From the castle to the war camp. Horseback, armed and well stocked

Abstract

Mobilization of the army in the Middle Ages was slow and its assembly lasted several weeks. Time to prepare for a war expedition is usually a period of four weeks, time to grazing horses. The meaning of war horses and the care given to their owners by the ruler is to include them in the edict of Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa about peace in the state of 1152. A similar record is found in the statutes of King Casimirus Magnus from the mid-14^th century. Such high interest in horses was due to the fact that „The horse, as everyone knows, is the most important part of the knight”. The battle horse is dextrarius, which is guided by a squire during a loose journey at the right, so that he is rested at all times at the disposal of the knight. Depending on their financial capacity, knights and nobles sat on both large and large ambulances and inroads, often covered by various armor and medium-sized horses. On the other hand, while carrying luggage while carrying the summarius, the knight mounted a sturdy horse roncin. The knights and nobles on the road put on some light armor: a chainmail, patches or a breastplate. His head protected the open and less tired chaplain. The helmets were used as helm of closed knights only when they entered the fight. Protective armor and spear weapons: copies and spears were on the accompanying wagon. During the journey, a traditional sword or stance was replaced by a handy cord, cleaver or saber, but at the waist there was always a pugnat or dagger. With the announcement of the general expedition the knight should set out on her with a threewheeled food cart for four weeks. In the price list of 1538 we find four types of cars, but only the fourth is a special car for the fierce (currus stipendiariorum). His complete equipment consisted of a basket with scales, hoops, iron wheels and a cover, that is, a canvas cover of the car. Such a car cost 5 florins. Medieval travelers were stopping for meals or for nights usually in taverns or inns. The more fortunate they tried to use usually the hospitality of the monasteries on their way. In the cities they could sleep in the burger homes for a reasonable fee. But during the war expedition, as well as on the hunt, it was necessary to stay even in the hut. But the king, the nobles and the wealthier gentry lived in tents. During the Middle Ages, mainly two types of conical tents were used. These were tents on a circular plan, with a small surface and the second larger – with a base in the shape of a rectangle or oval. According to the statute of the guilds of Bydgoszcz tailors from 1533, the smaller tentoriumbellicum needed 112 cubits (about 64 m) of material. On the other side of the tent, 146 cubits (about 83.2 m) of material was needed. Hetman Jan Tarnowski in his Consilium rationis bellicae warns against fire in the tents and determines their place of stay in a war camp, where the second stage of soldier’s life will take place.