Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Much has been written about military matters during the Hundred Years War but few studies approach specific campaigns with as much detail as Adrian Bell in this study. Based on his doctoral research, Bell's book examines source material for two royal expeditions led by the earl of Arundel in 1387 and 1388 to investigate the nature of the military community involved and to trace the careers of individual soldiers. The study begins with a survey of the war after 1369 within the context of the reigns of Edward III, Richard II and Henry IV, followed by a detailed analysis of the organisation of Arundel's two campaigns, the personnel involved, recruitment and so on. In seeking to assess the influence of the political background of the time on the composition of the army, Bell reveals that this profesional army placed patriotism, duty, loyalty, friendship and kinship above politics.
Synopsis
Little is known about the soldiers who fought in the Hundred Years War, though much about tactics and weapons. Adrian Bell's book redresses the balance: he explores the 'military community' through focusing on the records of the two royal expeditions led by Richard Fitzalan, earl of Arundel, in 1387 and 1388, where the extensive surviving evidence makes it possible to identify those who served on these expeditions, and to follow their careers. These campaigns are not only interesting for the wealth and concentration of materials surviving on military organisation, but also because of the political background against which the expeditions were undertaken, which included the attack upon the favourites of the King in Parliament by the Lords Appellant and the possible temporary deposition of Richard II. Advances made in historical computing techniques have made possible for the first time such detailed analysisof the personnel of a royal army. ADRIAN R. BELL lectures in history at the University of Reading.
Synopsis
Evidence for the identity and careers of soldiers (usually neglected by scholars in favour of tactics or hardware) in two campaigns of the Hundred Years War.
Little is known about the soldiers who fought in the Hundred Years War, though much about tactics and weapons. Adrian Bell's book redresses the balance: he explores the 'military community' through focusing on the records of the two royal expeditions led by Richard Fitzalan, earl of Arundel, in 1387 and 1388, where the extensive surviving evidence makes it possible to identify those who served on these expeditions, and to follow their careers. These campaigns are not only interesting for the wealth and concentration of materials surviving on military organisation, but also because of the political background against which the expeditions were undertaken, which included the attack upon the favourites of the King in Parliament by the Lords Appellant and the possible temporary deposition of Richard II. Advances made in historical computing techniques have made possible for the first time such detailed analysisof the personnel of a royal army.
ADRIAN R. BELL lectures in history at the University of Reading.