Medieval warfare Vol I - 2 - The power of wealth

Medieval warfare Vol I - 2 - The power of wealth

Artikelnummer: 2227200002
Kategorie: Medieval Warfare Magazine

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Medieval Warfare I.2, 2011 Theme: The power of wealth: Mercenaries in the Middle Ages Introduction: Owen Rees, 'Introduction to the theme - Valiant before friends, cowardly before enemies'. Illustrated by Chris Giannapoulos. Let us descend into the dark abyss, the underbelly, the ever present undercurrent of Medieval Warfare. It is a place oft trodden but seldom explored, a place where preconceptions and prejudice run riot, a place where the death of many a man is worth no more than the coins in his purse, a place whence the words for loyalty and finance become interchangeable. Within this issue we shall elucidate and illuminate the damp, dark world of the alleged snake of the military world: the mercenary. The Source: Murray Dahm, 'The Chronicles of Jean Froissart - Warfare and Chivalry in the Hundred Years War'. Jean Froissart's Chronicles is 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, 'Ringing out 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. One major factor is the phasing out of feudal levies in favour of professional military companies. While mercenary infantry had increasingly augmented feudal armies during the late Middle Ages, the rise of the German Landsknecht formations in the late fifteenth century can be considered a military turning point at the end of the Medieval period. Theme: Arnold Blumberg, 'Monarchs and mercenaries - The use of soldiers for hire 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 resistance by the nobility to those proclivities was played-out not only in the council chamber, but also on the battlefield. One striking factor in the monarch's favor in those ongoing contests with the nation's landed aristocracy was the employment of mercenaries. Theme: Raffaele d'Amato, 'The Golden Age of the Varangian Guard - A short history of the Guard from 988 to 1204'. At the end of 9th century, Kônstantinopolis (Constantinople) was the biggest city of Europe. Its unique position on the Bosphorus, where many trade routes ended or crossed, allowed trade in grain, furs and slaves from Russia and the Black Sea area. Along these roads came adventurers and warriors from Scandinavia and Russia, who traced the road of the Varangians to the Greeks. In Vyzantion (Byzantium), the Norsemen were destined to be remembered primarily as members of the Varangian Guard, which protected the holy Vasiléfs (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 Garcia. The late medieval era witnessed a dramatic rise in the use of mercenary soldiers. The feudal system as practiced in Western Europe and the Byzantine military system of themata gradually deteriorated as effective mechanisms for efficiently creating armies. At the same time, the protracted wars throughout Spain, France and Italy produced a plethora of experienced soldiers. At the end of these wars, such soldiers organized themselves in autonomous war bands known as Free Companies that travelled throughout 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, 'Late medieval Scottish swords - Strength and balance from the North'. Like the warriors who wielded them, late medieval Scottish swords were distinctive and deadly. The cutting power of these weapons was awesome, and some were reckoned better even than the blades of Gaelic legend. The Castle: Garth Williams, 'The iron ring of Edward Longshanks - Castles of North Wales'. Illustrated by Carlos Garcia. During the late 13th century, King Edward I sanctioned the building of a string of castles to fortify the North Wales coast. Together they formed an 'Iron Ring' with which to restrain the recalcitrant Welsh. Militarily, these stone behemoths were of limited value as they were often defended by small garrisons. Although these were considered adequate to maintain the castle, they certainly proved insufficient to protect the adjoining town and its population as later Welsh rebellions would clearly reveal. What, then, was the purpose of such an expensive building project in North Wales? The Battle: Andrei Pogacias, 'The campaign of Varna - An example of how to loose a victory'. Illustrated by Alina Bondrea The battle of Varna, romantically called 'The last Crusade', was another important episode in the long conflict between the Hungarian Kingdom and the Ottoman Turks. The idea of a crusade started again in Rome after the Council of Florence of 1439, when the Union of Christian Churches had finally been adopted. Apart from the religious agreement, there was also a military stipulation: the West would provide Constantinople with military help against the Ottomans. Thus, the romantic idea of a crusade was meant to get as many followers, money and fervour as possible. The Duel: John Clements, 'Combat mysteries - Explaining the missing evidence'. Many times, we are asked by enthusiasts of a particular martial culture about the combat methods or 'martial art style' of some earlier warriors - typically the Vikings, Celts, early Scots, Roman gladiators, or Spartans. I'm also asked regularly why we don't 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 involved.

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