Nov 11, 2020 08:00:00

Was it possible for peasants to defeat knights in medieval Europe?

By

Hans Spliter

In TV dramas, movies, games, etc., a scene in which a rebellious peasant defeats a knight armed with heavy armor is sometimes depicted. Historian Stephen Mourberger answers the question, 'Is it really possible for peasants to defeat knights in medieval Europe?'

Could a Peasant defeat a Knight in Battle?
https://www.medievalists.net/2020/11/peasant-knight-battle/

King Henry II of England promulgated the ' Assize of Arms ' in 1181 for military development. We also asked the general public to arm themselves. For example, the wealthiest people carried chainsmails, helmets, shields, and spears called Hoberk, and the less wealthy people possessed helmets and spears. On the other hand, the armament that the peasants had was much poorer.

According to the French Royal Ordinance of 1352, the military was roughly divided into 'armored soldiers (cavalry)' and 'infantry', and salaries were given according to their status and equipment. For example, the knight who leads his servant, 'Banaret,' receives twice the salary of a regular knight, while the archer's salary is low, and the crossbow archer's salary is only one-seventh that of a knight. The salary showed its value as a soldier as it was, and under this form of employment, the cavalry were equipped with even more equipment.

This time, is whether the strength difference between the knight and the farmers was how overwhelming, of 1358

jacquerie is a remarkable example of. Medieval chronicle writer Jean Froissart wrote about the Jackley rebellion as follows:

'More than 9,000 peasants headed to the castle to defeat the aristocrats, but when about 40 knights appeared with their swords and spears, the peasants lost their fighting spirit in an instant. The peasants were killed one after another. The peasants shouted at the pain of their swords and spears, and the other peasants who saw them panicked. The knights killed more than 7,000 peasants overnight. Only one knight died in this battle. '

In retaliation, the knights burned down a village that appeared to have cooperated with the rebellion, and the peasants were imprinted with long and unforgettable horror.

An illustration by the detailed painter Loyset Liédé in Froissart 's Chronicle.

By the way, it is not always the case that aristocrats and knights were in the ruling class, and in Bruges (Bruges) in Belgium today, the citizens were self-governing. The citizens of Bruges were equipped with weapons and armor from their traded property and developed their own weapons and tactics. The ' goedendag ' they developed was a combination of a long stick and a short spear, as seen in the movie below.

Godendag --YouTube