Ebook: Warfare in Medieval Brabant, 1356-1406

The duchy of Brabant was one of the most powerful principalities of the Low Countries. The second half of the 14th century saw a particularly dramatic period in its history: the house of Leuven was on the point of disappearance, the duchy was coveted by Philip the Bold of Burgundy, and, by a network of alliances, Brabant was drawn into the Hundred Years' War. In this exciting context, various aspects of medieval warfare will be studied for the first time.

The successive conflicts which troubled the duchy between 1356 and 1406 are review. The different authorities which influenced the course of military operations - the duchess and the duke, their officers, and the Estates of Brabant - are presented. The combatants, above all the nobility and the urban militias, are described. Then, all the practical aspects of warfare will be considered in detail. Finally, the military obligations and contracts which bound the men at arms to the duke are analyzed.