Uniforms of the 100 years war

[NormanPain]

Does anyone here know the types of uniforms that professional soldiers during this time period war, most people believe the english has red uniforms but from what I can find their uniforms were white with a red cross like their flag(And yes I realise Knights templar had a similar uniform but not quite, the top and bottom of the cross of an english uniform extended to the top and bottom of the tunic where as most templar uniforms the cross did not.) any info would be great.

[Duke John]

The English wore indeed the Cross of St. George; a red cross on a white background. I read somewhere that if soldiers were seen without the cross then they would be penalized. This is of course to avoid confusion in the melee.
English knights had a quartered Coat d'Arms; 3 golden lions on red and golden fleur-de-lys on blue.

I never read much about the French liveries, but I believe it was blue with a white cross on it.
French knights had golden fleur-de-lys on blue.

Of course I might be wrong... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/barrel.gif

Cheers, Duke John

[NormanPain]

That is actually quite interesting that they would be penalised for not wearing it, so it was knights and squires who had the red then? And from what I can find I believe you are right about the french wearing blue with a white cross. Much Thanks. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/medievalcheers.gif

[Ludens]

A related question: what kind of uniforms did the English wear in the first half of the thirteenth century? I am talking of the reign of king John Lackland, the 'evil' brother of Richard Lionhart.

Could anybody enlighten me?

[KukriKhan]

I'm certainly no expert, but I was under the impression that non-crusading soldiers of that period were outfitted by their liege lords/colonels in whatever struck their (the lords') fancy.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

They would have wore the same uniforms or armour as their french enemies. Good books to show what they wore are in the osprey collection such as:


The Normans
The Crusader knight
French medieval armies 1100-1300


and Celtic warriors by Tim newark. I'll try to post a few pics for you later mate http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Ludens]

Thank you, Blind King of Bohemia. But what did the French wear?

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

http://home.gwi.net/~tsoldier/change%20of%20command/COC%20pics/Knights%20Diorama.jpg


http://sirdragontamer.com/images/knights.jpg


This could be 1250 or there about onwards armour



http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_d....~per=41 (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=P1270~ser=MAA~per=41)

or this

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_d....ser=ELI (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php?title=Q7297&ser=ELI)


Click on the larger image icon http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Ludens]

I am a bit confused, Blind King. You said they wore an uniform, but I don't recognize any 'national' symbols on those pictures. Did they just wear the symbols of their liege lord without any 'national' insigna or was there something with which you could discern English soldiers from non-English ones?

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I don't think so mate. National insignia only really began in the 15th century. There were some occasions before that had english soldiers painting a redcross on their uniforms to identify themselves, usually night attacks( otterburn in 1388 against the scots is a notable one) but i think it would sum up the utter confusing nature of battle in the period with the shouting of your lords name or recognising a lords badge or heraldly was the only thing saving you from a axe or sword blow http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Basically the french uniforms of the period wpuld have looked very similar. The british archers of the HYW looked different but that was a century later from the one you are asking.


I look through some readijg material and get you more info http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif

[Ludens]

Thanks Blind King.
I was wondering about it because I am writing a story for the Mead Hall set in this period. Little details like these make a story seem authentic. This has been a great help.