m337

The role played by a ‘popular resistance’ against English rule in Normandy is still a matter of debate. Yet there was undoubtedly widespread antagonism to the English occupation, reflected in a popular song which sounded like a humourous cali to arms: Among you, people of the village, who love the French king, take good heart, to fight the English. Let each take his hoe, the better to uproot them. And iflhey do not wish to go, at least make a face at them. Do not fear to strike them, those big bellied God-Damns, for one of us is worthfour of them, or at least he is worth three of them. ’

ORGAN ISATION

Tristan slays a rival in part of The Story of Tristan and Iseult on a series of mid- to late 14th century Southern French wali paintings. Notę the ‘fan’ crests -both men and horses have the old-fashioned military equipment which seems to have persisted in isolated regions of France such as the Auvergne. At right centre, the colour contrast shows clearly the straps and padded leather squab on the inside surface of the shield. (in situ Templer Chapel of the Castle, St Floret; author's photo)

Following a hard-fought war against Flemish rebels early in the 14th century, King Philip V reorganised his army in 1317. Above all he wished to ensure Royal control over the appointment of military and regional commanders. At the same time French field armies continued to have from three to four times as many infantry as cavalry. There was another morę generał shake-up in 1351, in the face of an expected English invasion, when the King issued a new Reglement pour les Gens de Guerre lixing 25 as the minimum number of men-at-arms a chevetaine or captain could lead under his banner. A new scalę of wages was also introduced for such companies who would, in turn, be reviewed every two months by the MarshaPs clerks.

Tater the same year Kingjohn created the Order of the Star, a secular or monarchical order comparable to the rival English Order of the Garter, to serve as an elite group around which an army could be built. In the event the disasters of the first phase of the Hundred Years War meant that the Order of the Star had a very short history, many of its members being killed at Mauron in 1352 while most of the rest died at Poitiers four years later.

Like his predecessors, John continued to summon barons and members of the lesser nobility to advise him, while the seven great princes or Peers of France formed the king’s Conse.il Secret - to which

lesser nobles were invited when required. In purely military terms the most senior officer was the Constable of France, who commanded in the king’s absence and also super-vised spies and scouts, but had to account for all his actions to the king’s clerks. The MarshaPs main duty was to maintain discipline and ensure sufficient military supplies between the major campaigns.

The indentured military companies often had their own names, such as the Compagnie de la Fortune,

10