Feudal Troop Types

Hârnic Cavalry
(My Interpretation)

Knights:

As stated in the above Hârnic references, the Hârnic knight is a member of the nobility; however, it is neither a feudal title nor is it hereditary. The knight earns his spurs from another knight either through gallant acts on the field of arms or serves as squire under another knight.

The Hârnic knight can be found in a variety of grades based on wealth, titles, and ties. The upper echelons of knighthood encompass individuals holding noble titles or offices from the king or tenants-in-chief. The middle ranked knights are those who hold lands in fief or even money fiefs from a liege lord or the king. Finally there is the lower stratum of knighthood composed of the knight bachelors of a liege lord's household and the numerous landless knights serving in religious orders or as mercenaries.

The armament of the knight is based on the basics as outlined in Henry II's Assize of Arms above. Although there is no record that any feudal king on Hârn has ever enacted such a proclamation, it can be assumed that some form of decree was expressed at some point in their histories. Therefore, we can use both Henry's description, that found in BattleLust and the comments from the more recent Kanday and Kaldor articles to come up with a basic description for a knight's equipment at the lowest and upper levels of Hârnic knighthood.

Fief Rent and/or Money Fief:

A missing element from Hârn that was present within the period I model Hârn on is the Fief Rent or Money Fief. This type of fief enabled a lord to secure the services of an individual for a number of years or even a life time. Such fiefs were rarely given for more than one life time and were not heritable. The fief rent worked like a regular land fief in that the individual became the vassal of the lord granting the fief and in turn they owed him what ever obligation the contract specified.

Although the Hârnic material does not specifically mention such a fief, it does allude to with the wages owed for the noble administrative positions listed for each kingdom.

Heavy Horse:

Knights outfitted as Heavy Horse will normally come from the upper echelons of the nobility (barons, earls, princes, royal officials and kings to name a few) or from the holders of fiefs with 1500 acres or more. Their armament will be similar to that outlined in the 'Rule of the Templars' or the knights serving Florence in 1260. The average knight dressed in the armor of a heavy horseman would have the following:

• Mail Hauberk with Gambeson
• Mail Chausses
• 3/4 Helm or Great Helm with padded coif
• Espaliers on the shoulders (plate or kurbul)
• Sollerets for the feet (plate or kurbul)
• Cloth surcoat of heavy cloth or even silk for formal occasions
• Shield
• Lance
• Sword

Historically, the cuirass was known during the period I have mentioned above and used mostly by the very rich due to its expense. Many scholars believe it started out as a hardened leather breast plate worn under the hauberk. They determine it was hardened leather since it was usually called a curie or lamières in the historical documents. Other sources, such as for Richard I of England mention metal plates under the hauberk. With this in mind, the heavy horseman may also be outfitted with one of the following:

• Kurbul cuirass (front and back) worn normally under the hauberk but may also be work over it.
• A cuirass made of large plates riveted to a leather or heavy cloth foundation and worn like the kurbul one mentioned above. Only the richest of knights would be able to afford such a luxury.

Medium Horse:

All other knights will usually fall into this category of horseman. Their armament being similar to that outlined in Henry's assize above. The base kit required of any knight is as follows:

• Mail habergeon or better (may be padded or not)
• Plate halfhelm
• Shield
• Lance
• Sword
• In addition to the basics mentioned, mail coifs and mittens may be worn, additional side arms, and additional spot protection at key areas such as the elbows, knees and thighs.

Mounts:

As the historical references mention above, the knight did not serve with just one horse but up to four animals; the upper nobility most likely being allowed more due to their station. With this in mind the following should apply to all knights not holding a feudal title or office:

• Knight's Bachelor - 1 horse
• Landed Knights - 3 horses

Squires/Servants:

As the Hârnic sources imply, the squire was a knight in training. In most medieval societies a boy was considered to me a man and fit for war by the age of 15; this the reference in the Assize of Arms of all men aged 15 to 65. The squire was his lord’s servant and groom as well as his trainee. The service elements being considered part of his social training in preparation to be a knight. As he got older he would learn more of the art of war to include the use of the sword from foot and horseback, the use of the lance while mounted, and how to use both weapons with a shield in a melee.

According to some of the sources used above the squire would either stay with the baggage if he were still young (12-14) or ride forward with other squires at the rear of the knights and assist in taking of prisoners or dispatching fallen enemy depending on their status.

Once a squire was deemed ready for his spurs, it was up to his sponsor to outfit him with his first full set of armor. Only a rich knight would ever provide a newly dubbed knight with the armament of a heavy horseman, unless of course the new knight was the son of a noble of the upper echelons (and then dad may even chip in some silver for the expenses incurred in equipping his son).

However, not all knights could afford to maintain a squire, especially a knight bachelor. These men would hire or acquire the services of a common boy as their man servant who would serve the same function as a squire without the promise of being knighted. Some may stay on as armed retainers (see sergeants below) or move on once they reached an older age; thus causing the knight to have to secure the services of another boy.

A knight's squire or servant would be dressed according to the ability of their sponsor. Thus the squire of a knight who could afford the armament of a heavy horseman would most likely provide his young squire upon the age of 15 or 16 with the armament of a medium horseman (see above) otherwise he would have the armament of a light horseman. Knights who could not afford the armament of a heavy horseman would provide their squires or servants with the armament of a light horseman.

The armament for a heavy and medium horseman is outlined above under the knight. A light horseman would have the following equipment:

• Plate halfhelm
• Gambeson or Leather tunic (may be reinforced with metal rings)
• Shield
• Lance
• Sword (shortsword for boys)

Some squires or servants may have also been provided with plate or kurbul espaliers and tippets to protect their shoulders and necks.

Mounted Men-at-Arms/Sergeants:

Hârnic canon does not touch this subject as far as the feudal kingdoms are concerned. The only allusion to such a class I can find comes from the statement that the son of a knight who does not himself becomes a knight will remain a member of the gentry; however his heirs do remain so if they in turn do not get knighted. This kind of flies in the face of what was actually happening in feudal Europe at the time. Maybe Hârn has yet to reach that point when the cost of maintaining oneself as a knight is so prohibitive that an individual would rather not get knighted. With that said there are still places where this class of horseman does fit in the scheme of things.

Although Hârnic kingdoms do not have any recorded regulation on the weapons and armor that a freeman must possess as medieval England and France had, it can be assumed that there is some form of control in place. Therefore the following may be appropriate for most Hârnic kingdoms.

• Men holding 201 to 300 acres or £27 or more of chattels would need to report with a shirt of mail, an iron cap, a sword, a knife, and a horse (MH).

Mounted Servants:

One such position that such an individual can fill has already been mentioned above and that is the mounted servant of a knight. This individual is not a squire, but fills the same role for his lord. The majority of these men will be outfitted as the light horseman described above.

In addition to a knight's servant the religious orders have sergeants on their roles that fulfill the same role as a knight’s squire, but also provide the order with a lightly armed force that can conduct scouting duties. They too are equipped as the light horseman above.

Light Horse:

Some kingdoms, such as Kaldor, also have established bodies of mounted sergeants who form light horse squadrons to patrol and protect trade routes and border areas on a full-time basis. They are also equipped as light horsemen.

Medium Horse:

Aside from the light horsemen it can be assumed that there are also medium horse sergeants available as mercenaries or fulfilling other duties within a kingdom. Manorial bailiffs could be such individuals if they are not already knighted. Unknighted sons of the gentry can also be employed as medium horse. I think the statement above, that a family looses its standing as members of the gentry once they have moved more than one generation of a knighted member should be changed to reflect a coming change in the social structure of Hârnic feudal society, much as happened throughout Europe towards the end of the 13th century. The medium mounted sergeant would be equipped like a medium horseman above and function in the same manner as his noble counterparts.

Mounted Bowmen:

Outside of the two mounted tribal nations on Hârn, there is no mention of mounted bowmen in the canon material. Since the crossbow is very uncommon on Hârn its use in this area would also be quite rare. Within our own history, the use of mounted long bowmen was not adopted until after the period we are using for our model. Therefore, if a player does choose to use mounted bowmen, keep these few factors in mind.

• Mounted bowmen almost always dismounted to use their weapons.
• The armament used by such a force would be similar to that of light horsemen.
• The primary weapons should be limited to light crossbows or shortbows.
• If using tribal troops to fill this role, their armament should be light or unarmored IAW there cultural heritage.