[Discuss] All realms feudal monarchies?

[Alexander Keul]

>> Which is why the fought with more primitive weapons. Nobles were not 
>> "cannon fodder" in any time period on any place in the real world that I 
>> know about.
>> 
>
>Then we have heard different history. Which is pretty common as history 
>is very fluent thing. You can never tell what really was.

You're mistaking them living by the code of chivalry, and the chance to
prove their skills with arms, for being cannon fodder. A good example is the
battle of Agincourt where the flower of the French nobility was decimated by
a charge, in the mud, through longbow fire (which is very overrated with
regards to piercing plate armour) and into the teeth of English billmen
(bill = hooked spear, precursor to the Halberd I believe). This rates at the
very top of foolish charges, and allowed an inferior English army to win,
with little cavalry support.

This, and similar, events are more cases of general stupidity in the
commanders of an army instead of a way to use nobility as cannon fodder.
Nobles were appreciated. Not only did they field troops, but they also had
an education, were well trained fighters and provided their own excellent
gear. The ideal for a medieval European noble was a man who would quote
poetry to the ladies at night, manage their estates during the day and lead
their men to war during the campaign season. The latter was by far the most
glorious task, hence the expression "to live for war".

Alex



-- 
Unsubscribing and other list options:
http://news.battlemaster.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discuss