Six Proposals for the Medieval French (IV/64)

Under Discussion

Author T.Adamson

nominal figure scale 500 per element (double normal)

While some French armies were small, in this period most of them were large

conglomerates assembled from various sources at royal command.

Proposal 1: Make Irr Kn(o) the default for French knights rather than Irr

Kn(s)

Reason: During this period French knights were not particularly good at

fighting mounted (only one successful mounted charge in the entire period).

The 'French' forces always included significant numbers of Brabanters,

Savoyards, Mercenaries, Germans and non knightly men at arms) along with

the French nobility. I thought long and hard about the possibility of the

'romantic' upgrade (ie 0-15 Kn(s) rather than 1/4-3/4) but battlefield

results simply don't justify this (indeed allowing more than a handful to

be 's' is pushing the evidence). The earlier superiority of French knights

seems to have disappeared under soft beds and comfortable hotels (though I

suspect that it was as much English, German etc Nobility catching up with

the French).

remove current line 4

Nobles, Knights, other men-at-arms, squires and sergeants - Irr Kn (S)

@12AP 10-22

insert

Men at Arms - Irr Kn (O) @ 10AP 10 - 30

upgrade to Nobility - Irr Kn (S) @ 12AP 1/4 - 3/4

modify current line 28

Downgrade Kn(s) to separately deployed "Gros Varlets" - Irr Cv(O) @ 7AP

0-6

to

Downgrade Kn to separately deployed "Gros Varlets" - Irr Cv(O) @ 7AP

0-6

Proposal 2: Allow French to deploy dismounted rather than dismount at any

time

Reason: Deploying most of the men-at-arms dismounted (with horses taken to

the rear, and using shortened lances) rapidly became the norm for French

forces. Unlike the English, they didn't remount during the course of the

battle (this may have more to do with not winning so many). There are no

records of them dismounting during battle (unlike the English). Small

numbers of men-at-arms remained mounted as flank guards or reserves.

modify current sentence in the notes

Accordingly, Kn can always dismount as Bd (S) from 1346 on.

to

Accordingly, any Kn can deploy dismounted as Bd (S) from 1346 on.

Proposal 3: Reduce the number of crossbowmen who can be used as Ps(O).

Reason: There is no evidence to show French, Gascon, Spanish or Italian

crossbowmen acting as skirmishers in dispersed order. It is clear, from the

chronicles, that they were expected to provide fire support, normally

firing by rotation. It is also evident that they avoided moving or

fighting in the woods and forests which were quite common.There is a small

amount of evidence that some crossbowmen in mountainous regions

occasionally fought in dispersed formations so we should leave the option

of some Ps(O) in the list. The only bodies of Spanish crossbowmen in French

service were galley crews used on land.

current lines 6, 8 and 9

French crossbowmen - Irr Ps (O) @ 2AP or Irr Bw (O) @ 4AP or Reg Bw (I) @ 4

AP 6-14

Genoese crossbowmen - Reg Bw (O) @ 5 AP 0-6

Spanish crossbowmen - Irr Ps (O) @ 2 AP 0-4

replace with

Crossbowmen - Irr Bw (O) @ 4 AP or Reg Bw (I) @ 4 AP 6-24

Upgrade crossbowmen to Genoese or Militia with pavaices - Reg Bw (O) 0-6

Upgrade crossbowmen to skirmishers - Irr Ps (O) @ 2AP up to 1/4

Proposal 4: Add Genoese internal ally for early war

Reason: In the early years of the war large numbers of Genoese (up to

15,000) were used. They normally acted as a detached battle under their

own commanders or an assigned Noble.

Add...

Prior to 1380

Genoese captain - Reg Bw (O) sub-general @ 25AP

0-1

Genoese crossbowmen (in addition to above) Reg Bw (O) @ 5 AP 3-6

Add note..

The Genoese sub-general can only command Genoese crossbowmen.

Proposal 5: Remove the Jacquerie ally

Reason: The revolt of the Jacquerie was an attempt at a social revolution

and diametrically opposed to the Kingdom. Forces from all French nobility

(even those nominally at war with each other) along with Navarese and

English troops combined to put down the revolt. I have included he option

to upgrade a horde element to Hd(s) for JGL to loot the English baggage at

Agincourt.

remove lines 19-23

add a line

Upgrade a Peasant element as 'enraged locals' - Hd (S) @ 2AP 0-1

Proposal 6: Add a Medieval German Ally

Reason: Several of the small states on the French boarder sent forces to

assist the French Kings and armies of lesser nobility. The German list

also provides a good list for the less troops of those Nobles, clerics and

towns who fought with other French armies but didn't integrate. Many

French armies not led by the King, or his agent, were loose alliances or

mutually distrusting groups.

Add

Independent Noble, Cleric or Town allies - List Medieval German (BK4)

Add note:

The ally contingent from the Medieval German list must be commanded by a

Feudal, Clerical or City general, it represents German or French forces

fighting with the main French army but not integrated with it.