[John H]

I have a question about the accomodations men-at-arms, as well as the rest of a typical 15th century army, might have while in the field on a campaign. How elaborate where their encampments? Who had tents/pavilions? What was used for bedrolls? Etc.

Thanks in adnvance for any insights.

[M. Eversberg II]

Well, a tent is made of a lot of cloth, and from what I know cloth was expensive back then, so I figure only important people would have a big one. I'm sure the lesser soldiers carried some sort of prop tent or some sort of protection from the elements, even if it was only a blanket put up by sticks.

M.

[Gordon Frye]

Generally, whenever possible, soldiers (especially the higher social class ones) were quartered among the peasantry or townsmen. Makes things MUCH easier when packing for a campaign! True enough, most of the higher-ups had tentage and camp furniture for when this wasn't possible, but if you read some of the treatises of the day (well, certainly the 16th and 17th Centuries) they often discuss how men should be quartered by the Quarter-Master. His job was to ride ahead of the army to locate proper quarters, and then to divy them up according to rank and priviledge. Usually this meant that the Cavalry got first dibs.

This was generally pretty hard on the local populations who were not only expected to house the unwanted guests, but the feed them as well, and try to keep them from outraging their wives and daughters to boot. There's a good reason that peasants enjoyed catching foraging soldiers far from any help, and gaining some measure of revenge. This is also why the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution specifically forbids the quartering of troops on civilians without specific laws enacted to regulate the practice. The Founding Fathers were aware of the unfortunate consequences of such practices.

Of course, there were plenty of wagons and pack horses carrying tents, bedrolls and camp furniture tagging along with any army on the march, as well as camp followers carrying such things on their backs as well. There's a good reason why armies didn't march very far per day.

BTW, usually each Cavalryman (16th and early 17th Centuries at least) had at least one mounted servant with him, who was responsible for any bedding and baggage that they may need, while a Man-at-Arms often had several servants and was supposed to have upwards of five horses in his train. One for him to ride on the campaign trail, one for his servant, and three war horses. The war horses could, as needed, pack any kit that they were bringing along.

Cheers!

Gordon

[Lafayette C Curtis]

To make a long story short, let me refer you to two online sources. The first is an article about the Burgundian Ordonnances:

http://www.geocities.com/thorvin.geo/ordinances.htm

And the second is Brian Ditcham's dissertation on the employment of mercenary troops in 15th-century France.

http://www.deremilitari.org/resources/articles/ditcham1.htm

Both of them deal extensively with the question of camping and billeting the troops.

[John H]

...and those links are fantastic!