so my friend does a late 14th century hospitaller in german styled gear, maybe with some italian pieces and ill also be doing a common footsoldier under the hospitaller order, either a novice of the order or just a local townsperson

but most importantly,we're looking at the tabards and crosses, and seeing whats going on with the changed between red and black tabards/ surcoats and the like during the period between 1350-1400

we're fairly sure they mainly changed to red around 1310's but we think based on some paintings some people kepts the white and black


any help would be useful on this

All paintings I have seen with hospitallers in black/white has been "non-military" I.e donors or clergy
(I don't think there is any depictions of hospitallers until late medieval times)

If my memory serves me right, there is a specific edict from Pope Innocent IV (1250s?) where it is stated that the Hospitallers may fight in the colors of the banner rather than in their habits.

I would use white cross on red for anyting later than mid-13th century.

http://myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.19454.html