What's up with the sergeants?

**gunslinger** · 09-06-2006, 19:26

Greetings historians. I've always been a bit confused about all the "Sergeant" type units in MTW (the only TW game I currently play).

I understand that in the game they are supposed to be wealthier citizens or maybe minor nobles, but why are they called "sergeants"? Did that word have a different meaning in medieval times? Surely they don't mean a whole unit of non-commisioned officers. I know the Roman legions (precursor to medival European Armies) had sergeants in a role more similar to today's non-commisioned-officers. The word itself seems to have a bit of a French flavor to it linguistically.

So, If you would like to give a short answer, please tell me whether "sergeant" is a real medieval word whose meaning has changed over time, or whether it is something CA came up with to add some mid-level units to the game.

If you would like to give a long answer, please compose a treatise outlining the various types of military recruitment systems used in medival Europe as they relate to the various types of units in MTW (IE: noble cavalry, non-noble cavalry, men at arms, militias, sergeants, etc.)

Thank you in advance for sharing your hard-won knowledge.

**Randarkmaan** · 09-06-2006, 19:37

The word "sergeant" comes from French "sergente" which again comes from Latin "serviente" meaning servant, sergeants were usually non noble men, but who were wealthier than peasants and sometimes also held some land I think, they were usually professional soldiers usually the retainers of a knight.

**ajaxfetish** · 09-07-2006, 01:59

The word was not used by the Romans to the best of my knowledge (it sounds like you are thinking of Centurions) and its use has changed considerably from its medieval days to the present. Much like the way the constable was among the highest military officers in the kingdom and now refers to a standard policeman, or the way a captain was simply the commander of an armed force and the lieutenant his assistant, while now both titles are specific levels of military hierarchy. Many such terms have evolved over time.

Ajax

**gunslinger** · 09-07-2006, 21:10

So, the MTW practice of making a "sergeant" an upgraded spearman or spear-carrying light cavalry has no grounding in reality then?

**ajaxfetish** · 09-07-2006, 21:34

Well, the assignment of sergeants to such roles may be a little limiting, but is certainly grounded in reality. They wouldn't have been only spearmen or medium cavalry, just as knights weren't all swordsmen or Welsh irregulars only equipped with long knives.

Sergeants were basically non-noble professional soldiers (or at least as close to a professional as existed at the time). They were the next level of quality below knights and squires, and played a major role in some battles, making it into accounts such as that of Bouvines in 1214. Their role as mounted sergeants in the game is very satisfactory to me. As infantry, the spear is probably the most reasonable single weapon to give them, though some would likely also have been equipped with swords, maces, axes, polearms, etc.

Ajax