Feudal Troop Types

Hârnic Infantry
(My Interpretation)

According the Hârnic references above, Hârnic feudal militias are considered a single entity consisting of one man per household. These forces are normally unarmored and carry farm implements and/or homemade weapons. However, a closer look at the material shows that the Hârnic militia is more complicated than that. In fact, it consists of at least two separate levels of militia; a general militia as just identified and a most specific militia consisting of only freemen. I have taken this even further and broken it down to three types of militia forces to more reflect the historical norm of the medieval period. Therefore there is the rural militia with its general and select call up and the urban militia provided by most urban centers.

Rural Militias:

Hârnic feudal militias can be classed in a variety of ways. Two of those forms fall within the realm of rural militias that will embody all able-bodied men between the ages of 15 and 50. The first of these is the general militia consisting of all free and serf born men. The second consist of a more select militia of freemen only. At the least, each rural household should be able to provide one man for the militia. In fact, some house holds may provide two or three, while others can provide none; in the end it may be closer to one and half men per household. The general militia will only be maintained in the field for no more than a 10 day until more substantial forces can be brought in to quell the problem. On the other hand, the select militia can be held in the field for up to 60 days with nothing but support being offered; after that time they must be paid.

General Levy:

The General militia is a ready defense force that can be mobilized at three levels; these levels being the village, hundred and shire. All men between the ages of 15 and 60 must respond to the summons with what ever arms and armor they have at hand. Most of this force is composed of serfs, they will have little in the way of protection and weapons; however, there will also be a small core consisting of freemen who normally make up the second type of militia (see below). The most common militiaman will be outfitted as an unarmored or lightly armored footmen, some may have bows (this will be address under the Missile Troops article).

The primary function of this force is to defend the village, hundred or shire from an attacking force and is not intended to be an attack force in just about any conceivable circumstance. At the most, such a force can sustain itself, on its own provisions, for a day or two and no more. Afterwards it is the responsibility of the lord who summoned them to provide them with support (manorial lord, bailiff of the hundred or sheriff). At the most, this force is more effective at policing than fighting. However, in a pinch it can chase off or deter a band of brigands or a gargun incursion.

Select Levy:

The second form of militia is one more commonly encountered in a military scenario. It consists of freemen only and is normally mustered at hundred or shire level and will be supported by the lord who had them mustered.

Once a muster is called all freemen of a village will retrieve their equipment and assemble on the village common. From there they converge on the hundred moot where they will be formed into companies. Each company will have a sergeant or senior squire of the shire assigned as its commander. Once everything is ready the force will march to a designated muster area within the shire if raised by the sheriff or a local lord; or to a designated assembly area if mustered on the king's order. Once at the designated point companies will be arranged into battles (battalions) with a royal knight placed in command of each. Militia companies may be a formed of infantry and/or missile troops. Most commanders will attempt to keep battles formed of men from the same region in order to deter any squabbles within the army.

Militia forces made up of these freemen are considered by most nobles as a significant military element in any army. However, it is also known that militias drawn from frontier ranges are exceptional in their training and skill and are usually quite good in a fight. This is most likely due to their constant struggle with raiding tribal bands, brigands and gargun, not to mention the occasional ivashu.

Rural Militia Armor and Weapons:

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.

Unarmored Foot:

The majority of the men will be of servile status and report to the muster with nothing more than their clothing and some makeshift weapons, a knife or axe.

• Men holding less than 40 acres or less than £6 of chattels would need to report with falchions, knives, halberds, and other small arms (UF).

Light Foot:

Some of the more prosperous serfs and most freemen will be lightly armored and have some form of standard weapon on hand.

• Men holding 41 acres to 100 acres or £6 to £13 of chattels would need to report with a quilted shirt, an iron cap, a sword, a lance, and a knife (LF).

Medium Foot:

A few of the more prosperous freemen will have better armor and weapons and be considered the elite of these militia forces.

• Men holding 101 to 200 acres or £13 to £26 of chattels would need to report with a hauberk, an iron cap, a sword, and a knife (MF).

Urban Militias:

The third form of militia is the urban militia. This force is composed of all franchised men of an urban center, meaning no unfree men are admitted to their ranks. Again this force will consist of all men between the ages of 15 and 60. In addition these men will be required to arm themselves very similar to the select militia above.

Unarmored Foot:

• Men holding less than £6 of chattels would need to report with falchions, knives, halberds, and other small arms (UF).

Light Foot:

• Men holding £6 to £13 of chattels would need to report with a quilted shirt, an iron cap, a sword, a lance, and a knife (LF).

Medium Foot:

• Men holding £13 to £26 of chattels would need to report with a hauberk, an iron cap, a sword, and a knife (MF).

When a city is formed, whether feudal or free, it will usually receive a charter from the lord granting it the right to be a town. In return for the rights given by such a charter they in turn must agree to provide military assistance when requested. Each city's militia is organized on either a ward or trade affiliation with an alderman or senior guildsman appointed as the leader of each company formed. In smaller towns some companies may contain more than the standard number of men if they lack the numbers to form two companies. Like the above militias, it is assumed that at least each household will have one man to contribute; however, it is also more likely the number is closer to one and half men per household.

Therefore each feudal lord will have a core infantry unit available to him based on the towns within his domains. These troops are usually as good as or better than the select militia above in that they perform regular watch duties within the town and surrounding community and may be mustered once a month by their lord or mayor in order to receive drill and weapons training. Like the select militia, those urban centers located in frontier regions will usually be better trained and more experienced than other urban units. Like the select militia, the urban militia can be held in the field for up to 60 days with nothing but support being offered; after that time they must be paid also.

Professional Troops:

I believe this is the most common soldier characters will run across outside of the nobility. As is stated above; "The mercenary is a professional soldier whose conduct is dictated not by his membership of a political community but above all by his desire for gain. In short, the mercenary is defined by three qualities: being a specialist, stateless and paid." The soldiers of this class may be paid soldiers and specialists; but they are far from stateless. These men are loyal to their lords and serve them out of loyalty to the lord himself or the state. In addition, most of these men may have long term contracts for service or other accommodation made with their lord instead of the short term contract of a mercenary. Most garrison troops and all royal guards can be counted in their number. Other forces like the March armies may need a mixture of both professional troops and mercenaries.

One element missing 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 a soldier (noble or common), or administrators for that fact, 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. Although mostly used to secure the services of knights and noble administrators, it is also used to secure the services of key military positions within a fortress or a lord’s retinue.

Most professional soldiers are going to be equipped as medium or light foot; some may be bowmen and will be covered in the missile troops section. The most common equipment being:

Light Foot:

• Plate halfhelm
• Gambeson or Leather tunic (may be reinforced with metal rings)
• Shield
• Spear
• Dagger (maybe a sword)

Medium Foot:

• Mail habergeon
• Plate halfhelm
• Shield
• Spear
• Sword

Mercenary Troops:

Unlike the professional soldier above, the mercenary had no ties to a state or lord unless his pay was current and he was treated fairly. Most are just as experienced and capable as the professional soldier and usually they would serve along side each other within garrisons and field forces; the mercenary being used to fill gaps when enough professional soldiers were not available.

In general, mercenaries could be found as individuals, unorganized groups of individuals or organized companies. In the first instance these were men who had no ties to others of their kind and were available for hire by anyone who had the means or the need. The unorganized groups were nothing more than a collection of individuals who temporarily banded together so they can find employment, usually as guards, or escorts for merchants and lesser nobility. The last group was actual companies of mercenaries under a captain of their choosing and on the look out for employment guarding rich caravans, in the retinue of nobles or in the armies of territorial princes.

The quality and quantity of mercenaries available to any particular region was quite variable, the factors involved including the current state of peace, political climate, conditions within the surrounding regions, available economic resources, etc. Most Hârnic mercenaries are from Hârn itself, with some hardy Lýthian soldiers coming to the island in look of adventure and loot. Orbaal is probably a major exporter of soldier; while Rethem is most likely the main importer of such forces. The summer is a key time for employment and thus also sees the fewest men being available as they are usually snatched up quite early by those contemplating raids and/or war. Most mercenaries found in the west are either men coming from the east in search of adventure and booty or Ivinians coming from the north looking for the same. The East sees the majority of northwestern Lýthian mercenaries, the majority coming to Melderyn to take part in the crusade or going to Kaldor or Chybisa to take part in the incessant raids on the neighboring tribal bands.

Most mercenaries will be armed in light armor with a small number using medium weight armor. The equipment used is very similar to that of the professional soldiers listed above. There are mercenary bowmen; however, they will be listed under missile troops.