Medieval History Database - Feature - Military : Records -
Medieval History Database MHDB Homepage Academic News About Contact

Medieval History Database - Feature - Military : Records

Feature - Military : Records

Database Feature: Military Records

There are a wealth of detailed military records in the surviving medieval manuscripts, especially for the later medieval period, but these have not been studied by very many scholars.

MHDB's database currently contains a selection of such records, especially from the 15th century. These include unit inspections ("montres"), financial records for individual units, backpayments to commanders who complained about a lack of adequate funds, and other records. In the English Royal army during the later stages of the Hundred Years War, field units were inspected each month, typically during the second week, and garrisons were inspected every three months. The reports for each inspection included the names of each man-at-arms and "projectile" soldiers (longbowmen, crossbowmen, and cannoneers), as well as citations for any soldier found lacking adequate equipment. Each month there were also four financial documents issued for each unit (three by various officials in government departments, and one by the commander acknowledging receipt of payment). French Royal records were less complete and systematic since their army was more decentralized.

MHDB's search function can be used to find individual records. Below are some representative examples.

Selected Examples

Thomas of Scales' Contingent 18 September 1428 - Thomas of Scales' contingent contracted for a years' service at Orleans and potentially also at the fortress of Ardevon.

Thomas of Scales' Pontorson Troops 30 November 1428 - Troops from Pontorson, inspected at Chartres on 30 Nov 1428, brought to join Thomas of Scales' contingent at Orleans.

Glasdale's Contingent 2 Dec 1428 - Sir William Glasdale's contingent in Les Tourelles during the siege of Orleans, from a receipt of payment for one month's service from 19 November 1428 - 18 December 1428.

Armagnac Contingents at Orleans Paid 17 December 1428 - A number of contingents at Orleans paid by the French Royal government on 17 December 1428.

More Contingents Paid 17 December 1428 - Another group of contingents at Orleans paid the same day as above.

Thomas of Scales' Contingent 23 December 1428 - Thomas of Scales' contingent at Orleans.

Thomas of Scales' Contingent c. December 1428 - Thomas of Scales' contingent at Orleans, around the same time as the previous entry but with a different number of troops.

Thomas of Scales' Contingent 28 January 1429 - Thomas of Scales' contingent at Orleans, now much reduced.

Hue de Prez' Contingent 1 February 1429 - Hue de Prez' contingent at Orleans, from an inspection on 1 February 1429.

Thomas of Scales' Contingent 4 February 1429 - Thomas of Scales' contingent at Orleans, with troops from the garrison at Pontorson.

Armagnac Contingents for the Relief of Orleans Paid 04 February 1429 - Group of commanders paid to assemble troops for the relief of Orleans, paid by the French Royal government on 04 February 1429.

Thomas of Scales' Pontorson Troops c. 25 March 1429 - Scales' troops from Pontorson now serving at Orleans, inspected at Orleans c. 25 March 1429.

Standish's Contingent 25 March 1429 - Roland Standish's contingent at Orleans, from payment records on 25 March 1429.

Jean de Carrel Convoy Duty 4 April 1429 - One of the contingents in Fastolf's convoy escort, famously mentioned by Joan of Arc on 4 May 1429, tasked with bringing supplies to Orleans. Lists individual soldiers in Carrel's unit, from an inspection report dated 4 April 1429.

Thomas Strieby Convoy Duty 9 April 1429 - Small detachment of troops drawn from Scales' contingent at Domfront to help escort supplies to Orleans (apparently the convoy under Fastolf famously mentioned by Joan of Arc).

Thomas of Scales' Contingent 20 April 1429 - Scales' troops at Orleans (not including the Pontorson troops).

Orleans Relief Contingents paid 27-04-1429 - Several contingents in Joan of Arc's army sent to Orleans during the initial march from Blois, paid on 27 April 1429.

Orleans Relief Contingents paid 30-04-1429 - Several contingents which were part of the second march from Blois to Orleans, paid on 30 April 1429.

Orleans Relief Contingents paid 10-05-1429 - Several contingents which were part of the second march from Blois to Orleans, paid on 10 May 1429.

Orleans Relief Contingents paid 10-05-1429 - Another group of contingents which were part of the second march from Blois to Orleans, paid on 10 May 1429.

Orleans Contingents paid 10-05-1429 - Several contingents at Orleans, paid on 10 May 1429.

English Garrison at Tombelaine, Normandy 8 July 1429 - From an inspection of this garrison on 8 July 1429.

English garrison of St-Lo, 17 Aug 1429 - Status of this garrison after the addition of 30 "archers or crossbowmen" on 17 Aug 1429.

Courrier Payment 18 Aug 1429 - Payment to a courrier who delivered an English government directive ordering their commanders to prevent troops from taking ship back to England in the wake of Joan of Arc's campaigns - evidence of the panic which had seized the English army.

Orleans Contingents paid 17-12-1429 - Several contingents which had served at Orleans, paid (several months late) by the French Royal government on 17 December 1429.

Suffolk Army 15-03-1430 - A small force under the command of the Earl of Suffolk, tasked with fighting "brigand" units in the baillages of Caen and Contentin in Normandy from 15 March 1430 - 1 June 1430, formed by order of the Duke of Bedford on 15 March 1430. Total strength on that date: 2 Knights-Bachelor, 98 men-at-arms, and 320 archers.

Charles Contingent 03-04-1430 - Unit inspection (listing each individual soldier) of Edmond Charles' contingent in the above army, on 3 April 1430 at Saint-Lo.

Fortescue Contingent 03-04-1430 - Unit inspection (listing each individual soldier) of William Fortescue's contingent in Suffolk's army, on 3 April 1430.

Freville Payment 15-05-1430 - Payment for Robert de Freville's unit in Suffolk's army, on 15 May 1430.

Andrieu Samilly Ransom 15-05-1430 - Payment of ransom by Andrieu Samilly to Edward Beauchamp, 31 Dec 1429.

Perrin d'Aucey Ransom 15-05-1430 - Payment of ransom by Perrin d'Aucey to Christophe de Weist, 31 Dec 1429.

Messeiden Payment 25-03-1429 - Payment for Arnoul Messeiden's unit at Orleans for service from March 15th - 25th, 1429.

Messeiden Contingent 25-03-1429 - Contingent details for Arnoul Messeiden's unit at Orleans for service from March 15th - 25th, 1429.

Welwyk Payment 25-03-1429 - Payment for Thomas Welwyk's unit at Orleans for service from March 15th - 25th, 1429.

Welwyk Contingent 25-03-1429 - Contingent details for Thomas Welwyk's unit at Orleans for service from March 15th - 25th, 1429.

Dommelton Payment 25-03-1429 - Payment for John Dommelton's unit at Orleans for service from March 15th - 25th, 1429.

Dommelton Contingent 25-03-1429 - Contingent details for John Dommelton's unit at Orleans for service from March 15th - 25th, 1429.

Dommelton Payment 25-03-1429 - Payment for John Dommelton's unit at Orleans for service from March 15th - 25th, 1429.

Dommelton Contingent 25-03-1429 - Contingent details for John Dommelton's unit at Orleans for service from March 15th - 25th, 1429.

Dobbe Payment 25-03-1429 - Payment for Thomas Dobbe's unit at Orleans for service from March 15th - 25th, 1429.

Dobbe Contingent 25-03-1429 - Contingent details for Thomas Dobbe's unit at Orleans for service from March 15th - 25th, 1429.

(Commander Unlisted) Payment 25-03-1429 - Payment for a unit at Orleans for service from March 3rd - April 2nd, 1429.

(Commander Unlisted) Contingent 25-03-1429 - Contingent details for a unit at Orleans for service from March 3rd - April 2nd, 1429.

Strother Payment 1 25-03-1429 - Payment for one portion of Richard Strother's at Orleans for service from March 3rd - April 2nd, 1429.

Strother Contingent 1 25-03-1429 - Contingent details for one portion of Richard Strother's at Orleans for service from March 3rd - April 2nd, 1429.

Strother Payment 2 25-03-1429 - Payment for the other portion of Richard Strother's unit at Orleans for service from March 7 - March 31, 1429.

Strother Contingent 2 25-03-1429 - Contingent details for the other portion of Richard Strother's unit at Orleans for service from March 7 - March 31, 1429.

Oreil Payment 25-03-1429 - Payment for Jehannequin Oreil's unit at Orleans for service from March 7 - April 6, 1429.

Oreil Contingent 25-03-1429 - Contingent details for Jehannequin Oreil's unit at Orleans for service from March 7 - April 6, 1429.

Snellington Payment 25-03-1429 - Payment for George Snellington's unit at Orleans for service from Jan 28 - Jan 31, 1429.

Snellington Contingent 25-03-1429 - Contingent details for George Snellington's unit at Orleans for service from Jan 28 - Jan 31, 1429.

Manwarren Payment 25-03-1429 - Payment for John Manwarren's unit at Orleans for service from Mar 7 - Apr 6, 1429.

Manwarren Contingent 25-03-1429 - Contingent details for John Manwarren's unit at Orleans for service from Mar 7 - Apr 6, 1429.

Wyre Payment 25-03-1429 - Payment for Edward Wyre's unit at Orleans for service during March, 1429.

Wyre Contingent 25-03-1429 - Contingent details for Edward Wyre's unit at Orleans for service during March, 1429.

Payment, Five men from Falaise garrison 25-03-1429 - Payment for five men from Falaise garrison at Orleans, for service from Feb 23 - March 22, 1429.

Contingent, Five men from Falaise garrison 25-03-1429 - Contingent details for five men from Falaise garrison at Orleans, for service from Feb 23 - March 22, 1429.

Lisle Indenture 13-03-1429 - Indenture (military contract) for Henry de Lisle's unit at Orleans, drawn up after his brother and co-commander Lancelot de Lisle was killed on 29 Jan 1429.

Lisle Inspection March 1429 - Montre (inspection) of Henry de Lisle's unit, March 1429.

Homepage Academic News About Contact