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History => Ancient and Medieval History => Topic started by: Duncan Head on October 13, 2022, 02:36:14 PM

Title: L'armée provençale en 1374
Post by: Duncan Head on October 13, 2022, 02:36:14 PM
Interesting article here  (https://www.persee.fr/doc/anami_0003-4398_1979_num_91_141_1741) about the army of Provence at the time of the Hundred Years War. Although of course Provence was part of the Empire at this period, it was ruled by the French Angevin dynasty, and the army seems to have been pretty French in style. The infantry listed are crossbowmen, pavisiers and brigands and seem to have been armed in much the same style as their French counterparts discussed in the Currently Reading thread (https://soa.org.uk/sm/index.php?topic=137.msg84629#msg84629).
Title: Re: L'armée provençale en 1374
Post by: Erpingham on October 13, 2022, 03:28:58 PM
Very interesting.  Loved the descriptions of the individual soldiers and the analysis of degree of "beardiness"  :)

The mixture of two and three man lances was perhaps an indicator of a transition between the two.  Use of "pillard" for the third man, rather than varlet, might be a regional difference to France.  The small scale organisation of the infantry units fits size wise with the French ordnannce of 1351, as does the fact that they have a standard of some sort.

The details of the brigans was particularly intriguing.  No shields, carrying lance, crossbow or bow.  Unlike the militia crossbows and pavisiers no metalic armour, it seems.

Intriguing rare detailed insight, that.  Thanks Duncan.