh 'n d n Ln "sari I I hav' be n w rl1
uncovered, The be L complet while harne s' had La b made LO lhemeasur men .. >1' nc panicular in ii\'i lual alld . ult! rar>1 be worn I
17
18
'Charlemagne finds the body 0'Roland', In an early 15th centuryFrenoh manuscript, Here theheroic Roland Is shown as aFrench knight with the most
up-to-date armour, Including thenew rounded visor and a bevorplate attached to his bascinet.(Chronlques de Sf Denis, louvreMuseum, Paris)
an 'on Is, Th b 'st arm ur \ er probabl l import d rrom Ital • andItalian arm ur al inf1uen cd Lhal mad iI ran
Ii was nOI the \ cig-ht )1' rull pl:'\le armour' \ hich au I pr hi m nth ' batLI Ii Id. in 'lI'h '\1\ an lOur w igh d ab lit h m' as a11I d'm inrantr mall" equipmenl and pack, Th . rcal pr blcm w rhC'lt e. haustion and limited vi'ibilit \\Ih 'n th vi r \\Ia \\I rn II s~d, Alist or a 01111' 'te hama;s a firmer fwmme \ ritt 11 in I, R in lu I 'd a larg ,lon~ ancl 'slim iCnl' role de (1'1' banTU' w ighing at I a t 25 pound, goudfit/rill I-bra. 'md ganlelpis I' r Lh ann' and hand, th fuJI' l o. ling 16livrr lounlOi,I', In addiLi n h sh uld hav g I al I 'w 'II 'um 'i I t' !Jairt>,1
dl' !lOI'r/OlJ dpjalllb .. r, r hi,. I g. a h with mail pr le ti n atth • b'lck, at• Y:: Iii IP,I 10 ItI'llois a pai r. 10ther do um or add a b .-in' al el visor wi I haml//(/;I'lv'lltail) inth I \ fa'hi n' u hla, in t$cotinK2lO~livr(J,
IOllrl/o; . Tlli made a L< tal c t 1':'5 livres lourl/o;',
ull 'Inn ur Ind chang d slighLl b lll' I 1 , \\Ih n :harl ' Duke orrl ~an:. di. tribUl' lighl'r 'CJllipm 'nt La hi' m n-at-arm, and squire.:
basr;I/I'I.\ it /)rlTJ;i>rp \ hi h \\I'r pI' babl t I a in IS' wilh il t g-ralh '\lors, piece~ d allemagne \ hi h \ re probabl br a lplate', wi seson iSling of pi' ., or pht ror lh . I g , brassf.lI.f., grtrrlP 0'1'( and mail
g-auntl .~ for Lh arm' and h net-. Mu-h fLhis was ov r cL in black 'atinfabri ,
[nfantr I armour wa' light r, Ie.. abundanl and ch ap r. W read L1lalin I. 72 Lib rt B rrein 'I mi lell - la' militiaman fr III what i'no\ B 'Ig-ium, ha I a mail Inul rk \ ith a collelin additi nal collarand 'haul I r pml tion, a hascincL wilh a vi or and avel1lail. plat dgaunLlcl!. I Ius arm and leg- d ren . mad of hard n d 1 ath r, ound
Ih ame tim' Lh r,-
bowm n and pav(Jsi{'/:~ I'Pro n far l h· south,
I d to have aar1ll'll;he 0 r a ba 'ci n t
h ·'Im t, and plales ( oator-pial. ) OrLen wi lh ag;I)/J{)IIU~ (pad I'd jll/Jou)or !mnsilJYe (mall mailhaub rk), Ian had plate.!fLlI(/e,1 atla hit lh .!)(lI'I jere, plus a platebmcormii>('f' (r mail gorgierel pI' t· 1 th n k. Onla ~ w ha I ~(lnlplel.5. g!lanl .1Ilrt.11 ime r brasal-es 1'0 r I he irhand. and 1 'v r < nn "
Fr 11 hm b wllIan's\ eapon' con 'istcd or a
ro b \\I, a I' laLi ·1 lightensis or '/J(/,I(J \ or I 'lnd acouleau clagg -r. whil . somal 0 carri d a bloqlleriumsmall sh i Irl rIll kl 'I',Tho' r a !)(tvpsier w're aspear and dagg r plus the
larg !/(It/i,I'" shiel I orm;mL! 'I, vcr 1"\ having ,\,'onl. 1IU\'t'll 'al •briWl1ld'
Jig-hi infalllr' again han accrvell ier " basci 11 't orrtltJdlw /1'/'1'/'11,1 (hri III men\ ar hal or 'k 'nk' hat'), andI he re\ who had I oel
(lrmOllr w( r' a )fu/I/P or a
rofa or ilia/ita or mail. Tilt.'did lIot lIorlllall havesh iclds I ecaus' t h \ 'I'liglH infantl skirmishers,
The be't re 'oreled, andI crhaps one (I' the mostillli orlal1l or Frl'l1 harm,l11anuractllrin~ 'ntrcs \ asth ~Ios It: ;,lIecs aLROlI'n, II mad, miliLarcClllipmenL in WI' large' qllanuti 'S alld k pt 'ven III r' in a re' 'I ~,11
l:no, If II' c, alllpl., th 'rc W '1" )v'r one thou. and ann UI" in the.hambrc de 1£1 Rcine 'lIon', although th s wries rib'd a'lei-fashioner! and or poor qllalit . Eight cars later a slib lamial or I 'l'
from the king rC'lllc,led /lTJ(l/lfbras, bas'htel,~ (th 1110·t' I11mon I pc fhelmcl), fllll/rlil'/:~, IJmrl,/pls, bra. Ifp !I/alp, rha!Jpol/ . d.efn; ('otles, cuissols. PI'1/. ,
l'(I/S OilS, g(/llll'/ol,I, gmYfe-bmss, KoI'Wm'lIPS, gOI'f!:ihes, harnois, Iwubergier.,
h/'(I1I11I1'J, lin'll/I'lolls hOllrmlih7's, jacques, !mt/oi', jJlates poulains and large',
each !Jflil'p,\ Ifp hfll'1I0;S \ eighin Y al I a t 2 P L1l1d', '\ 'h bassinet w ighingal ) 'a 't 4 pOllnds.
secolld order ill I~R4 all cat cI no Ie s than 17,200 old fran forthl' manuf;l lUI" or 200,000 ros.low bolts, I' I' r· pairing all c istinanl'lOIII'S, horsc ham 'ss and artill r. and ~ I' buying new qllipm nt.Clear! \ '\r was as rdati cl "P 'nsivc a busin ,'th 11 a' it is n w.
SDme annollrcrs al d anns nler hanLS mad' arran m· nLS with( II 'agll 'S abroad, a in I. 7f) wh n Guitard d Junqi "I'
or 13m Icax, a~r 'eel \ ilh Lamb rl Bra'lu ,an I'm ur I'10 )-OP(TlI(' ill sllppl in~ the L( rei of Foi', stl (r60 bas incLS an I rull',\ d,' In, Th ' 111O't c1 ,tail d videnlht' r 'rnarkahl' ar 'hi\, '5 or Datini, a rn rcham rrom Pral in ltaJ who\ a: a k>' li",,,,lr' in 'In am,s trad ' bas d at vign n in the lal r J lhTlIllIr , This was 'I m;~j >1' dislribllU n ntr', n t nl ~ r n w I'm a11arnlour bill fell' .'it' unci-hand and 'Ipturcd quipmcnt as w 1\ as rdW
mat Ti'lIs,s (~lr <t!' sP' iii iL ms or armour \ re
larger plaLl' til pI' Ie I the h, I in a 'oat- r:plal ,- h lapp ar d b lhmiddlcoflhCCl'l1lll1 . Withinar lali I 'horllim thi- h stplal fus dwith th' '11 dl llH;n plal's t( form a true br aslplate, whi -h in IIrn
rrclcluall repla '(' Ith . okl oat r-plaL" 13, lhe nel or th ' 14th 'cntuil \ as alla 'heel lO hmillal 'd ftlulds J I' I ling' om n nd groin rl nwith a 'imilar backplat 'mcl. kin, I'h whol n. mbl being hin Teddown on(' side all I I II 'kl 'd d II n Ih' mh 1', It had, in fa 'I, v 1 d intoa full 'wh i Lt' armour' clii raSs.
The Royal castle of Saumur as It
appeared around 1415. Though
the height and pointed character
of the architecture may have
been exaggerated, the picture Is
essentially accurate. It alsoincludes the large number of
chimneys necessary in a chAteauwhich was now expected to be
warm and comfortable as well as
strong. (nes Riches Heures deDuc de Berry, Musee Conde,
Paris)
19
A complete Itallan armour made
c.1460, In a style which suggests
that it was made for export,
either to France or to Germany.
(De Dlno Coli,)
uwr, Iig-l I r ~ I'm. [hod armou \ re '~I'o r 'pla ing lh old oalo[-pltH 'S, h's included th hrig<lneline and th jaqIlf) or jf/tque'(Engli'll 'j' ck'). Th '. mi-ri 'd I rigan lin' n rmall 'on i t d r man';'mal1 overlapping iron scales riv t d Lo a h oLher and to h insidr '\ sturd ',\I va.~ .Ie' I _, d ul I t with an lit I' V ring f fin r
eI' I"ltiv' I Ih. In e lat r 141h nel lfiLh centur blig n linin oq Ol<\t I a larg r h 'L -lement, oft n in th form of two lr'hapcdplat:; fast 'ned I WI II front. and from th mid-L"th nLUI I ward,0111 al:o lIa I a substa. tial I t k pi e,
The ja 'k \ a' a 'h ap I' 's fL ann II' whi h' m at fir t t habeen a ,LrenglJlenec! pOll/painI or quilted ja k t, 'stuff d' with ngs orma I fre m man la 'rs (r I th - up t 0 in m cases, 0 less LI anI LOO jaqw" 1If' jlls/aim) (amra. W I' I'd I' d fr m Pari' in L 5,Alt hough jack' remained th ann ur a mm n oldi r', tll' ouldhave a oillurcd out 'ria er \ itll de oraLiv llIft" of thread \ h r thslitching illters ned, th rL Lh entur ja w I' I' infor d with mail
I' in )rl oral<.' I inl'rnaJ ai, of ir n or h rn; - m long- I v de ample had large-link hain' atla -h d down th ul r arm apro ti nagain,t uls.
O{vel pm ~nl.! in pr I lion ~ r l.h 'limbs t nclc It b I ,dramaticthough mol' sophisticated, Plat 'umour for th ,I'm b me isiblbefore that ror the I gs, probabl, b 'cau e the laU' I' \ as at {j I' t \ min'id Illoil ,.lIa/l.~.\f~. 'ull plat iroll I 'g ham '" start d lapp ar inFran 'l' afOllnd 1370 - I' ughl Ih :am' tim> '" I c,vh r ,
h I as in ~t \ ,1' lh' mo·t omm n h 1m t am ng·t 1 th cntul
French men-at-arms. It 'aITH: in arious fOlms th most widespreadha\'ing a (oni '11 )I' lalt 1'1 a I' und cI 1 hn-e vi.or with e slit. andnlll11 I' II: v ntihtion hoi,. Th m"il :lVentail wa oft>n all d a mmail,\ hile Ihe !lminiOll was prob bl < I ath r linin. At additional s mi-rigid)1" rigi I b'vor 'oulcl I e add d t th avemail, but was :ub:equ nu'
ri,' I d IiI' 'eLI' I the' a, il 't l form a 'great bascin t, Anoth I' formof light II '1IIlc:t apl'lr 'ntl 1"1 h d ran fr m Ital I in around 1410,This, as I h ' salt)/, whi'h ould also ha sm 11 visor, M 'allwhil ' Ul . oldrllII!)('(1I1 rff' (Pror' rimmcd h('lm I I' maill >d popular am ng L m r, tSl Idicrs,
Gi cnlll 'thr'al 1'1' m ngli'h longbowm 11, it i n t ul') ri-ing thaI.Ihe 14111c'('nlllr's''l cOIl'id'rabl'd'v'lopm ntinhor·'armuur. 'adr!lfl/lljmn.1 cover' I 0111 the frollt or th 'h 1'·,'8 h'acl man e 't nd d pol allh b' k, w r )rm. whi h app ar(ClHUl were larg 'I', 0 ring not onl the ha k of thI 1111 liS Pl'(~jl' lion 0 er tit 110 e 'md pi r d lip ov ring thTIl' iIlCTt"\sillg nl' ssit I' r m n-at-ann' [j h 11 fOol I d to 'Ollleal)'Hld IlI11t'nt of Lh short "n d infant. I 'pe I' in hlV ur of til r, ar ome1flth 'ntll1' I I 01 '.., ", with a hea\ haft panl. protected b iron'XI Ilsiol1s from a I cad \ hi I unil d a blad ,a war..hamm I' and a 'pik .
h . al on 111 liS I)Il Cosl/lIl/f' 1ilil([h1' rtfS fi"f/11(ail' rn 144 J pI' vid'xccp iUIlClll d,tail d ill orn ti n a ul th> quil m 'nt of a Ln.nre, thI t i avail' ullit: 'Finl!: lhp said Ulm-al-flrms (l're commonL dec/ied, when lhC)1
W' 1/1 ww; h1 p/lliff' whiff IInr?'/f':" nUll ' 10 sa)' c/o 'e uims., 1mmbnu:p.. {(Lrgp
wm/l'-Imlrl',\, It'g !lru'l/pss, {{flImllfiLJ, snlpI wilh vi, or (lnd a small bevor whichCalIPH /}11~\1 IIlf' rhino L'ae!l is (J,l'll1pd wilh a lance and a long li{{hl sword, a s!lmp
20 tlf/{!,gl'r hfl/lghlg 011 [III' Lff! 'idl' of the, addLI', and a mare, l:.:ach man must also /)1'
a(comprmiprl by a rtlufilliPr ['quire] eqllijlped 11 ith (t ahule, !Ia'moi. dr>ja1lZbe~
Iwube1J!:Pnrl., jorfJue bri randine or (or. et arll/nl wilh dagJ(l'r, . word, and a V()U,W'
or rlnlli-Ianfp.. l 0 (t page or varlel wilh fhe sallie rlnIWllr (Inri one or twoweapons, The arc/lei wear leg arnwU1; salets, heav} jacques lined with linen orbl'i/(tmdines bOlll i1l l/fInd and quiver al ide.'
h 125 lo 200 li7ll'l'S 10l/.rnois \ I i h Il HJng n bJ'man r uir· Il full equip him 'elf repre. nl d ill l 16 m nlh" \ ag " lor all
rdinal mail-ai-arms, 'lnd cJ ad, appliedLo Lhc be 'l p ssible g' ar. E 'nordina 'quipmcl l I' I in I· P 'n 'iv '. al were valu d al h rwe n3 an I livm. toumais ajaqLI, 1" t or brigandin al 11 livres. flili. lr. u harm )ur and \ aponr COSl amlin I 0 livre' wi ile Lh 0, l for aol1lplclc lanrewas from 70 lo ~ 0 livres.
I the olh I' XLI" (' lh 'p r qualit clagg r U' >d b I mosl ji'(t1"1(,I'
arrhn' . l Ie . lhan n livre toun/ois, a poor qualit / -w I'd JUSl v r nelivlr'. h' 'alll 'anoll n u. t l r J tat d lhal . there i' also anotherIItlllllWr 0.rrolll armcd 'olely ill haubergeo'll.l' .I'al,,1· gaunllets and leg fl,/,1ll0W; who((1'1' wonl 10 aU'I)1 ill the hand (( 'orl ojdrm whirh !1m {/ Invad head anrf i. mflp.rIn langul' dp bOl'uj l X-Lon I] ..
ro bow' cOllunu d t I manufa 'LUr'd in larg quanuu·s. Lh .Iosde Gale S makillg lhem in bal h of 200 at a tim . Th volum
f t1ll1ll1l1nili n produced L lh 'I' Ie (.al' ,wa ell gr 'al'r:11 'V nh Ie. S it anI I' 'quir 'el I· n b ~ h lrc's ami Ie, lhan 250 kil<'of ir n l m' k· ]00.000 'pinnin r' bow bolv. The qu slion of when:Hcel-stavcd ero sbow ',Ull> into g n ral U,C, ram r Lhan heing 111 'I' 'Ia 1 -hn I ri 'al ud il. i' d >bal abl' lhough snrn rna)' ha he nu d in warhrc ar undl. 70, 0 'pi ' or p >rhaps becall, ' (f growin
c mp tion from uns, lh>
1'0 bm had Iv d inlOall a'l ni hingl p w rful\. 'apon 'ombining r~al
pm '1' wilh littl· \ eighl,no ... oil. ,md n n "e' ityr. I' I ng uaining. BUl whi]Lh' 1I r l I madLh ro' bow narrower. I 'S
Illm , and wilh a drawI ngth f nl 1. lO 10
nLim Lr , il r~main dslO' 10 load and in re.ringlompl x. ILS draw \V ighl
now d malld m dnni·a.\aidsLO.panning-lh go l'S-
fOOL I v r, [11 cranequin\ ilh a hand 'Iank d ral h lbar, and nLuall a wind-lass with ho k d I'd' andd ubi' rank-handl· ,
Cannon w I' U ed in0Tcalcr numb.. and allh ugh lh I' \V I' r. \ m~j I'
l chnol gical chang s Lh 1'"
ma have be II expcdl nl.! 21
A knight takes leave of his
famil~, In an earl~ 15th century
French or English manuscript. He
wears the full 'white armour'
fashionable at the lime of
Aglncourt, though his helmet is
not ~et of the full~ developed
'great bascinet' form. Note that
the chamfron on his horse's head
Includes ventilated Iron elements
covering its e~es and ears.(British Library, Ms, Harl. 4431,
1.150, London)
with .111 II 'ingle-dis har~'
gUll' made 01" hardenedI aLher. vcnhel '. gun.were in rea~ingl a UI L
< nd reliable, apable I"being aim d at \ I • sp -ificor v~n 11\0\ 'ng target., 511 h :, s boat., II ing 10 run
.-ul plie' inlo a besiegedf( rt rc", or tile ma. LS f'encm hip' al sea,
he making of' guns ald ve-Ioped inL< a ,.,uhstal1lial
bll iness inv( "~ng mandilTen:'111 craIb and l:-.'1Jilds.
nl lh ri hesl lll(1nuhlUr 'n; c ndd n ntl~H allLIl ,C ,kill d men in mepia ,and 'uc C5S in doingo nn, have be'n one
r ason \ h Ihe Burcau
broth rs mad' SII 1\ a ,'iignificanl onllibuLioll La French vi'lOrie. In Ih lasl n 'cade. 01" IhHundred (at. \I\ar. In 1442, for ..unpi ,.J an Bur 'lU made for IheFren'l1 Ro .11 arlill I I train: six b 1111 ard:, I . V~uKlflirt!.\, 20 .I'f!11Jl"nlinf!.I' 0I'lJIlIPllTJrillt',\' allrl ullnul1lbcr 'd liballrll!fJllil1.1', ':\I a c 5L of' 4 19, livms lou.rnols,
h 'se gun, rcquir d 20.0)0 pounns ( f gtll1l wrler c sling 2,200 Ii resl Hlrnoi, , I ing Charles VII c1earl Ihoughl su h xp ndilLlr' \ orthwhile,'inc> Lilt, Bur 'au br Ih rs' < rLill 'I Irain 'ondu'L d 60 Sll' . fut i ges in14 ~p:;O alollt',
TACTICS
Early campaigns: responses to defeatTh . Hunc!r- d ~'ars \l\ar largel .nnsistc I of si' 'S, dWlIftllrltPf!S (hrgs alf' TOSS-COlllJl.ry spoiling an I I oting I~~id') 'lnc! naval raid', bUI\ asal 0 pUllctuale I h m<!jOJ-r il'h '0 balLles- ind e1,lh uri o. of.iand wa'lil g raids wa' ol't'n 10 tmpL Ih 'I 111)' into >p n baLll at arlisachrdnlag- _This \ as panicularl true of he IirSI pins c1l1l-in cr which
the Engli.~h longbow 'arn' 'I is pia in milil hi .LOry. In the. adyt'ars the Frellch nr'l liS 'd inJ~lI1U t 111, nanks of lh irc, \rllr)', as di I th' . n Ii. h, and th • i J 'n'e uggc.. II al Fr n h
comm'tnclcrs simi I, did not und rstancl how lO us larg force of'Tossbow-armcd i 1l1~1I11l ,
t iL \ as LI c railur f, v Tal ma's 'da\'al I wi i '11 \ as dl(' grC<1L . I h k lO m 'n a
dominalion I' pen I ..lltl J. 1I·1t "lval normall l advan d kll' LO
knee, in lWO or titre' ranks and prol)'lbl at a walk, since lrotting wasvirlllalI, ilnl ossihlc lhr a 1"1111 arm ur d h rs mall. h w uld It 'nspur inl/ .\ cantt'r f( r til fin't1 alLa k, ailli 'i, aling- thallh ps)' h I gi al
22 impa t or sud an armoured hargt W ltld br ak 0PI osing ;1 fanlr
The remarkable mid-15th century
carvings on the front of the
Stadhuls in leuven aremagnificent examples of late
Gothic flemish art made under
the direction of Mathieu de
layens. This particular carving
shows infantry attacking a
fortification defended by men
(left) using slings, perhaps to
hurl grenades, (Author's photo)
even b 1'01" ,he' am int) 1I tan. BIIllh -ngli h - '11 'It ling b hin I( I' \\ithin a thi k t or 'harp Il d tak '. n I ap'll I' of cr alin anarrow Slorm of lens 0 thoLL~and orsh fts in the momcn ber re nta ~t
- di 11 I br ·ak. <III llh resulr. w r r1i. tl' I', Hor would not impalIh '111' I\' 'S OIL a line r'iwkes, an I alth ugh a ba rage r falling' arr wswould nOI have kille I man rid I', il W uld I a ir uurcd nUITIcn lts
hOI, ('s, allin T , panicking, baulkin 01- w lYing h I' would di nlptthe10 '-pa k'd '''''11 • rUllmi\ lormali n; at 'I' ~c ' lh 1"' i id 11 lhal
h rs' . impl), la~' dlH n in ant lher narural 1" Ii n wi f'n n an in ali' lwrt lUI unabl' til, '. n e a harg- \\ st pp 1< r bnk n 'lu'~
to 'n 'Ill) ill/anti th' a lv-dllt'II{' rapidl' shift d 10 nimbI m n n I" Ot.who' uld aILa kill' hur:c: b ,r)r' turning ( n hor men \ ho h,etd t; II nto th ' g-roUIl l.
rren"1l Illllland I
rea tec! [0 III se di '3.,<;lel.
rapi II', tho Igh Ihc alterIlativ' Ih" lriecl did nolalwa 'S \ ork, . ren 11 III 11
al-anl1.<; disl1H1111l1cd 10 Ii htjust like their En Ii h foe,,11e1 art I' loitit·r. th irom mand 'rs ort n or Ie I' d
th 'Ill to a .."-a.Ilc(· Oil fontin whal w'r int 'n I'd t)b' arrow-I 1'001' lonnauUl "
his mar iiI,'. have I cenall 'l1Ipt' I at J og- '11l-'ur-
ein in I ~~. ,but venherc til' Fr 'II 'h m IHI
ann were ul1al Ie to lUrnthe nal1~' of til' ppo'ingI::llgli h al' he . the battleUIl]) Icillg" WOII whenFr 'n'h infant 1" liriwwdsHtta ked fr)m III ' r a 1'. nlhe olher hand, lll' inili'LiFr Ih Ii:; Sf 'I'S Ii I I a I \a I11 0 I't' ',1111 iOlls ", pI'( a 'hcompar>d to the. overO\lfid ~nce r the earl: baul s,Thi, MIS wn I' l1e'l d inp< pulaI' song-s, on' fwhi hwas in Ih' form of <l hrifor III killg:'f) Phili/JIJp ...11//11'1' T/(/(IIf1h!P Ihall i/1)II, bl>/lpr
lit 1111 Jom' 1/11'11 al"lrll/~\', i,/mu!t'IICI', III/H'dOl" 10 (/rm;"I,I'IIf1b1hW J'IIII fo bri1/1{ barh\I)I)il~ [mill 11/1' PI/fill)', •
Fl'c'!lch , I'mil's ] 'am> It,l\'oirl 11 ,!jOI' COllI" )IlLations
and ins\C'ad n ndllcted
The lord of 5t Floret kneels
before the Virgin, attended by
John the Baptist. In this detail
from a wall painting the knight
has a blue tabard bearing his
arms of a gold lion with red
tongue and claws. Beneath this
his mall and plate armour are
shown as entirely glided. (In situvillage church, 5t Floret; author's
photo)
23
Another carving from theStadhuls In Leuven portrays a
fully armoured knight riding
down a group 0' foot soldiers,perhaps representing the Duke
of Burgundy defeating rebelsfrom Gent. (Author's photo)
ordil111on Ih
war unur c.
24
Bundr cI ear' War lhe r 'alilies r"Or the r nch
CAVALRY 1337-1360 I
1: The Dauphin Chart... c.13562: Sou1hern French sire. 0.13403: Knight from the Dauphine, 0.1350
3
A
32
INFANTRY 1337·13601: Northern Frenc., militiaman, e,13402; Sergeant from Champagne. c,1360
3: Prav"" mercenaryerossbowman. c,1350
n
CAVALRY 1360-14151: Boucicault, c.14002; Guichard Dauphin, c.14103: Bertrand du Guesclin. c.1370
2
3
D
1
,
INFANTRY 1360·1411: Crossbowman, retln of Jean d
2: Rennes militiaman, C 13703: Southern French ligh Infantryman, c.1400.,.------=--
3
NAVAL WARFARE 1337-1 151: Jean de BtHhencourt, c.14022: Basque sailor, c.13603: Castilian naval captain
3
E
INFANTRY 1415- 4531: Franc archer,
Poitiers, c.14532: Insurgent,
c.14403: Flemish
mercenary,c.1430
3
H
ARTILLERY 1430-14531: Gunner with ribaudequln, c.1435
2: Gunner's sslstant, c.1440
3: Handgunner, c.1450
2
fight, Lhe kni htl), has W~ • Lill L1r t or a h r. I an, and il I~ 1 t.II roponion or cavall , in Fr 'n ,h armies was in reasin ,
Th mpaigns 'ull 'ol1sisl d larg I oC'raid b land and ' a, ieg s·w 1 skirmi.-I es in whi 'h '11' h r. and ro' ,] owmen oflen k nl aminor I art. Balll \ ere now on a r mall. al ,th ugh a numl r rSli cesses had a hug impa t on Fr·llch m ral , M st a -tion. weI'd )Illinat d I eli'm unl d but full arm ur d m·[ -at-arm. lighting wiLl,shan n d. P aI's an ther bau.lc· r u d up n m nu' I of.lrat gi riv'l' ro in " r c liT d \ h n 'mall mobile ren b foratta keel th' rear or En )'(ish columns at night, or \ h n Lh garrison or a01. II <lltcmptcc!lo d tr a I> 'sieg~r" n ampm 'nt.
Simihr Fr'l h t Li w"r' se 'n at L11 balU ofRo eb k in 1.3 2,\ hi h in Iv'd mu h larger fore " - p rhap 50 000 on ach side. Hererebel from Gem hrgel c n iSlcd of inranu I ,ilitias, whil Lh Fr n'hI'a ed Ih m \ ith di.-mollnl d m n-al-arm. al rI olh r inf~lI1u" plu avalry
11 th> nanks. B >Ii 'ving that n all- )[It a' 'ault was their nl h p , m .G III r·b 'I' laun hed a IlIa"i 'alta k' but th' 'rcnch lin h Id and the;wall I swung around to env lop lh 'n m who weI" vinuall wiped
OUI.
nrc t pical, however, w I' d va 'talit g Engli h rheufLucl/lfe raidaero, s mu,h I' Fran' . 1 h w r' laull h d not ani lor theirilllll1 diat I' ward', but in th hop f Irawin lhe French into lh op nI attic whi h the Fr nch kin and hi' 'oll1mand r want'd to a id. InI~l '( lh' French garri 'OIlS g n rail r' 'j 't 'd English taun " but r, r thCOIllIllOII peopll' tl1 'se rhl'Ufl'Llchees remained a lIightmar. song fromthe so- ailed Ba 'ux hallsonnier 'omplain d: 'flltheDt/ell oj O1'1'/wnd:yI/Wl'''' I:" so Inllrh IJi//age t.!I(///!wre OJU' mnnol have pien/ 1• fa God want. that. th.ecoullh:v o( o/'Irlandy !mow peace.•
The French solution: positional warfareIn Ih' mi Idle ar. nfLl e 14Lll "I1IUI 'lh d v I pm I1L r unpowder;:Ir! ill I" had Ilot let r a h d a . ta c . iving aUlIck r the automaticarlvantag in"i g' warfar ; and guns 'oldd al b m unt rl in fortifiedpia' . ( I' turn th' alla k r' fir . In r p ns lO Englj'h armi .'I' '[aliv . domination f p 11 1I lei 1I hung me Fr n h kin ord red aninv 'IHOI . of all I'ortili d pIa s in I~58 and 1367,
tlh b II m ncl f h al w re t.I, onified hurch .. whi h wereparti '1IIar!' ommon in .ollth rt1 ncl w' tern Fran e. ther clef< nin (udedjor/afdurnfonifi dvillag .h(},lal()rTJalal~ rilii dh u " ndI}{//s \ hi h app ~ar to have I n link d h IS I' W lis around aS' 1'm 'n\. 'imilar rmin I wa us'd in Ihl ~L11 >nLUI wh n am'tmlll III I I' ng fr m pI' per a 'u t a ~ rlill d hur h r hou, "'I I'(JIJfJyriuJ1l I 'ing a habitatj n in a na urall ' d· ~ n'ibl· site, a tunis or
ABOVE 14th century bombard
from L1sleux Castle.
BELOW la1e 14th century
veuglalre with a separate breech.
found In Llsleux Castle.
(Both in the Historical Museum,
Rauen)
33
. t 11 r nll of tow 1', a ba. tida bing a n \ illage or townrn term for a donjol/vilh.g an I a mula
important
'The City 01 Moullns' in a mid15th century manuscript byGuillaume Revel. This Intriguingillustration of a medieval city as
It really look d Includes the oldtown within Its walls and a new
citadel gate, as well as less
crowded suburbs In theforeground. (Armourlal
d'Auvergne, BlbllothequeNationale, Ms. Fr. 22297, f.369,
Paris)
r wad r. nd uchfound th' writing-II
hl-i line d Pi'an in .1, he lated that a !Tarn onr 20 m 11 required 2
arlmlet ti til/ole ( mall ro ,-34 bow·), six aT!Jnlelf?s a LmlT,
3S
A French tapestry made around
1460 Illustrates The Life of SfPeter, Heavily armoured
Infantrymen sleep In what may
be a symbolic reference to the
end of the Hundred Years War
between France and England,
(Musee de Cluny, Paris)
~ orlml"t". Ii ITor, 20 bow , two or dH e psjJ/ingal,:\7 ~O() a,s~ n d n )s'b~ w lolL'i, arr w, t" 7'..'P 'til'S, t, 0 /Ili 0/1'1 (\ hich rna' htlv h n a form ofIrrfJurhpt) an I",) f()lIill{//:~ p 'rhaps anoth I' 't II '
IhrO\\~ng machine); 12 rrmllom jJPniPl" _0 lit n'read CI1I (()rth's' g-tlllS, 00 tampon \~th m trial'10 m~lk' 11101'<' (llftlin Il)r Ih ("11111 n, 1,00 t) I" 0pnlllld: or ~11Il' lwd '1~ and. , I otlnd' r I adlor bulk-t.';,
h' also lisled whal \\'e' n"d'd to b 'i g''llch a pIa l': fi()O arp nt rs, fiOO assi, tanLa"pc-nlers, 2,{)(}(} I i neel", t sort d
rossbow:, ~O() b)\ " ~()2,()()()'~ , rL 'd arrow, andI'o.sbow lolLli, cl, ·00 war' X", l'oul' l'1/gins
tlO/fI/I/\ (pt'rhap. slOne-throwing 'ng-in' r
c\'\'i " In help snit' lhe \ all' ,f, ur rolliflm:,1.0()()SlUlll", t~H £1nnOl1', t,170:1 n s lor lh .e'ann n., !),()()O pOllnd' of I ad fur I till 'l' and30,000 pOlllld' 01' g-lln pm d 1', PI' anLi ns onthi: sr'~le rl'prcl'it'llll'd 'I massive XI en, in goldand lime - I ss lik"I, to be ',ailabl Lo mobilealtacking tlnllic's lhan LO slaLic resid nl galTi n',
Whe n llw IllU 'h sl11all 'I' ("\,<;11 (f lllaillOll
was 1"1 inlo a :lale ol'readin 'ss inJul 1 I 15,10 'alll1l'll \Wrl' (' 'pe led In htll Iht, garri' m or ~~
: ldill'" Til 'y wn' also e Pf'CI 'el In poss •\ cal OI1l'\' spe ified I ' lhl' \P1IPrhal, ,l hadtCIl'clli '-.rcs or 'C 'noc, e bascin 'Is' hilI no I darrllOllr, lll()ll~h lh"y did Inv' 'mall shi·1 I ; all·x epl OIH' poss., ('(I -\ ord', m l\ d
crn.'sbm S white olhers \ ere arm·d wilh W'l1plrtiTf's,
lig-htj,l\'('lins, T\ enl)' or '0 oth '1", p -rhap m rpowerful nosshows \ el' kepl in th a LI with their alllmuniLi n,ThGIMk iL~ II' had a c1on,jon I' keep, where lh hat lain Ii e I, pIll' a I \ . rCOUI'! '<lrrl (Inc! a Inrhiean with lower \ all', The d moat had to beiraI' 'd nnd a rcd ubt w. luill u id lh r r L11 I nj n, Th
10\\'er ('oun "(II' 1 had a W( orl n wall and \ a, d I' nel d b thr ' tOwer,'OllIe rook 1 Wilh lone ,I l. s II I luzes, and a h h< ing a 'mallcannon, The biggesl lower alsn rormed the cntrane gale, he 'enpchaLn( w nrc! 'red Ihal a \ O( d "n parap t I' hoarding b a lei 'd to lh \\all,\ hil' Ill' 'lItran t' 1 th 1 w I' 'Olll'l r<trcl ""ould b d r: nc! d I'Id lilionat w'''I.~ fOI'Tlling '\ ,himnp l. ,l P n 'n m I pll, hin T a burningwaggon againsl the \ ooden gate. Within lh ourt (lrd \ er gu.erites,raist' 1\II( od 'n JJlal~ I'mI' 10 allow th garri'on I lIrv Lh' 'Ilrrounrling('Oll11lrvsi It, and prt \'ick flanking fir , 1'h I' weI' Iso 1<11 tll I'
huilrlillg's wh're II 10 'II inhabit nL~ Itld live eludn . andwhcn.' PCOpll' wne (' pl'CIl'C1 to keep 'to k.oo r l1lerg 'ne
Thl' .~allle degr' of 'are was Pllt illll i g " r ar ,Duringprot ng'('eI si W', lht' Fn'll h built r rLiri d /;(l:,lid~ 'I 'w t , n, ' fa ing thEIl~li h-hd I posiliun, 'omctimcs th s weI' of \ ood .om tim of:l II', ill whi 'Il a, til' miRhl lat r h in orp ral d inlrld'c:n c" l;linr si 'g ,'; cOlli 1 c~rtailll' il v Iv .\11 ,lanli~l I' r' " a. in
The ChAteau de Couches. a
small French castle typical of the
later years of the Hundred Years
W r. It has 13th century walls to
which a tall 15th century keep
and chapel have been added.
(Author'S photograph)
140f
r
th l ad'impn)V 111 I1l
In gllnpowder anill'l"'lradiLic nal missil --thr )wing ma hines continue 1 l be liS d lhroug-hoUlLhe 14th c>ntu ; a larg' In4mrhfJI was Lran I n d all lhc wa from LaRcol to alta 'k ngli h-held Rcrgcrac in 1 77. P \ I' fill framc-moulIlcdsi gc n :sbo\\': \\' ore pI' habl mounl' I nip f' lO\\' rs, rath'r thanin, iel Lh 111,' w· p 'ifieel in 'III j<C't II or In:ln . ign -d b Lh' s nior
I' 'nch 'i 'ge:: engin r Hug" eI ,arelailla
Skill at armsIt Ind n' 'r be 'n lru· thaI meeli \'al fighun m n r ,Ii 'el s lei 11 brutf'or 'andf"rocil, killwilhw'al n r main d .. ntialf ra 14Ih-1:-lh'cntul" Illan-at- rm, though \ I' 'sLling someum 'S s ' ·m· t
h I1caLl1 hi' di ni I • Inel I th' kni htl hero of' I1l in d la ai'sLt' Pplil.ltJlutll rip SainI"; \ a. eI -rib eI <u of' 'light buil I, lith and light,alhletic, su' nand agiJ ' cv'n in f'ull al-mour, with npid r a ti n ,H use I weap n, wiLl1 gr at d 't rit and hi ridin skills en hied him toclocl" and pan '. Ihel" sourc s indi at that th b t sw rd-. Lr k ,weI" ut and r ver.e, Ihough a knight. h uld 't\so b' 'kill· I < t aI \ n\\'<lrd II \ and Ihm'L. n I r, ba k th main Lar t \ '\' anpp nenl': head, auel C Iltrol f' a hor during \h nf'u ion of' a mel'e
wa .. : ntial . a n I to til' th animal and' as 10 g 't into a goodattacking po:iLion.
h . kill. r quir d f's I IiV\ar r main ·'0 III II h Ih sam, J aJ d
writ that wh 'n fighting f' ~ at it wa.s I ,I I ll, th ligl '\ arm III'
'on 'i 'I 'nl , ilh ad quat prol nion, H advis d hi' r ad r t pahim' If', mail tain I is omp . lire and ain a p' h I ie-al ad al1lag' I ,demonstrating onlid n ~. but . Bu il also \ arn d that it \ a' as 10
g t ut f breath i on(": visor \ as I-d.L'ss is known f'th training and kilL of'
in I, . I a 141\ \ a. I s d in Fran 'bannin all\ iI h longbuws and crussbm " here eem n s IIshooting 1111 ti n. with handgun, in I. th . ntu I Fran .Ih arli ~:t
kn \ 11 • )rnp titi I1S b -ing in Cerman', wi z ~rlal1d and (Ial '.36
ArtilleryIII Ihe 14th CCllltlr)' I \ 'IC "lira 'y, r'lali (,'1 lig-h sion ~ cannonball anda 'Inw I"ll' nl" lire Ii I n< l ol"f I' a vel .ri u thr '.ll lo n aj I'
rortificali)1 " How 'v 'I', prof-s'ional gU1l11 rs . .-rainl ..range or skill which 'nablecl th'm to ollllll<lnd hiull pa)' all 0 erEllrol r. 01 lhe leas I of Ihe.t' skills \ as lhc ·cui. g up of canl on, \ hi hwere lIorrllall)' carrie I in wa gC)I1s blll fired 1'1' 111 po ili n' ml edd cI inlimbel' ancl carll. Th ' I ading of a lat 1 dl l' 1'1), 1. lh nturl11ul.ZJe-loading gUI was a relativel, long and complicatcd bu 'inc's; larg'
C]u'll1li Ii, or Inalll had to b l4-lnq -d r ga '-ligh l lamp ns I '1m mer dinl ) the barrel hecause annonball were such a po r fit. In the earlie. llays up to lhree-firlhs or lh I arr I 01" a snl'lll 'I' Run mighl b fill d with
pm ckr, while a larnl on near lhe 111 lIlh enabl d pI" 'lIrc t) llliid L11 .0
lhm hall and l'IInp >n bur, I Olll < I" LI gun mor' lik a 'hamp' gl . 'orkthall a I r ~jcclik I"rolll a mo I rn fir ann, B 'U flh' "hon ming"lhe llll"l1 f the 1-llh ' nLllr l S;H a f:lshion for giganti.rn - ma"j1ornb'lrrL which made ul in III . \ "'ighl f lh ir 'h t whatlhe la k dina 'Ctlltl ... r spcC' I. Su 'It weal ons, and th - 111 an. I lrt'ln 'pc rL lh 'mwere oldv availahle 10 Ihe l'ichc:t anllies.
Anill 'I'. madc 'ollsi I 'ral t • a lane, luring LIle . e 'und jllan'r I'lhl' ]!">lli cl'nltll')', however, Mall' annoll w rc 1l0W Ire ch-I ad 1", withsevcral n'ln )v<lble hr 'e<.:h <.:hamb 'rs p 'r gUt whi h ould he Imld 'd ina IVHIlCC', thus increasing lhe ral' 01' til" consid rabl , lh quaJjl10fgUilt 0\ dt'r improved, iron 'annollball als provid d a h LIeI' fil andlonger harrels olT 'red grealcr IllUI./.it' ~I() 'ill and lherefor' accuracwilh lower puwder chaq:{l's, in' guns did nOl nO\ htl ' to be "£1Ston .uch 'I Illassi,,{' . 'ale lite, \ ere easier 10 lran, port, and p ri 1illustralions on n show annon being fir d from wh' I d (an'ia
By the middle of the 15thcentury French manuscriptpainting was Influenced by
Renaissance art from Flanders,
though it remained medieval in
spirit. In this detail from a siege
scene made around 1470 we can
see large breech-loading cannon
with separate breech-chambers,
mounted on wheeled carriages;the further gun has two barrels,
Such artillery was certainlyavailable In the later stages ofthe Hundred Years War, (Histolre
de Charles Martel, Blbliotheque
Royale, Ms, 8, f.65v, Brussels)
The late campaignshl' Illirl-I.r)tlt n'llllll I :;1\ a
IT\'ival in the illlJ onanc~
() infanlr', and su I
lroops include I in T a 'ingIlHllll 'I" of ll"lndgunrl 'rs,At Ih' S'll11e lillle IhFrl'u("1t ("on Iilllll'd to reiOil avail' wit '11 the 'one! liollS S 'C 111l' I righl. t
F()r!l1i~n}' in I 4H lheFrcllcll Ol'/(o<lt<, I a Ill,-~ II'
English 'ltlcnlJ I III say\I hal wa: I ·rt or th ir
N rm n I' ,. essions c nlh ugh lhe l'n '111' 0111
nUll bcrcd thel I I ' Up l)1\ () 10 on '. The Fr('11 It'llsoincluded a subSlalllial 'onlingcnl or 1ll01l11lt,d ;'11'('1 'I'"
- who rod Oil th ' mar h,IlllI. cnablillg Ihem 10 cro."countl al tht' sam(' spe 'd 37
38
A mld- to late 14th century
manuscript illustration of a naval
battle, During the Hundred Years
War naval clashes were resolved
by boarding and hand-to-hand
combat, though this was
preceded by an exchange of
archery, Efforts were also made
to disable the enemy's rigging.
(Chronlques de St Denis, British
library, Ms. Roy. 20, C,VIl.London)
a<; Lh aval, bUl fI ught on r L. Tl Engli'h'm mpl d an v 1'-
tn I iti I lLlrnir g 1110 'm 'Ol, whi h w br kIn up b a rie ofontr II d <Ivai harge backed up b l110ullled arch rs.
The balL! of CasLilinn in 14, ~ was even 1ll0t-C conclllsi and wa al aI pical f the p ri d. H're the French built a forlifi -el arrill I r parkduring Ih ir sie e )1' CasLiIl II. h 'ngli h crarri 'on ame LIt in alauemptlo d "tro thi fi -\ I fI rufi ali n, b It \ re driv n ba k with h a •10. S -S, wh I' upon lh Fr n h I' arguard hit th III in th nank and lhEngli I def at b am a I' III ' In man wa lhi, Fr I h vi lOI was lik
I in I' r. wilh Lh ~ngli'h hoosing LO atta k a Lrong posiLionder~nrl d. 011 lhi a i n, I gUll' 1" th I' than JonU"bo~ '.
ow th French were on the offen i e the carried OUl Tverald/('VlI1lrliP('.,~ lhellls -I s. I \' ,how I~ th . ~1Tlillgll nd1c" "ries ( fFr'lKIt siege' )f 'ngli h-h Id 'iLi " L( wns and asLi whi h I roughlI h 'Ill final iewr, ral p rL and 'uppi had ah a s b n viLaI it .j g'\ arfar bUL during the laLLer part a the )-ILlfldr -d Years ar lh ~ wereth focus of, everal particuhtrl binr la, Il ampl - during lh·En li'h j g faux a F'r n h I' Ii r . JUllln S T Ll Lri I l 'arruppli vel' lh ~ wall, hut on man mad a n is· b' rlropping a I ox of
salted h rrings and'u n d lh English whu drove olfth relief 1'01'- .
Orlcll, alted li'h pia recl anven mol' dramatic part in the sQ-O\II dBanJ r III H ITing in L429, during (perdLi n' t rai' lh English'j geof Orlean , H r - th English had r t d v ral uti ing bn.~lide.~ l bl kad the ciL , Th' Fr 'nch attacked thes po, ilion' in tI 'ort of COllnt rsi 'g'\ hiJ· al rulll ing , liP) lies into rlean',' a h side tried to illl r 'pL LIl -
lh -(' S COli\! . but on this casion the Engli'h \ r f9rewarn'd, andturned th ir waggon' full of salt d h rrin illl a field fortification,The French aLta -k 'd wiLh insuftki nr number-; Lh' 'ngli -h ollnl roO'llta ked and v ~ h 1m th' F'r n -h and lh ir otLi 'h alii '5, who Ind
di 'mounted and w re thll, unable to ~. 'ap .Rai ing th i e of Ort-an i' reg"lrded as
J ann d '. great -t' vi t ry, and it rl.:'linlhad a hug impa lon Fr n h moral. In fa'l lhM'lid s miJilal ar r fo'u', 'd on u h -i ge',man of which r ult d in towns I' op ningth ~ir gat s to King .harl s nm Ihal Fr '11 h self..onfid n had r" d,
NAVAL FORCES
·nllli th \'\ san r na \Vh "I'
f \'\< I' hardl appli d. ost n al
One of the ships ot Jacques
Coeur on a carved relle' made
between 1443 and 1451. It Is a
two-masted vessel with an
armoured crew, two ot whom
occupy the craw's nest where
they are supplied with spears
and Javelins. (Hotel o. Jacques
Coeur, Bourges)
Threlativel
m.1 h len. Uhi h- id d v
nd ran
1I r, i n
n Po
ag. a
r 39
40
'The Siege of Damietta' In a
French manuscript made In
1462. It Includes (foreground)
what seems to be an armoured
assault barge powered by oars.
Similar river or lake warships
appear In Swiss manuscripts of a
few decades later, (Blbliotheque
de l'Arsenal, Paris)
V\ight in 133< in h I.ea in 1360, Portsmollih in 136., e eral ponsb>t~e n P rtsrnoulh Clnd Ry in 1377, ani 'ra 's'nd in 13l0, Fr n 11and. < ttish -"hil "ds eo- >p 'ral 'd in harra'sing English maritime'ulntHullicminns in th orth ea and along th w 5l rn s abuard.
Til' prevailing wincl. in th Eng-li'h Channel, anclth orientation >fharb HII', , r n nil d ni I th Fr 'nell a 'up'riorit ' ,'ulTici'nl tolhr all'n ~ngli 'h communi ati n with th 'ir armi " 'Incl pO' 'ion onFr nch 'oil aner lh Engli, h naval victor of III I. in Jun 1340 - 'melp'lru 'Idar!' aft I' the Engli, h ''1ptured Calais in I, 7, crtll k:s,l·ral1v t::lnergcd as a m<!j< I' na til lOW r in the lal r 14th and carl I!'JIII"ntur, mon T't lh m t I' m rkabl demonsu",tiolls was an'P 'dition to conquer til 'Canal' ('lands I ·d b J an 1 de B ',th 'n oun
in I 02, ( Fr 'llch 111 'rchant fr m T ul u • 'ms t ha c ( >rnpalli'dD I~ 'th Il un, th 'n ross d I l Ih mainland of We 't 'rica wi 're 11 •onv rt d t) Islam, marri ·d a 10 'al \ man.31 lev Iltuall made his \ ( ,
back t Frail via Nurth Africa in I I' ,till wilh his N',-i 'all wir ,)
FURTHER READING
his Ii t do 'not in Iud g 1 ral hi I Ii s of th HilI dr d V. <Irs <II' rg n ral work n nI ·di val war/" r .
Imand, •. " Thl' HUltfhn! l-ems Wm; EnK!rmd rmti Fnt'l/ce rtl War c. J300(.1450 ( "lInbri Ige 19 )
n TI, ., 'I w to win at Unlamcnt; hniquc /" Chi alri011 bat', Thl' A nliquarie Journal, L VIII 1988), 248-2fi4
Ba Ie.,).,' is n 0 ~ n' du ChalCtlll de (ontailloll au Debut du I <.:
.it'c! ',Bibliofhpq/ll'd(lI'/~r.ot(ld(~\'Chartrl"" l' (I. 71) ll.-II!)
41
The glided copper statue of St
Michael on top of the steeple of
the Stadhuis In Brussels is
almost invisible from the ground,
It is, however. a remarkably
accurate representation of the
German-style armour used in
Flanders and northern France in
the mid·15th century. (Stadhuis,
Brusselsl
mm nl nnnales de
B
F H1rnicr. C" 'La d'rell cds populauc n, ruralp 'ndalll 1(\ gou '1'1' d • n tans nb'l 'S ' u\prglle', ill Acle: riu 'eCOlI.grps I a/irmal tips, urieies Srtv{(lIL~, irf'
I I ) -, .)/'I'lil/ll rI'(/Il'hPnlogip (P'lris I.lf6)1-7-199
.lel j,'. Oil, .J. (, Iii), ,/(,(111111' 11'1\1'1', tine
p/m'lJU', 1111 ra.07l1wlllml (I 'Iris 1982), in Illd 'oS vcnll r 'ICVCllll ani I .
t. I., 'U'S oniCi '<II ions d Chahli.: au X(orlif"i I lI11 I elit" village p 11 lam la II IT
lJull~~ogne,.' [(1949) 7-: ()BO:i'll'U ~., 'L .. pris nlliers d'
, r, III (I.b J) I ,pq f2Bru<ll1cl, Y., 'l.'al1lt:lioraLiun de h d ;ren, ' t'l
hal "lUX dll BOllrh Ilwlis p ndanl h gu'rr d - III 1 s', 'om/lieRf'1J(III.I' rip //\('(IIII'lIIi,' rips In oilJlio7l,S ,'l 13,'I/I's-l.e/l17' (1 72) 518-540
Brllll. R" oles.ur Ie c mill 'I" d s armcs a ign I 'Ill. I "icc!'Bib/if/III(-'!/((' 11,- 1'1':1'01,' tips CII(/rl/'I'S <:1 ' (19,) I) 2 9-2, 1
'(I('h lIX, P" RIJI/rl/ a tI lemjJ' df'.!nllllu' rI IT 1'1 /ll'lulrl/ll l'oCCltjJaiion allKiai, e
(10/ 19-N-I'I) ROllen ',Pali, I. ~ I:11<\l11r iun, 1'" (;l/il/flll/l/f' til' Flnvy;
Callilnil/f' Ii" (:/I/I(/Iif;{!;,', Ol/Ilrilll/.liOI/ f(
I'hi:.loh~' df' .I1'f1l7/if' Ii 'A 11', t'/ (I l'pilUlerip 10 Tlil' lIIili/ah1' pI jlrhiPt' fll/ \If'iPr/" (Pa I'is IYO£)
ellal, 'Ia: "IJOf'lllllf'lI/~ IMfllijl' fill Clo, tipsGail,~\' tI" ROIIP-II f'1 (ll/X ArlllPt's de Mer tiLL Hoirll'I'inllfpd,' 121F'il 14/8, 2vols (Paris 1977-7
Clllllaillillt', P" 'I. 'S lortilitauolls lll'hain S '11
Frall'l: ;j la 1111 e1ll M , 'n ~: a:l 'lSfinallcil:1. 'l "'ollomiqucs, NeVIlr /-fi,loriqa/!~ ,LX (I ~)7H) 2~~-17
COllt,lIl1illC, I" 'Cr' (I :\4 ') Cl z"in urt (I l.):UII' 'ompari, 011', ill Oilp/:I ;tI/ln'I,1 rill I(,~y('n \J(f'
ill ()(cirlrll/: A,.'r,1 du GOI/W'P.I IP1/11 (( Calnis "II 'e/lieUlbre/974 ( ,alai, 1~)77) 2.1..4·1
:ol1lal11in(' Poo '1.(', Cornl agnics 1"\ cnlllr 11 FranI en la 111 h g'll rrc de : III IS', Melauge r!(I I't;coleI-i'al/('uis" d" HOllie, ,(o,'Tnl, W' PI TPlIl/JS Morln'nt's
L XX\ 11 1!17.") ~Hi -~. 6C Iltamille Poo (:11('/'/('. Hlal ,'I Sorih,; (/ loJin tilL if) IPII 1'1',
h'I/ltll',1 WI" If'l {/nll';ps dl's Roi.l'tI" "mlll'f' 1-'37-1494 (Pari1972
:0 '11 '<lll E.• J..I' (;oll'llr'I(/blt' /)1' RichPlILOl1i (ArlitI' deIJn'lagl/p, 1-'93- Ir8) Pari I f
[",\II', 'BrigClllclag" an 1 R 'islal in Lan astrianol'l11andy: A , lud ' or lh - Rcrni'sian Evidenc',
RI,((tlilIK 1\lnlin/fll Sludip,l' 'VIII (1992 I() -I.,Fino, J.F., 'Lt·,~ armcc, rr, n (lis s It I"' de la
/{Il 'IT' de CCllt IlS, (;In,(ill , (I 77)
King Charles VII of France and
his elite Scottish guard on a
panel painting by Jean Fouquet,
made around 1450. The kneeling
monarch is dressed for riding
while his guardsmen have full
armour, relatively light salets and
decorative livery Jackets.
(Adoration of the Magi, Musec
Conde, Paris)
H nn'mal ,.J.B,,' I n iliL<I hand Lhe r 'n h m nar 11, in LhIat' iddk g,', A/lll'r;rfl11 Hislorical Review, L' m (J 7 )9 6- 965
Jager, ., AS/)I'hll' rll'· f.:riegt's wilL der Chevltu'ri" i1ll .Irdu"kunrler/ inFranitwirh (Be rn I JH 1)
Jarou.s <HI, ;" '[,l' gu I, l'arri'r -glltL 11:'1 gard' ·11 P >il 1I p'l1dal1l1'1 gll'ITl' dl' CCIll ns', Bullptin dp La ,'ocihr de. '11liquairt' del'()//(I."I (1965) I r9·202
Jlls.elin, 1.,' ,ommenl la Fran IT d· C nl
n.', l3iblio//u''111f! til' I'L~'rolp dp har/I.", L 1ll (I~J2) 20Y-2~6
Kilgour, R.L, nIl' LJl'r/i'lll' oJChivnby flS showl/ illlhe /';mcll Li/emlllTI' o(III" I.fllf' lirlrl/" I\gl'. (Caml riel e, Mass., 19~7)
LarLigaul J. 'Ll's liellx fOrLifie.' dan la parLi' 0 idenlale d Querc'Ill 'sic 'lc', Ilnnri/f'. dnl\llidi L I I (1967) .-1
LlIe, .. lIi.luirr dll Bprlrand dll C/lPsrlin 1'1 df' on I;;poque (Pari ) 71 :epli, J, 'L. 'S cllat "Ill de L lIi' d' r1 ans el I Llrs arch i I \.-;
(1~91-I'H)7)', Il/lllplin i\Iolllll7ln1la!, [J (19 ) 29 - j;
Palm 'r,.IJ I, ·eli,. 1';'ois,ml'l: His/orim1 (Tot, a lJ 19H I in Iud s.l'V 'ral rl'le anl anic1 S
PllillpOllS, :" 'Thl' Fr'l eh Phn of BalLI duril y LllC gin our\."l1npaigll', 1~'lIg{isll Hislorira/ Rroiew, C (I Y ) t-6(1
Revcl.C<lU,,l.P,, 'L'habil de gu rre d 'Fran ai', L' 1', anon ITl rr,1(97 Ie la Bi bl iOlh' que ati nale', Gazelle des Beaux /bt , IIIJY7Y) 179·IJH
R '"n'llI I, '1. service I'c cit. I . n nj II I Maine'1<1 (in dll 101l'1I ge,' Crlhin: d'ILi loire, J(J97J) Ilf)-lrl~)
olon. J ,D, 'aloi, ilitalorman Frnnti 1', 1 5-1 01: , wei>eli' ~t1 Reform,' , 'pmltwll, LJ (I 76 91-11]
SpOilt. .,' La Mil ice rle, Franc. _. reh . rs (144I;' 00 " RI'T/II/' til'S QUI', lio'//. H islo1"iqllP~, U(IAn7 LII-4R0
'~'l11plcl11an, G.. 'Tw Fr 'n h II I11pl.S t InvaelEngland during Ih Hundred Year aI',' it JJMilne (dit), ,"ill/dips in French Language,I.ill'mllm' olilf lIislOI)1 Prp.. ('II/Nl 10 R.l.. ,mell1.r
Pilrlli" (Cal1lbridg lJ49) 22!1-2.lI>rbi 'I' eI . Lora', .Jmn rll' if'/1Ile. Amiral rle Fr{(II(('
I "1- { Y6 (P'lri' IH78)Tuc()()-Chala. P.,· ne band' de RouLi rs dan. la
n:gi >n I :asl !ialous I I. 81-13 3', RP1/uP rte{' \ I"!{II/Iois ( 1973) 5-35
Tu l •. " I.r~~ Jo:rorr/1PlI1'S SOILS Charlps II 2 vol( I I1lbeliard 1 74)
Wolff, p" (.'OIl1I1Wrrp,\ 1'1 ma1'l"han{L~ dp Tou/rl1lsp (vn:~
/3 ()-lIm 145U) (Pari' 195 )Wright. N,. A'1I~~lIl and Pp(/sanls: 'l7IP Hundred Ypm:
War ill Ilip FrfYnrll Counlryside ( uudbridgc1 ~)H)
42
THE PLATES
A: CAVALRY 1337·1360A1: The Dauphin Charles, c.1356Here the future King Charles V of France wears up-to-dateand fashionable armour. This Includes a 'houndskull'bascinet helmet with visor raised, its mail aventall securedround the edge by vervelles. Beneath a tight surcoatdisplaying, quarterly, the gold lilies on blue of 'Franceancient' and a blue dolphin with red inS and tall on gold, theDauphin has a coat-of-plates and a mail haubergeon. Hisarms are defended by full plate armour; his legs have a moreelaborate system of scale-lined fabric CUISseS for the thighs,domed poleyns over decoratively cut white leathers, splintedgreaves and laminated sabatons. The prince's horse is alsoprotected by a small amount of hardened leather armour.(Main sources: Romance of Alexander, Flemish manuscript,1338-44, Bodleian Library, Ms. 264, OXford; Lancelot du Lac,French manuscnpt, mid-14 cent., Bodleian Library, Ms.21773, Oxford)
A2: Southern French squire, c.1340In contrast this southerner has the old-fashioned armour stillworn on both sides of the Pyrenean frontier. It consists of a'great helm' With a hinged visor, mail coif, hauberk andchausses. In addIlion he has a thickly padded surcoat,padded gauntlets and iron greaves. The surcoat is fringed athem and upper arm, and bears on upper arms, chest andback hiS arms of small red crosses on gold. His horse wearsa caparison over a full mail bard, and a hardened leatherchamfron. (Main sources: Effigy of a lord of Chateau deBramevaque. early 14 cent., in situ Cloisters, Abbey Churchof St Bertrand de Comminges; effigy of Bernard Comte deComminges, early 14 cent., Musee des Augustins. Toulouse;Story of Tnstan, French wall-palnllngs, mid-14 cent., in situTempler Chapel. St Floret)
A3: Knight from the Dauphine, c.1350This knight from south-eastern France uses a style of armsand armour influenced by neighbOUring Savoy. His bascinethas its visor removed and is covered with a layer ofdecorative cloth With a woven thread ornament at the apex.He wears a heraldic tabard open down both sides over acoat-of-plates covered with red fabric, and hardened leathershoulder pieces. Apart from hardened leather couters for hiselbows and poleyns for his knees he otherwise relies on mailprotection. The heraldic charges on his almost rectangularshield - note cut-out for lance - are heavily embossed intothe leather covering as well as painted. (Main sources: Effigyof Count Tommaso II of Savoy, mid-14 cent.. in situCathedral, Aosta)
B: INFANTRY 1337-1360B 1: Northern French militiaman, c.1340The bulk of infantrymen In French armies were probablyurban milil1as. This man is armoured for close combat,wearing a brimmed chapel-de-fer over a small basclnet withattached avental!. His body defences are a coat-of-platesover a mall hauberk, with hardened leather armour for hisshoulders and upper arms, plate rondels strapped to theelbows. and splinted vambraces for his forearms. He isarmed with a massive vouge polearm. a sword, a basilard
dagger and a large shield. (Main sources: Statue of an armedguard of the Gent militia, Flemish c.1340, StoneworkMuseum, Gent; 19 cent. reproduction of lost 14 cent.wall-paintings from Leugemetefries, Flemish 1346,Bijlokemuseum, Gent)
B2: Infantry sergeant from Champagne, c.1360Regions close to the border between French and Imperialterritory were Influenced by both areas. Hence this professional loot soldier's coat-of-plates would be typical of theRhineland and Flanders, like his leg and arm defences. Hislong-shafted gisarme polearm, single-edged falchion sword,simple helmet and large infantry shield could, however, befound across most of the country. The brass rivets andwashers on the exterior of the upper part only of his coat-ofplates show that the skirt section is of fabric alone; note thethong. pin and loop fastening at the shoulders, and the whitecross of France stitched to the breast. Beneath it he wears amail hauberk and a coif, a padded gambeson, leather rerebraces on the upper arms and chausses on the thighs, platepoleyns and splinted greaves. He carries one of his large
'The Knights of Christ' on a painted alterback by Jan van
Eyck, c.1435. The detail of annour and horse harness In this
magnificent example of Flemish early Renaissance art Is
remarkable, while the annour Itself appears to b a mixture
of German and French styles. (In situ Churoh of 5t Bavon,
Gent) 43
plated leather gauntlets in his simple cervelliere. (Mainsources: ivory box. French c.1 340. Hermitage. St Petersburg;effigy from Pont-aux-Dames. c.1335. Louvre. Paris;Crucifixion. Franco-German alabaster carving c.1350,Metropolitan Museum of Arts. New York)
83: Provenctal mercenary crossbowman, c.1350Many crossbowmen were recruited from Provencte - whichlay outside the fronllers of France - and detailed desrlptionsof their equipment survive. Such a soldier has a tall chapelde-fer forged from one piece; a mail coif worn inside the topof his haub rk. over a thickly quilted aketon; an oblongleather buckler is strapped to his left arm. His weapons are asword. a large basilard dagger. and three compositecrossbows carried slung on the pack on his back. The box onhis wheelbarrow probably contains crossbow bolts. (Mainsources: Chroniques de France, French manuscript. mid-14cent., British Library. Ms. Roy. C.VII. London; Polyptych ofthe Passion by Simone Martini. painted in Avignon c.1 340,Museum voor Schone Kunsten. Antwerp)
c: CAVALRY 1360-1415C1: 8oucicault. c.1400Jean de Malngre (c.1366-1421), called 'Boucicault'. eventually became Marshal of France like his father before him. Achampion of the tourney and a Crusader against the Turks onland and sea, he was captured at Aglncourt and was one of
the few noblemen whose life was spared: he died In Englishcaptivity six years later. In his younger days he maintained arigorous fitness routine Which enabled him to perform stuntssuch as climbing up the back of a ladder in full armour, usingonly his hands. Here this enables us to see the back of hisbascinet, aventail, and heraldic 'coat armour'. as well as histypical plate leg armour. Note the strap attaching his aventailthrough a slit In the coat armour to the iron cuirass beneath:this is worn over a mail haubergeon. His belt, with thickgilded plates. supports a rondeI dagger; the rigid cuirassbeneath prevents the low-slung belt from slipping down.(Main sources: Les Belles Heures de Duc de Berry. Frenchmanuscript, c.140S, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York;Chroniques de St Denis. French manuscript. late 14 cent.,British Library. Ms. Roy. 20. CVIII, London; The Apocalypse,French tapestry, c.1375. Castle Museum, Angers)
C2: Guichard Dauphin, c.1410Towards the end of the 14th century a bascinet with arounded visor came into fashion, as did a rigid iron bevor toprotect the throat. Here Guichard Dauphin has a fabrlccovered brigandine with very large chest plates over a mailhaubergeon - note the iron lance-rest on the right breast. Hismail aventall is covered with blue fabric bearing smallheraldic shields - quarterly. blue dolphins on gold, and twosilver diagonals on a blue ground, with a triple red labeloverall. His shield is of the oval variety used on foot, with a
44
An illustration from a primitive
mid-15th century Flemish
manuscript shows similar
armour, though In a much cruder
style. (Legend of 1l"oy,
Blbllotheque Royale. Ms. 9240,
f.63v, Brussels)
OPPOSITE Few pieces of 15th
century clothing survive, but this
French heraldic tabard is one. It
bears a white cross contre
bretesse on a red ground.
(Hermitage Museum, StPetersburg)
substantial wooden grip and padded leather squab; he wouldbe armed with a shortened spear for Infantry combat. (Mainsources: late 14 cent. French effigies, in 18th centuryengraving by Gaigniers, Bibliotheque Nationale, Ms. Est.Res. Pe 1, Paris; Chronicles of Froissart, French manuscript,early 15 cent., BibliotMque Municipale, Ms. 865, Besan90n)
C3: Bertrand du Guesclin, Constable of France,c.1370Du Guesclln was a short. muscular man with a batteredprize-fighter's face; see the Illustration on page 17. AsConstable he would have had the finest equipment available,here consisting of a tall baselnet with a very pointed'houndskull' visor. The aventail is attached in the normalmanner and has its own thickly padded lining. His thicklyquilted jupon is worn over a cuirass. which is not visible here.with plate gauntlets and full leg-harness. Several parts of thisarmour are also gilded. Du Guesclin's arms are displayed assmall embroidered shields on his jupon and on his horsecaparison. The horse's chamfron Is covered with black fabricwith gold braid decoration. and has fabric 'sleeves' over theears. His sword has a hand-and-a-half hilt. (Main sources: DuGuesclln Chronicles. French manuscript late 14 cent.,Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris; St George, Burgundian carvingby Jacques de Baerze, late 14 cent.. Muse Historique, Dijon)
D: INFANTRY 1360-141501: Crossbowman in the retinue ofJean de Hengest, c.1407In addition to carrying a pavise shield with the arms of Jeande Hengest, Master of the Crossbowmen of France, plusthose of 'France modern', this man has a lead badge in theform of a sprig of broom sewn to the left breast of his quiltedpourpoint. Such badges of political affiliation werecharacteristic of later 14th century France. The pourpoint isworn over a brigandlne and a mall haubergeon, and the coifworn under his kettle-hat is thickly padded; quilted cuisses
overlap the plate lower leg defences; and single iron platesare strapped to the backs of his mail-faced gauntlets. He isarmed with a powerful steel crossbow - note wolfskincovered quiver of bolts, and broad belt with spanning hooks;a broad thrusting sword (obscured here, on his left hip); anda basilard. (Main sources: Livre de Chasse, French manuscript, early 15 cent.. Bibllotheque Nationale, Ms. Fr. 616,Paris; sword. mid. 14 cent., Cathedral Museum, Chartres:pourpoint of Charles de Blois, c.1370. Musee des Tissus.Lyon)
02: Militiaman from Rennes, c.1370This urban foot soldier could have found himself fighting foreither side. While his equipment illustrates the fact that armsand armour travelled over great distances as arms merchantssought customers wherever there was conflict. The scalecovered aventail might be English, his Winged mace Italian orsouthern French. his hardened leather limb defencesFlemish, his mail haubergeon and chausses from anywhere inFrance. (Main sources: helmet, Milanese, c.1350-70, MuseoPoldi Pezzoli. no. 2598, Milan; clerestory windows, mld-14cent.. In situ Abbey Church, Tewksbury; funerary plaque ofGilles de Hamel. c.1355. in situ church. Heeren-Elderen)
03: Southern French light infantryman, c.1400At first the term brigand referred to soldiers or mercenariesprotected only by scale-lined, cloth-covered brigandines asworn here; note the attached mail cap sleeves. This man alsohas a light bascfnet, worn over his fabric hood with a longliripipe: a mail colliere around his neck and shoulders. and amail haubergeon; and would have worn plated gauntlets. Healso carries a small round buckler. His weapons are a slenderthrusting sword and a new style of rondel dagger. (Mainsources: Crucifixion from the Parement de Narbonne,painted altar hanging, French, c.1375, Louvre Museum,Paris; Martyrdom of St George, Italian wall painting, c.1380.in situ Oratorio di San Giorgio, Padua)
E: NAVAL WARFARE 1337-1415E1: Jean de Bethencourt, c.1402Jean de Bethencourt is shown during the complicatedprocess of putting on full armour, a task which required thehelp of another man. He already wears his off-white quiltedarming coat - a garment which would later be furtherdeveloped, having small pieces of mail attached at the vulnerable points (armpit. groin, etc) so that the mailhaubergeon which De Bethencourt holds here could beabandoned. His hose are laced to the arming coat at thehips; his armour and shield await him - note thicklyembossed blazon on the leather-covered shield. (Mainsources: Livre des Nobles Femmes, French manuscript late14 cent.. Bibliotheque Natlonale, Paris; breastplate,Milanese. late 14 cent.. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna)
E2: Basque sailor, c.1360The costume worn In northern Spain and south-westernFrance differed from that seen further north. This seaman,helping button the tabs down the front of the knight's armingcoat, wears a round cerveiliere with the decorated rimfavoured in northern Spain, plus a mail coif with small eyeholes - another characteristic fashion of Castile. Hissleeveless. quilted jerkin may have been more of a Catalan or 45
Aragonese fashion; note the wooden buttons down the frontand coloured woollen fringes at hem and shoulders. A broad'cummerbund', here Interpreted as rawhide, would be wornby Medlterrean sailors as late as the 18th century. His shirtsleeves are rolled up; obscured here, he would wear his whitewoollen hose rolled down below the knees and secured thereby laces. His weapon is an Iron polearm; the purpose of thehooked filment on his convex shield Is unknown. (Mainsources: The Betrayal, Aragonese wall painting, mid-14 cent.,In situ church, Urries, Saragossa; Crucifixion, painted retableby Jaime Serra, Catalan, mid-14 cent., Museu Episcopal, Vic;Arrest of Jesus, Navarrese carving, mid-14 cent., in situCalhedral, Pamplona)
E3: Castilian naval captainCastilian military equipment had various distinctive featuressuch as a preference for light armour, much of It of hardenedleather reflecting a residual Arab-Islamic heritage. Here thecaplaln wears such hardened leather leg armour over mailchausses, which were probably suited to naval warfare. Hiscoat-of-plates has a high collar; and a yellow fabric liningwith bra ded edges, ex1ended at the arms and skirt andIncorporating Internal leather upper arm defences. (Mainsources: Crucifixion, painted retable by Jaime Serra, Catalan,mid-14 cent., Museu Episcopal, Vic; Arrest of Jesus,Navarrese carving, mid-14 cent., in situ Cathedral,Pamplona)
F: CAVALRY 1415-1435F1: Jeanne d'Arc, c.1430Joan of Arc was undoubtedly an inspirational leader, thoughit was her less inspiring male colleagues who provided themilitary know-how. Here Ste Jeanne is shown wearing typicalmiddle-class women's costume, with her hair loose anduncovered - this marked the virginal status of 'The Maid' plus a sword at her side. The banner carried by the Bretonman-at-arms In the background is based on a small drawingof Jeanne made during her lifetime, while her shield is said tobe based on written descriptions. (Main source: drawing ofJeanne d'Arc on the Registre du Conseil du Parlement deParis, 10 Mai 1429, Archives Nationales, Paris)
F2: French knight, c.1440This rather gorgeously appointed knight - demonstrating hiswealth by his fashionable pearl-strewn fur and velvet hat, andhis courtly accomplishments by his musical skills - wears atabard bearing the arms of Guillaume de Flavy, the Captain ofCompiegne, who fought at Jeanne's side. He also wears asurcoat wi h puffed sleeves repeating his arms, over his fullplate armour, and his 'great bascinet' stands ready at his feet.His 'ballock' dagger is visible at his hip; for close foot combathe would also be armed with his sword and a poleaxe. (Mainsources: great bascinet, Burgundian c.1430, NavarreMuseum, Pamplona; Sf Maurice, French statue from theTarrasque Alter, c.1460, In situ Cathedral, Aix-en-Proven<;e;statue of a Knight, French mid-15 cent., MetropolitanMuseum of Art, New York)
This little drawln9 in the margin of a record of the Conseil
du Par/ement de Paris, dated 10 May 1429, Is the only
known picture of Jeanne d'Arc made during her lifetime.46 (Archives Natlonales, Paris)
F3: Breton man-at-arms, c.1450By the middle of the 15th century most knights hadabandoned their surcoats; but some pictures show menwearing what could be described as 'national insignia', in thisinstance consisting of cloth cut in a kind of inverted T-shapeand bearing the black cross of Brittany. His armour consistsof a visored salet with a plate bevor, the red feather plumeattached to a gilded holder at the top of the visor; a fullcuirass in Italian style, plus plate arm and leg defences - notedecoration with gilded rivets. By this date his horse has noarmour. (Main sources: statue of Dunois. c.1450, in situCastle Chapel. Chateaudun; Cronicques at ystores desBretons, French manuscript mld-15 cent., BibliothequeNationale, Ms. Fr. 8266, Paris)
G: INFANTRY 1415·1453G1: Franc archer from Poitiers, c.1453Surviving documents indicate that francs archers - 'freearchers' - often wore the arms of their own city, though fewwould have been as spendidly attired as this man. Eacharcher was to provide his own arms, armour and clothingunless he was so poor that he needed help from neighbours.This longbowman would therefore seem to be from theIncreasingly prosperous urban middle class. His salet has ablue cloth covering and much gilded decoration. The arms ofPoitiers are applied to his quilted pourpolnt (which is laceddown the sides), and the black and yellow colours arerepeated in strips on the quilted chausses worn with plate leg
Towards the end of the Hundred
Years War firearms begin to
appear regularly In French art.
This mid-15th century Flemish
tapestry entitled the Apocalyptic
Siege of Jerusalem shows a two
man team firing a handgun. One
soldier holds the pole stock on
top of his shoulder with both
hands and takes aim, while the
other leans In to bring the match
to the touchhole - and also
seems to be bracing his comrade
from behind g Inst the coming
recoil. Both have visored salets
with extra side plates, and sub
stantial shoulder, upper arm and
torso armour. (Castle Museum,
Saumurl
defences. He carries an arrow bag behind his right hip, andis armed with a heavy falchion. (Main sources: Life of StPeter, French tapestry, mid-15 cent., Musee de Cluny, Paris;Flemish carvings. mid-15 cent., in situ Hotel de Ville Louvain)
G2: Insurgent, c.1440Here a man in peasant costume (partly tucked up into hissash for ease of movement) is armed with a longbow - aweapon clearly not limited to the English. He also has asturdy dagger, a leather water flask carried in a leather net,and a sheaf of arrows thrust into the back of his sash.Bagpipes are shown in several French manuscripts. (Mainsources: Les Belles Heures de Duc de Berry. French manuscript, c.1405. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York;Grandes Heures of Anne of BriHany, French manuscript, late15 cent, Bibliotheque Nationale, Ms. Lat. 9474, Paris)
G3: Flemish mercenary, c.1430This man is traditionally equipped as a heavily armouredinfantryman. He has a massive chapel-de-fer helmet; an earlyform of scale-lined. canvas-covered jacque, which laceddown both sides, worn over a mall haubergeon; and someplate armour for his arms and legs. In addition to a roundbuckler and relatively short sword he carries a langue-deboeuf polearm. (Main sources: helmet and langue-de-beouf.French 15 cent., Musee de l'Armee. Paris; Crucifixion. panelpainting by Jan van Eyck. Flemish c.1425-30, MetropolitanMuseum of Art. New York)
H: A.RTlLLERY 1430-1453H1: Gunner with ribaudequin, c.1435Artillery was an aspect of 15th century warfare in which theFrench outstripped their English opponents. Here a mastergunner prepares to fire a mulH-barrelled ribaudequin. Despitemany references to such guns in the 14th and 15th centuriesthey remain something of a mystery. Originally the term
referred to a light cart, to which a number of small gunbarrelswere later added; they were probably fired in rapid succession producing a rippling fire, and were clearlyanti-personnel weapons rather than wall-battering pieces.The gunner himself is heavily armoured with mail and platebecause of his exposed position, valued status and relativewealth. (Main source: The Three Maries at the Tomb, panelpainting by Hubert van Eyck. c.1430, Boymans-vanBeuningen Museum, Rotterdam)
H2: Gunner's assistant, c.1440The assistant, pulling the mantlet open to allow the gun tofire, has been given here the costume of a working man sincehis task was essentially that of a labourer: a doublet and hoselaced together over a shirt. canvas leggings, an apron, and asubstantial belt knife as his only weapon. His visored salet ishis only armour. (Main sources: Les Echecs Amoureux,French manuscript, 15 cent., Bibliotheque Nationale, Ms. Fr.143, Paris; salet, French c.1440, Musee de l'Armee, Paris)
H3: Handgunner, c.1450This gunner wears a deep chapel-de-fer with an eye-slit inthe brim. though it is pushed back here for better visibility.Substantial pauldrons protect his shoulders and upper armswhile the plackart and fauld from an Italian cuirass cover partof his brigandine, itself worn over a mail haubergeon. Thequillons of his sword have a ring fitting to protect his forefinger when fencing in the new 'Italian' manner. He is aboutto fire his weapon with a length of smouldering slowmatch;his powder flask, bullet bag and scouring stick would lieclose by when in combat and would be carried slung whenon the march. (Main sources: St Michael, panel painting byBernardo Martorell, Gatan c.1440, Museu Diocesa.Tarragona; Life of St Sirmin on the Tomb of Bishop Ferry deBeauvolr, French carving, late 15 cent., in situ Cathedral,Amiens) 47
Detail from Flemish illustration of soldiers sacking a
captured city, made around 1460. It not only shows their
salets, brlgandln s and minimal leg defences, but also that
while som are clean-shaven others wear moustaches and
short beards. The assorted booty Is being carried off in
baskets, chests, sacks and bundles; It Includes jugs. bottles
and cooking utensils. Note the wheelbarrow In the fore
ground. pushed with the aid of a shoulder rope - see Plate
83. (Chronlques de France, 8ibllotheque Natlonale, Ms. Fr.
2466, Paris)
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0850<1581)1 195 HUNGARY & FAll OF EASTERNEUROPE 1000·1568
0850458'104 200 0. CIO & n IE RECONQUISTA105(). I 492
0850458991 210 VENET1AN EMPIRE 12()().16700850459494 222 AGE OF TAMERLAN1855321270 231 FRENCH MEDIEVALAAMIES II()().IJOO1855322242 247 ROMANO·S ZANTINE ARMIES1855321511 25t CHINESE ARMIES 1250-1520185532279X 255 ARMIES or MUSUM CONQUEST1855323 141 259 MAMLUI(51855321478 287 BYlANTINES 1118 1461I85532S993 295 CHINESE ARMIES 590-12601855326571 310 MEDIEVAl GEFIMAN ARMIES 1()()().1300185532699X 317 HENRY V & FRANCE 1116-53185532n08 320 ARMIES OF THE CALIPHA rES
862-10981855328488 333 MEDIEVAl RUSSIAN ARMIES185532710'l 337 FRENCH ARMIES OF THE HUNDRED
YEARS WAR 1337 1453
ELITE (ELI)
0850'l55650 003 THE VIKINGS0850'lsn97 Illl9 n IE NORMANS
0850-158366 017 KNIGHTS AT TOURNAMENT0850<15854'1 019 CRUSADES0850459-178 028 MEDIEVAL SIEGE WARfARE1855321319 035 EAN-Y SAMUfW 2()().1500AD185532'113X 058 THEJANIS5ARlES
CAMPAIGN (CAM)
1855321327 009 AGINCOURI 141518553216'15 013 HASTINGS 10661855322846 019 HAlTIN 11871855325225 043 FORNOVO 14951855325535 0<16 LAKE PElPUS 1<47I85S327'106 053 GMNADA 1491-921855329182 064 NICOPOUS 1396185532863 I 066 BOSWORTH 1485
WARRIOR (WAR)
1855322870 00 1 NORMAN KNIGHl1855323184 003 VIKING HERSIR 793-1066A01855323491 005 A GLO SAXON THEGN 4-19.I066AD1855324539 010 SARACEN FARIS 1050-12501855324911 011 ENGUSH LONGBOVllMAN 1250·1513185532555 I 0 I8 KNIGHT OF OUTREMER
, 187-13'\4AO
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~ MEN-AT-ARMS ~
FRENCH ARMIES OF THE HUNDRE'D YEARS WAR 1337-1453
ME - T-ARMS
• An unrivalled source of information on theorganisation, uniforms and equipmentof the world's military forces, pastand present.
• The series covers subjects as diverse asthe Imperial Roman army and its enemies;the paratroopers and tank crews of ourown day; and hundreds of other subjectsbetween, over the whole world and morethan 5,000 years of history.
• The popular 48-page format includesconcise text packed with specificinformation, some 40 photographs,maps and diagrams, and eight full-colourplates of uniformed figures.
For Englishmen and WeJ hmen the Hundrd
Year War repre ent an important chapter in
their 'national myth , - nam uch as Cr'
Poiti r and gincourt ummon up an enduring
image of victorie gained by fearl knight and
turd bowm n, t to th v rbal mu i of
hakespeare' thrilling word. he read rile
likely to be infi rmed about the impre ive
Fr nch r 0 ry which a ngli h armie
dri en out of France by th mid-15th centur
under the leader hip of uch remarkable figures
Bertrand du Gue c1jn and Joan of Ar , Thi
fa cinating anal is of th organi ati n,
appearance and tactics of rench armi co er
a p nod mark d b important change.
visit the Osprey websitehttp://www.osprey-publishing.co.uk
IS
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