Osprey, Men-at-Arms #337 French Armies of the Hundred Years War (2000) OCR 8.12

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337

CH ARMIES OF E UNDRED YEARS WAR

DAVID NICOLLE was bom In 1944, the son th lIIu.1rator Pat Nicolle. He worked In the BBC Anlblc service betore going 'back to school', gaining n MA from th School Orl ntal Studies nd a PhD from Edinburgh Univer.llity. He later taught world and 1lIIl,Imic art and architectural hilltory at Yarmuk UnlveMllty, Jordan, He has written a number books and ertlcle. on medieval and llllamic warfare, and hn been a proll1lc contributor to the Men-at-Arm aerles for many yo Ml. He currently lives and works In lelceateMlhlre.

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ANGUS McBRIDE, one the world's moat respected hlatoricalillustnitora, has contributed to more then 70 Ollprey title. over the past 26 years. Born In 1931 Highland parents but orphaned u a chfld, he received a mUlllcal education at Canterbury Cathedral Choir School In 1940-46. He worked In advertllling agencies 'rom 1947, and Is a selt-taught artlst. After national service In the Royal Fuslllera, 194951, In 1953 Angus emigrated to South Africa. He retumed to the UK In 1961, and has worked freelance ever since. With his wif and two children he retumed to South Africa In 1978, since when he has lived and worked In Cape Town.

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,.-. . puClIIIIleO .. 2OllO bV CIsprwy f'I.C:*I/Wlg.

Dedication

0.... Court. ~ w.y.~. Old"rd 0X2 lIlP

For Joey. ltIe smaJlesl oIlhe smalls - buI I doubt lor Ioog

,.. ngl'Q --...I. ~ !rom et'Pf tw ~ lor ItoI ~ of priwI. SltII:IY. - . : ; I \ . c n l _ Of _ . _ ~ . . . . . ItoI ~ DeloogrlS-.:l

Artist's Note

p _ _ Act. !llllll. /'Ill I*l of

Readers may Cllf8 10 note that ltIe ongonal paWltng3 !Tom which the colour plates In thl$ book were prepared are available for private sale. AI reproduction copvrigtIt wNlSOfM!If is retaroed by the Publishers. Aa enquiries should be addressed to: Scofpto Gallel"y. PO Box 475. Hailsham. East Sussex BN27 2SL UK The Publishers regret that they can enter into no correspondence upon this maller.

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pubkeaon 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 r banners 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 a third wilh r m '11 \ '1'1..' U '(Iall 0 r or l-{old, Be 'oncl Oll rt. ci I' 1 S COSllll1W and hadges w 'IT also llsed 10 shO\ all gi';lIH.'e, For ~xamplc, in Pari, in I: 75 Illan I pcople adopt, lhe auld

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SII fliciclIl /{)rces 10 resisl Lll' English (clilowing lhe til Ie 01' gin oun, 'illlilarlv Lll' lr 'al. \ hi h reconciled King ;h;trl·s

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VII and Ih 'Duk BUI'g'und in I 3. m am Ih, I th I' wn uld on g,in gIll 'r lh Inillp La s. r build an f~ ti ann, and Lam lh lrouble orne l'cmrheurs. J

Charles VII's reforms Fin 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', 01. ann g01lS'rps I' thr at d 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 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_ f mail 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 from Toulouse in th·· south. B the, Lart of Lhe IlIndr'd Y 'ars War 1'oulou also ll1anlll"a lllr'd silk-covcrt>d an I plain Cjuill d tollp. gambols'; plat armollr for m>n 'HI 1 hoI'S s ha' in IS, h 1m brimmed h 1m - call 'd rhapPflux dl' '/0/1 III u!Jn11, g,1I11111 IS and 'IS.'Orl d hi ld (pi in \ hiv or read 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 in Englan 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', The lit"l I'ar I' '~'n'n t' to Lh . pro fin I' t 'Ling I' armuur in Fran e is fOllnrlin anothcr dOCllllH: III fr lin ROll n daLed 1340, The pressures (f' \. al' ma have a LlIll·d for olht.r Sl II'S 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 OIl rduc d ul1lil it b· m a 'mall'r hnubnf!:eon. Th al.-o(~pl( te. had al I' d, t'volv 'd, proh bl f'rom an carli >,. Ip,lIh T tllirip., and I lhe III id-l..J Lh l1l.1I I' lh old girdle-like t p' ma all' ad hav' I Tn r gard d as 01 1-(~lShiOl ed - although 'I Fn:n h IOC-lImcnl of I, ~7 did IllClI Lioll a 'oal-o/:phlCS 1'1 king ilS IIsual fabric vering"1' nc panicular in ii\'i lual alld . ult! rar>1 be worn I I

urin~

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'Charlemagne finds the body Roland', In an early 15th century Frenoh manuscript, Here the heroic Roland Is shown as a French knight with the most up-to-date armour, Including the new rounded visor and a bevor plate attached to his bascinet. (Chronlques de Sf Denis, louvre Museum, Paris)

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an 'on Is, Th b 'st arm ur \ er probabl l import d rrom Ital • and Italian 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 n 'lI'h '\1\ an lOur w igh d ab lit h m' as a th ' batLI Ii Id. in 11I d'm inrantr mall" equipmenl and pack, Th . rcal pr blcm w r hC'lt e. haustion and limited vi'ibilit \\Ih 'n th vi r \\Ia \\I rn II s~d, A list 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, goud fit/rill I-bra. 'md ganlelpis I' r Lh ann' and hand, th fuJI' l o. ling 16 livrr 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 It I'll ois a pai r. 10ther do um or add a b . -in' al el visor wi I h aml//(/;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 or rl ~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-ral h '\lors, piece~ d allemagne \ hi h \ re probabl br a lplate', wi ses on 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 'atin fabri , [nfantr I armour wa' light r, Ie.. abundanl and ch ap r. W read L1lal in 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 collar and 'haul I r pml tion, a hascincL wilh a vi or and avel1lail. plat d gaunLlcl!. 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 a ar1ll'll;he 0 r a ba 'ci n t h ·'Im t, and plales ( oator-pial. ) OrLen wi lh a g;I)/J{)IIU~ (pad I'd jll/Jou) or !mnsilJYe (mall mail haub rk), Ian had plate .!fLlI(/e,1 atla h i t lh . !)(lI'I jere, plus a plate bmcormii>('f' (r mail gorgiere l pI' t· 1 th n k. Onl a ~ w ha I ~(lnlplel.5. g!lanl . 1Ilrt.11 ime r bras al-es 1'0 r I h e i r hand. and 1 'v r < nn " Fr 11 hm b wllIan's \ eapon' con 'istcd or a ro b \\I, a I' laLi ·1 light ensis or '/J(/,I(J \ or I 'lnd a couleau clagg - r. whil . som al 0 carri d a bloqllerium small sh i Irl rIll kl 'I', Tho' r a !)(tvpsier w're a spear and dagg r plus the

!/(It/i,I'" shiel I or vcr 1"\ having ,\ ,'onl. 1 IU\'t'll 'al •briWl1ld' Jig-hi infalllr' again han a ccrvell ier " basci 11 't or rtltJdlw /1'/'1'/'11,1 (hri III men \ ar hal or 'k 'nk' hat'), and I 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 have sh iclds I ecaus' t h \ 'I' liglH infantl skirmishers, The be't re 'oreled, and I crhaps one (I' the most illli orlal1l or Frl'l1 harm, l11anuractllrin~ 'ntrcs \ as th ~Ios It: ;,lIecs aL ROlI'n, II mad, miliLar cClllipmenL 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 f helmcl), fllll/rlil'/:~, IJmrl,/pls, bra. Ifp !I/alp, rha!Jpol/ . d.efn; ('otles, cuissols. PI'1/. , larg

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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 ighing l'(I/S OilS,

al ) 'a 't 4 pOllnds. secolld order ill I ~R4 all cat cI no Ie s than 17,200 old fran for thl' manuf;l lUI" or 200,000 ros.low bolts, I' I' r· pairing all c istin anl'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 (r 60 bas incLS an I rull',\ d,' In, Th ' 111O't c1 ,tail d viden lht' 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 lh TlIllIr , This was 'I m;~j >1' dislribllU n ntr', n t nl ~ r n w I'm a11 arnlour bill fell' .'it' unci-hand and 'Ipturcd quipmcnt as w 1\ as rdW mat Ti'lIs, s (~lr 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' form of 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 . old rllII!)('(1I1 rff' (Pror' rimmcd h('lm I I' maill >d popular am ng L m r, t Sl 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. 'ad r!lfl/lljmn.1 cover' I 0111 the frollt or th 'h 1'·,'8 h'acl m an 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 th I 1111 liS Pl'(~jl' lion 0 er tit 110 e 'md pi r d lip ov ring th TIl' iIlCTt"\sillg nl' ssit I' r m n-at-ann' [j h 11 fOol I d to 'Ollle al)'Hld IlI11t'nt of Lh short "n d infant. I 'pe I' in hlV ur of til r, ar ome 1flth '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, th I 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 which CalIPH /}11~\1 IIlf' rhino L'ae!l is (J,l'll1pd wilh a lance and a long li{{hl sword, a s!lmp tlf/{!,gl'r hfl/lghlg 011 [III' Lff! 'idl' of the, addLI', and a mare, l:.:ach man must also /)1'

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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,)

A knight takes leave of his 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) famil~,

a(comprmiprl by a rtlufilliPr ['quire] eqllijlped 11 ith (t ahule, !I a'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 two weapons, The arc/lei wear leg arnwU1; sa lets, heav} jacques lined with linen or bl'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· I l 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 'n ordina 'quipmcl l I' I in I· P 'n 'iv '. al were valu d al h rwe n 3 an I livm. toumais ajaqLI, 1" t or brigandin al 11 livres. flili. l r. u harm )ur and \ aponr COSl amlin I 0 livre' wi ile Lh 0, l for a ol1lplclc 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 ne livlr'. h' 'alll 'anoll n u. t l r J tat d lhal . there i' also another IItlllllWr 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 oj drm whirh !1m {/ Invad head anrf i. mflp.rI n langul' dp bOl'uj l X-Lon I ] .. ro bow' cOllunu d t I manufa 'LUr'd in larg quanuu·s. Lh .Ios de 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 kilbal abl' lhough snrn rna)' ha he n u 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 inlO all a'l ni hingl p w rful \. 'apon 'ombining r~al pm '1' wilh littl· \ eighl, no ... oil. ,md n n "e' ity r. I' I ng uaining. BUl whi] Lh' 1I r l I mad Lh ro' bow narrower. I 'S Illm , and wilh a draw I ngth f nl 1. lO 10 nLim Lr , il r~main d

slO' 10 load and in re.ringl ompl x. ILS draw \V ighl now d malld m dnni·a.\ aidsLO.panning-lh go l'SfOOL I v r, [11 cranequin \ ilh a hand 'Iank d ral h l bar, and nLuall a windlass with ho k d I'd' and d ubi' rank-handl· , Cannon w I' U ed in 0Tcalcr 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.!

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with .111 II 'ingle-dis har~' gUll' made 01" hardened I aLher. vcnhel '. gun. were in rea~ingl a UI L < nd reliable, apable I" being aim d at \ I • sp -ific or v~n 11\0\ 'ng target., 511 h :, s boat., II ing 10 run .-ul plie' inlo a besieged f( rt rc", or tile ma. LS f' encm hip' al sea, he making of' guns al d ve-Ioped inL< a ,.,uhstal1lial bll i ness i nv( "~ng man dilTen:'111 craIb and l:-.'1Jilds. nl lh ri hesl lll(1nuhlUr 'n; c ndd n ntl~H all LIl ,C ,kill d men in me pia ,and 'uc C5S in doing o 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" Ih Hundred (at. \I\ar. In 1442, for ..un pi ,.J an Bur 'lU made for Ihe Fren'l1 Ro .11 arlill I I train: six b 1111 ard:, I . V~uKlflirt!.\, 20 .I'f!11Jl"nlinf!.I' 0 I'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 res l 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 in 14 ~p:;O alollt',

TACTICS Early campaigns: responses to defeat Th . Hunc!r- d ~'ars \l\ar largel .nnsistc I of si' 'S, dWlIftllrltPf!S (hrg s alf' TOSS-COlllJl.ry spoiling an I I oting I~~id') 'lnc! naval raid', bUI\ as al 0 pUllctuale I h mp n baLll at a rlisachrdnlag- _ 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. ad yt'ars the Frellch nr'l liS 'd inJ~lI1U t 111, nanks of lh ir c, \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-arm cd i 1l1~1I11l , f, v Tal ma's 'd t iL \ as LI c railur a\'al I wi i '11 \ as dl(' grC 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 raid aero, s mu,h I' Fran' . 1 h w r' laull h d not ani lor their illlll1 diat I' ward', but in th hop f Irawin lhe French into lh op n I attic whi h the Fr nch kin and hi' 'oll1mand r want'd to a id. In I~l '( lh' French garri 'OIlS g n rail r' 'j 't 'd English taun " but r, r th COIllIllOII peopll' tl1 'se rhl'Ufl'Llchees remained a lIightmar. song from the so- ailed Ba 'ux hallsonnier 'omplain d: 'flltheDt/ell oj O1'1'/wnd:y I/Wl''''

I:" so Inllrh IJi//age t.!I(///!wre OJU' mnnol have pien/

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fa God want. that. th.e

coullh:v o( o/'Irlandy !mow peace.• The French solution: positional warfare In Ih' mi Idle ar. nfLl e 14Lll "I1IUI 'lh d v I pm

I1L r unpowder had Ilot let r a h d a . ta c . iving aUlIck r the automatic arlvantag in"i g' warfar ; and guns 'oldd al b m unt rl in fortified pia' . ( 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 an inv '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 were parti '1IIar!' ommon in .ollth rt1 ncl w' tern Fran e. ther clef< n in (udedjor/afdurnfonifi dvillag .h(},lal()rTJalal~ rilii dh u " nd I}{//s \ hi h app ~ar to have I n link d h IS I' W lis around a S' 1 'm 'n\. 'imilar rmin I wa us'd in Ihl ~L11 >nLUI wh n a m'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

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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)

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11

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of tow

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a ba. tida bing a n \ illage or town rn term for a donjol/ vilh.g an I a mula

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'The City 01 Moullns' in a mid15th century manuscript by Guillaume Revel. This Intriguing illustration of a medieval city as It really look d Includes the old town within Its walls and a new citadel gate, as well as less crowded suburbs In the foreground. (Armourlal d'Auvergne, Blbllotheque Nationale, Ms. Fr. 22297, f.369, Paris)

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r wa d r. nd uch found II th' writinghl-i line d Pi'an in .1 , he lated that a !Tarn on r 20 m 11 required 2 arlmlet ti til/ole ( mall ro ,bow·), six aT!Jnlelf?s a LmlT,

~ 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 of IrrfJurhpt) 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'il 1I p'l1dal1l 1'1 gll'ITl' dl' CCIll ns', Bullptin dp La ,'ocihr de. '11liquairt' de l'()//(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 ) 7 1 :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.Celi' ~t1 Reform,' , 'pmltwll, LJ (I 76 91-11] SpOilt. .,' La Mil ice rle, Franc. _. reh . rs (144 I;' 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 Invael England during Ih Hundred Year aI',' it JJ Milne (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' I H78) 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 ( uudbridgc 1

42

~)H)

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)

THE PLATES A: CAVALRY 1337·1360 A 1: The Dauphin Charles, c.1356 Here the future King Charles V of France wears up-to-date and fashionable armour. This Includes a 'houndskull' bascinet helmet with visor raised, its mail aventall secured round the edge by vervelles. Beneath a tight surcoat displaying, quarterly, the gold lilies on blue of 'France ancient' and a blue dolphin with red inS and tall on gold, the Dauphin has a coat-of-plates and a mail haubergeon. His arms are defended by full plate armour; his legs have a more elaborate system of scale-lined fabric CUISseS for the thighs, domed poleyns over decoratively cut white leathers, splinted greaves and laminated sabatons. The prince's horse is also protected 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)

dagger and a large shield. (Main sources: Statue of an armed guard of the Gent militia, Flemish c.1340, Stonework Museum, Gent; 19 cent. reproduction of lost 14 cent. wall-paintings from Leugemetefries, Flemish 1346, Bijlokemuseum, Gent) B2: Infantry sergeant from Champagne, c.1360 Regions close to the border between French and Imperial territory were Influenced by both areas. Hence this professional loot soldier's coat-of-plates would be typical of the Rhineland and Flanders, like his leg and arm defences. His long-shafted gisarme polearm, single-edged falchion sword, simple helmet and large infantry shield could, however, be found across most of the country. The brass rivets and washers on the exterior of the upper part only of his coat-ofplates show that the skirt section is of fabric alone; note the thong. pin and loop fastening at the shoulders, and the white cross of France stitched to the breast. Beneath it he wears a mail hauberk and a coif, a padded gambeson, leather rerebraces on the upper arms and chausses on the thighs, plate poleyns and splinted greaves. He carries one of his large

A2: Southern French squire, c.1340 In contrast this southerner has the old-fashioned armour still worn on both sides of the Pyrenean frontier. It consists of a 'great helm' With a hinged visor, mail coif, hauberk and chausses. In addIlion he has a thickly padded surcoat, padded gauntlets and iron greaves. The surcoat is fringed at hem and upper arm, and bears on upper arms, chest and back hiS arms of small red crosses on gold. His horse wears a caparison over a full mail bard, and a hardened leather chamfron. (Main sources: Effigy of a lord of Chateau de Bramevaque. early 14 cent., in situ Cloisters, Abbey Church of St Bertrand de Comminges; effigy of Bernard Comte de Comminges, early 14 cent., Musee des Augustins. Toulouse; Story of Tnstan, French wall-palnllngs, mid-14 cent., in situ Templer Chapel. St Floret) A3: Knight from the Dauphine, c.1350 This knight from south-eastern France uses a style of arms and armour influenced by neighbOUring Savoy. His bascinet has its visor removed and is covered with a layer of decorative cloth With a woven thread ornament at the apex. He wears a heraldic tabard open down both sides over a coat-of-plates covered with red fabric, and hardened leather shoulder pieces. Apart from hardened leather couters for his elbows and poleyns for his knees he otherwise relies on mail protection. The heraldic charges on his almost rectangular shield - note cut-out for lance - are heavily embossed into the leather covering as well as painted. (Main sources: Effigy of Count Tommaso II of Savoy, mid-14 cent.. in situ Cathedral, Aosta)

B: INFANTRY 1337-1360 B 1: Northern French militiaman, c.1340 The bulk of infantrymen In French armies were probably urban milil1as. This man is armoured for close combat, wearing a brimmed chapel-de-fer over a small basclnet with attached avental!. His body defences are a coat-of-plates over a mall hauberk, with hardened leather armour for his shoulders and upper arms, plate rondels strapped to the elbows. and splinted vambraces for his forearms. He is armed with a massive vouge polearm. a sword, a basilard

'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. (Main sources: 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.1350 Many crossbowmen were recruited from Provencte - which lay outside the fronllers of France - and detailed desrlptions of their equipment survive. Such a soldier has a tall chapelde-fer forged from one piece; a mail coif worn inside the top of his haub rk. over a thickly quilted aketon; an oblong leather buckler is strapped to his left arm. His weapons are a sword. a large basilard dagger. and three composite crossbows carried slung on the pack on his back. The box on his wheelbarrow probably contains crossbow bolts. (Main sources: Chroniques de France, French manuscript. mid-14 cent., British Library. Ms. Roy. C.VII. London; Polyptych of the Passion by Simone Martini. painted in Avignon c.1 340, Museum voor Schone Kunsten. Antwerp)

c: CAVALRY 1360-1415 C1: 8oucicault. c.1400 Jean de Malngre (c.1366-1421), called 'Boucicault'. eventually became Marshal of France like his father before him. A champion of the tourney and a Crusader against the Turks on land and sea, he was captured at Aglncourt and was one of

the few noblemen whose life was spared: he died In English captivity six years later. In his younger days he maintained a rigorous fitness routine Which enabled him to perform stunts such as climbing up the back of a ladder in full armour, using only his hands. Here this enables us to see the back of his bascinet, aventail, and heraldic 'coat armour'. as well as his typical plate leg armour. Note the strap attaching his aventail through a slit In the coat armour to the iron cuirass beneath: this is worn over a mail haubergeon. His belt, with thick gilded plates. supports a rondeI dagger; the rigid cuirass beneath prevents the low-slung belt from slipping down. (Main sources: Les Belles Heures de Duc de Berry. French manuscript, 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.1410 Towards the end of the 14th century a bascinet with a rounded visor came into fashion, as did a rigid iron bevor to protect the throat. Here Guichard Dauphin has a fabrlccovered brigandine with very large chest plates over a mail haubergeon - note the iron lance-rest on the right breast. His mail aventall is covered with blue fabric bearing small heraldic shields - quarterly. blue dolphins on gold, and two silver diagonals on a blue ground, with a triple red label overall. His shield is of the oval variety used on foot, with a 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)

44

OPPOSITE Few pieces of 15th century clothing survive, but this French heraldic tabard is one. It bears a white cross contrebretesse on a red ground. (Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg)

substantial wooden grip and padded leather squab; he would be armed with a shortened spear for Infantry combat. (Main sources: late 14 cent. French effigies, in 18th century engraving 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.1370 Du Guesclln was a short. muscular man with a battered prize-fighter's face; see the Illustration on page 17. As Constable 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 normal manner and has its own thickly padded lining. His thickly quilted jupon is worn over a cuirass. which is not visible here. with plate gauntlets and full leg-harness. Several parts of this armour are also gilded. Du Guesclin's arms are displayed as small embroidered shields on his jupon and on his horse caparison. The horse's chamfron Is covered with black fabric with gold braid decoration. and has fabric 'sleeves' over the ears. His sword has a hand-and-a-half hilt. (Main sources: Du Guesclln Chronicles. French manuscript late 14 cent., Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris; St George, Burgundian carving by Jacques de Baerze, late 14 cent.. Muse Historique, Dijon) D: INFANTRY 1360-1415 01: Crossbowman in the retinue of Jean de Hengest, c.1407 In addition to carrying a pavise shield with the arms of Jean de Hengest, Master of the Crossbowmen of France, plus those of 'France modern', this man has a lead badge in the form of a sprig of broom sewn to the left breast of his quilted pourpoint. Such badges of political affiliation were characteristic of later 14th century France. The pourpoint is worn over a brigandlne and a mall haubergeon, and the coif worn under his kettle-hat is thickly padded; quilted cuisses

overlap the plate lower leg defences; and single iron plates are strapped to the backs of his mail-faced gauntlets. He is armed 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); and a 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.1370 This urban foot soldier could have found himself fighting for either side. While his equipment illustrates the fact that arms and armour travelled over great distances as arms merchants sought customers wherever there was conflict. The scalecovered aventail might be English, his Winged mace Italian or southern French. his hardened leather limb defences Flemish, his mail haubergeon and chausses from anywhere in France. (Main sources: helmet, Milanese, c.1350-70, Museo Poldi Pezzoli. no. 2598, Milan; clerestory windows, mld-14 cent.. In situ Abbey Church, Tewksbury; funerary plaque of Gilles de Hamel. c.1355. in situ church. Heeren-Elderen) 03: Southern French light infantryman, c.1400 At first the term brigand referred to soldiers or mercenaries protected only by scale-lined, cloth-covered brigandines as worn here; note the attached mail cap sleeves. This man also has a light bascfnet, worn over his fabric hood with a long liripipe: a mail colliere around his neck and shoulders. and a mail haubergeon; and would have worn plated gauntlets. He also carries a small round buckler. His weapons are a slender thrusting sword and a new style of rondel dagger. (Main sources: 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 1337-1415 E1: Jean de Bethencourt, c.1402 Jean de Bethencourt is shown during the complicated process of putting on full armour, a task which required the help of another man. He already wears his off-white quilted arming coat - a garment which would later be further developed, having small pieces of mail attached at the vulnerable points (armpit. groin, etc) so that the mail haubergeon which De Bethencourt holds here could be abandoned. His hose are laced to the arming coat at the hips; his armour and shield await him - note thickly embossed blazon on the leather-covered shield. (Main sources: Livre des Nobles Femmes, French manuscript late 14 cent.. Bibliotheque Natlonale, Paris; breastplate, Milanese. late 14 cent.. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna) E2: Basque sailor, c.1360 The costume worn In northern Spain and south-western France differed from that seen further north. This seaman, helping button the tabs down the front of the knight's arming coat, wears a round cerveiliere with the decorated rim favoured in northern Spain, plus a mail coif with small eye holes - another characteristic fashion of Castile. His sleeveless. quilted jerkin may have been more of a Catalan or

45

Aragonese fashion; note the wooden buttons down the front and coloured woollen fringes at hem and shoulders. A broad 'cummerbund', here Interpreted as rawhide, would be worn by Medlterrean sailors as late as the 18th century. His shirt sleeves are rolled up; obscured here, he would wear his white woollen hose rolled down below the knees and secured there by laces. His weapon is an Iron polearm; the purpose of the hooked filment on his convex shield Is unknown. (Main sources: The Betrayal, Aragonese wall painting, mid-14 cent., In situ church, Urries, Saragossa; Crucifixion, painted retable by Jaime Serra, Catalan, mid-14 cent., Museu Episcopal, Vic; Arrest of Jesus, Navarrese carving, mid-14 cent., in situ Calhedral, Pamplona) E3: Castilian naval captain Castilian military equipment had various distinctive features such as a preference for light armour, much of It of hardened leather reflecting a residual Arab-Islamic heritage. Here the caplaln wears such hardened leather leg armour over mail chausses, which were probably suited to naval warfare. His coat-of-plates has a high collar; and a yellow fabric lining with bra ded edges, ex1ended at the arms and skirt and Incorporating Internal leather upper arm defences. (Main sources: 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 1415-1435 F1: Jeanne d'Arc, c.1430 Joan of Arc was undoubtedly an inspirational leader, though it was her less inspiring male colleagues who provided the military know-how. Here Ste Jeanne is shown wearing typical middle-class women's costume, with her hair loose and uncovered - this marked the virginal status of 'The Maid' plus a sword at her side. The banner carried by the Breton man-at-arms In the background is based on a small drawing of Jeanne made during her lifetime, while her shield is said to be based on written descriptions. (Main source: drawing of Jeanne d'Arc on the Registre du Conseil du Parlement de Paris, 10 Mai 1429, Archives Nationales, Paris)

F2: French knight, c.1440 This rather gorgeously appointed knight - demonstrating his wealth by his fashionable pearl-strewn fur and velvet hat, and his courtly accomplishments by his musical skills - wears a tabard bearing the arms of Guillaume de Flavy, the Captain of Compiegne, who fought at Jeanne's side. He also wears a surcoat wi h puffed sleeves repeating his arms, over his full plate armour, and his 'great bascinet' stands ready at his feet. His 'ballock' dagger is visible at his hip; for close foot combat he would also be armed with his sword and a poleaxe. (Main sources: great bascinet, Burgundian c.1430, Navarre Museum, Pamplona; Sf Maurice, French statue from the Tarrasque Alter, c.1460, In situ Cathedral, Aix-en-Provenclinilil'e 11Inly~is IIf Ihl' ;lPP ~lranl'C. lI'e:lpnn:-. equipmenr. laCIlC:-, ·haraelcr. ml eundilillns ur serl'ice nr Ihe individual lighling man Ihrolll!hllUI hi~UJry. 1~;lch 6+-pa~e book il\dude~ rull- 'nillur unirC>ml srudi's in c\"M: derail, ;1I1d seclillnal ,Irtllork urthe snldier's I.:quipmcnt.

48

ELITE [) 'Iailed in ormation n the OIl,.r;tnislIliun, apP~lral1CC and fighting: rccord or Ihe world mo t famous milirary huc.li ':-. This series ol64-page bouks, each c(>nraining sume 50 photOgr, ph. and diagrams and 12 full-colour plates, will hl'Oac.lcn in Sl:Ope t I l:uvcr p'rsonalit;"s, si~l1ifil:ant military leehniqu 'S, ami other aspect or I'h ' hi 'tOry or warfare II'hkh demand 1I ccunprchcn 'jve illuslrnt 'd treatment.

NEW VANGUARD ClIl1lprchemil'e hislllrie:- IIf Ihe design. \'1 '\01 m 'nl and 1I1l'rallUl1al U'l' or Inc \lorld ~ armoured "eni 'Ics and artillery. 1':.leh 41l-p.lg:e hnn~ cnnt:lin:- ·itthl pattes of rull-