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Topic: Flemish town militias from Courtrai to the 15th C.

Pieter
New Member
Member # 4233

posted 03-01-2008 06:43 AM

I am one of the founding mebers of Wolfe Argent and have previously posted under another name a long time ago. I am looking for books, reseach, and any other form of information on Flemish town militias from 1300 to the middle of the 15th C. I'm having a hard time finding anything specific on the subject. There is of course easier reading on Italian militias: Osprey Books, "Warrior." series, "Italian Militiaman 1260–1392." by David Nicolle.But that is of course the wrong area! Then there are other works that are closer to the target from what I understand (not owning or having read them), such as:
"Infantry Warfare in the Early Fourteenth Century: Discipline, Tactics, and Technology." By Kelly DeVries ; "The Art of Warfare in Western Europe during the Middle Ages from the Eighth Century." By J.F. Verbruggen. and: "The Battle of the Golden Spurs (Courtrai, 11 July 1302): A Contribution to the History of Flanders' War of Liberation, 1297-1305." also by Verbruggen. (closer I'm sure but only for the early 14th C.). I'm trying to find out how a Flemish (or Low-Countries) town militia was built or put together. Where did the different social classes fit into the militia and its rank structure? How did the rank structure work? Who was required to serve and who not? What was the required age of service? What were the duties of and in the militia? How were the different classes and or ranks armed (armour and weapons - very important!)? How often did they train, drill or practice? What tactics or formations were used? If anyone could possibly have any information on sources or even sources of their own, I would really appreciate any information. Even if it is in Dutch, anything would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Pieter.

Registered: Feb 2008 | IP: Logged

Bertus
Member
Member # 308

posted 03-02-2008 11:54 AM

Hello Pieter,

This subject is of interest to me too, though I have not yet had the time to really delve into it. From the few articles/books that I have read I understand that the organisation and rank structure of the medieval militia would depend on who was in charge of the town.

If the nobility and/or wealthy merchants were the ones running the show then they or their representatives or people from their class would be the ones leading the militia. And the militia would then often be neighbourhood based. So when marching out en masse they would have X number of men from quarter 1 and Y number of men from quarter 2, probably depending on how many people lived there.

If on the other hand the guilds were in power of the town you would often see the militia organisation be reformed to this system. Z number of weavers, Q number of butchers, and so forth, probably with their alderman leading each group.

These two systems of course did not always work exactly like that, it could be that guilds governed the town but that the militia would still be neighbourhood based (which is more efficient in times of alarm). The other way around, having the wealthy guys run the town but have the militia be run organised guildwise, probably happened a lot less because you would not want the guilds to be able to be easily turned against you, armed and organised, if you were the rich guys on the town council.

The following article is nice to read, though in general about the Holy Roman Empire (in which the Low Countries were situated, except for Flanders):

Eltis, David (1989), Towns and Defence in Later Medieval Germany. Nottingham mediaeval studies, vol. 33, pp. 91-103. ISSN 0078-2122.

I also like this book, which is about the now lost Leugemeete Fresco which showed the town militia of Gent in 1346. The book also tells a bit about who they were, their arms and armour, etc. :

Werveke, Alfons van (1909), Het Godshuis van Sint Jan & Sint Pauwel te Gent, bijgenaamd De Leugemeete: de kapel en haar muurschilderingen van ca. 1346. Deel: [I: Tekst], [II: Lichtdrukplaten], [III: Steendrukplaten]. Maatschappij der Vlaamsche Bibliophilen ; 4e reeks, nr. 15. Gent: Annoot-Braeckman.

Furthermore there is an online (book.google.nl) old article dealing with the shooting fraternities:

Van Asch van Wijck, A.M.C. (1848), De schut- of schuttengilde in Nederland. In: Berigten van het Historisch Gezelschap te Utrecht, tweede stuk, pp. 92-202. Utrecht: Kemink en Zoon.

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Bertus Brokamp

Registered: Apr 2002 | IP: Logged

Pieter
New Member
Member # 4233

posted 03-03-2008 08:05 PM

Bertus,
Thank you so much for all the info! I found the one article online. I'm looking forward to tracking down the other two books. I believe that I have seen sketches after the now lost Leugemeete Fresco, and have been interested in finding more information on it. By the way has anyone read any of the books that I have mentioned in my original question (by J.F. Verbruggen and Kelly DeVries)? - and if so what are thier opinnions of the books and or authors? While we are on the subject Bertus, are there any other Dutch books on the Netherlands and low-countries during the 14th-15th C.s that you would recomend? Thanks again Bertus!! Any more info as you delve into this subject in the future, and from anyone would be much appreciated! Thank you.
Pieter.

Registered: Feb 2008 | IP: Logged

jboerner
Member
Member # 996

posted 03-04-2008 06:15 AM

The book by Kelly de Vries in my opintion is a must-have, since it clears up such common misconceptions as the effect of the english warbow in france, and analyses the sources for several battles fought in this era.

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Diu Minnezît
Reconstruction of textiles, armour and daily life
1250,1350,1475
Nuremberg and Paris
http://www.diu-minnezit.de

IG Meisterhauw
Reconstruction of late medieval and early renaissance fencing techniques
http://www.meisterhauw.de

Nuremberg in the middle ages
http://www.nuernberg-im-mittelalter.de

Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

Pieter
New Member
Member # 4233

posted 03-06-2008 02:27 AM

Jens,
Thanks for the recommendation. I just found and ordered, what I think may have been the last reasonably priced, used coppy online.

Pieter.

Registered: Feb 2008 | IP: Logged

redrob
New Member
Member # 1018

posted 04-16-2008 11:15 AM

You might try to get hold of Recherches historiques sur les costumes civils et militaires, etc. by Felix de Vigne. Elibron Classics pub 2005 facsimile of 1843. Some intersting stuff in there about Flemish Guilds and colour pictures of the leugemeete.
Robin

Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged

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