Enjoy Medieval Warfare Vol I - 2 - The Power Of Wealth

Medieval Warfare i.2, 2011

Theme: The power of wealth: mercenaries in the Middle Ages

Introduction: Owen Rees,

'Introduction to the theme - brave before friends, cowardly before enemies'.

Illustrated by Chris Giannapoulos.

Let us descend into the dark abyss, the vulnerable underbelly, the ever-present undercurrent
of medieval warfare. It is a well-traveled but rarely explored place, a place where
preconceived notions and prejudices run wild, a place where the death of many men is
worth no more than the coins in their purse, a place where the words of loyalty
and finance become interchangeable. Within this theme, we will elucidate and
illuminate the dark, damp world of the reputed serpent of the military world:
the mercenary.

The Source: Murray Dahm,

'The Chronicles of Jean Froissart: war and chivalry in the Hundred Years' War'.

The Chronicles of Jean Froissart are one of the most important sources for the opening
period of the Hundred Years' War (1322-1400). Written between approximately 1369
and 1400, the chronicles contain a treasure trove of details for the military
historian. Once dismissed as romantic nonsense, Froissart is now recognized as
a valuable source for historical research.

Theme: Sidney Dean,

"Resonating the Middle Ages: Landsknecht mercenaries lead Europe into the Renaissance". Illustrated by Dariusz Bufnal.

The transition from medieval to Renaissance warfare is marked not only by changes
in weaponry or fortifications. An important factor is the gradual elimination of the feudal
levy system in favor of professional military companies. While mercenary infantry had
increasingly augmented feudal armies during the late Middle Ages, the emergence of the
German Landsknecht formations of the late 15th century can be considered a
military turning point at the end of the medieval period.

Theme: Arnold Blumberg,

'Monarchs and mercenaries: the use of hired soldiers by English kings in the High Middle Ages'. Illustrated by Johnny Shumate.

Throughout the medieval period, the struggle between the centralizing tendencies
of English kings and the resistance of the nobility to those inclinations was
played out not only in the council chamber, but also on the battlefield. One
surprising factor in favor of the monarch in the ongoing contests with the nation's
landowning aristocracy was the employment of mercenaries.

Theme: Raffaele D'Amato,

"The golden age of the Varangian Guard: a brief history of the Guard from 988 to 1204".

At the end of the 9th century, Constantinopolis (Constantinople) was the largest city
in Europe. Its unique position on the Bosphorus, where many trade routes ended or
crossed, allowed for the trade of grain, furs, and slaves from Russia and the Black Sea area.
Along these paths came adventurers and warriors from Scandinavia and Russia, who
traced the path of the Varangians to the Greeks. In Byzantion (Byzantium), the
Norsemen were destined to be remembered primarily as members of the Varangian
Guard, protecting the holy Basileus (Emperor).

Theme: Vassilis Pergalias,

"The Catalan Company in the East: defeating Byzantium, the Ottomans, and the Franks". Illustrated by Darren Tan, Andrew Bock, and Carlos García.

The late medieval period saw a dramatic increase in the use of mercenary soldiers.
The feudal system practiced in Western Europe and the Byzantine military system
of themes gradually deteriorated as effective mechanisms for efficiently creating
armies. At the same time, the prolonged wars in Spain, France, and Italy
produced a large number of experienced soldiers. At the end of these wars, such
soldiers organized themselves into autonomous war bands known as Free Companies,
which traveled through the war-torn lands of Europe, collectively selling their
services to the highest bidder. Probably the most successful and adventurous of
all was the Great Catalan Company.

Features

The Weapon: Ross Cowan,

'Scottish swords of the late Middle Ages: strength and balance from the North'.

Like the warriors who wielded them, Scottish swords of the late Middle Ages were distinctive
and deadly. The cutting power of these weapons was astounding, and some were
considered better even than the swords of Gaelic legend.

The Castle: Garth Williams, 'Edward Longshanks' iron ring - castles of North Wales'. Illustrated by Carlos García.

At the end of the 13th century, King Edward I authorized the construction of a chain
of castles to fortify the coast of North Wales. Together they formed an 'iron ring'
with which to contain the recalcitrant Welsh. Militarily, these stone giants
had limited value as they were often defended by small garrisons. Although
these were considered adequate to hold the castle, they certainly proved to be
insufficient to protect the adjoining town and its population, as subsequent Welsh
rebellions would clearly reveal. What, then, was the purpose of such a costly
construction project in North Wales?

The Battle: Andrei Pogacias,

"The Varna campaign: an example of how to lose a victory".

Illustrated by Alina Bondrea

The Battle of Varna, romantically called "the last crusade", was another important
episode of the long conflict between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Ottoman Turks.
The idea of a crusade resurfaced in Rome after the Council of Florence in 1439,
when the union of Christian churches was finally adopted. Aside from the
religious agreement, there was also a military stipulation: the West would provide
Constantinople with military aid against the Ottomans. Thus, the romantic idea
of a crusade was intended to gain as many followers, money, and passion as possible.

The Duel: John Clements, 'Mysteries of combat: explaining the missing evidence'.

Often, enthusiasts of a certain martial culture ask us about the
combat methods or "martial arts style" of some earlier warriors, typically the
Vikings, Celts, early Scots, Roman gladiators, or Spartans. I am also asked
regularly why we do not bother to "study" or "practice" those fighting skills.
Aside from the fact that our specific area of interest is the 14th to 17th
centuries of Western Europe, there is a much deeper issue at stake. In Todo Medieval we have thousands of medieval and other era products. Discover them!