Infantry Warfare in the Early Fourteenth Century: Discipline, Tactics, and Technology

by Kelly DeVries

This study departs from the conventional view of the dominance of cavalry in medieval its objective is to establish the often decisive importance of infantry.
In pursuit of evidence, Kelly DeVries examines the role of the infantry, and the nature of infantry tactics, in nineteen battles fought in England and Europe between 1302 and 1347. In these battles, it was infantry forces taking a defensive stand which in most cases won the day.
Evidence from first-hand accounts of the battles - a major feature of this study - is employed with rare understanding to argue that victory came not because of superior technology, even when the longbow was used, but due to a solid and disciplined infantry line making a defensive stand able to withstand the attacks of opposing soldiers, whether cavalry or infantry.
The battles selected for detailed analysis Courtrai, Argues, Mons-en-Pevele, Loudon Hills, Kephissos, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, Cassel Dupplin Moor, Halidon Hill, Laupen, Morlaix, Staveren, Vottem, Crecy, and Neville's Cross; and the infantry ambushes Morgarten, Auberoche, and La Roche-Derrien.

Genres: Medieval History, Medieval, History, Military History

216 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1996

About the author

Kelly DeVries (born December 23, 1956) is an American historian specializing in the warfare of the Middle Ages. He is often featured as an expert commentator on television documentaries. He is professor of history at Loyola University Maryland and Honorary Historical Consultant at the Royal Armouries, UK.

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book illustrates that cavalry did not reign supreme on the battlefields of the later middle ages and that infantrymen were gaining importance long before the development of "pike and shot" warfare in the 16th century.

Some common themes appear in the battles that were won by infantry. The battlefield was often handpicked so that the defenders would have a natural terrain advantage (height, rivers, forests, etc), and then prepared with ditches and obstacles to prevent cavalrymen from charging in ordered ranks or executing flanking maneuvers. Opposing cavalrymen frequently made arrogant tactical errors because their social rank gave them contempt for the dismounted commoners on the other side. On many occasions, Infantry leaders had experience winning one battle against cavalry, and hence, a model for success.

The book does have several issues. There isn't an appendix or overview of 14th century battles won by cavalry or combined arms, so its hard to know exactly how these case studies fit into the larger picture. It would be good to know, approximately, what percentage of major battles in Europe were won by infantry in this century.

There is an emphasis on France and the British isles, with some good attempts to widen the scope like the Battle of the Cephissus in Greece, but Spain, Italy, Germany and the rest of eastern Europe are absent.

Lastly, the battles are discussed using only textual sources and no archaeological evidence. For pre-modern battles this is a somewhat limited approach because you don't get a clear picture of the armies equipment, its capabilities, or how they moved around. Some of this archaeological discussion would be speculative, depending on the existence of evidence, but it seems worthwhile to spend some time on a question like "how effective were infantry weapons against armor" in a book like this.

[Stephen Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable book on the subject.

The author (DeVries) has written extensively on the subject of medieval European warfare, and the dude not only knows what he's talking about, but knows how to structure his writing to make it clear, concise, informative, and enjoyable.

In the case of this book, he provides a solid (if brief) rundown of the setting/context for every battle, as well as a brief summation of the consequences of the battle's results. As far as describing the battles themselves, he does a very good job of boiling the events down to their critical elements and illustrating that quite simply (and I mean this literally, as there are very simple line drawings to illustrate the battles).

The author relies very heavily on contemporary accounts of the battles and the descriptions are arguably *too* boiled down and too simple. You'll know who led the armies and why they were fighting, but you'll get only a more general sense of how they were outfitted and the "blow by blow" events. He does provide solid bilbiographies, though, so further research is certainly possible.

I'd have given this 5 stars if there had been a more details about the battles and combatants, but that's really only a quibble. Likewise, I'd have liked to have seen more battles included, but this is still a very solid work on the subject.

[Ron Nurmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an academic study of some of the infantry battles in the early 14th century. The author is making the point that there was some strategy in medieval combat, and it was not two sides bashing each other. It demonstrates that infantry could defeat cavalry, as had not been the situation earlier.

[Ben Wand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of several key battles which relies heavily on primary sources.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book which traces the development of infantry tactics in the 14th century and the evolving discipline of infantry-centric armies. This new-found discipline, along with innovative tactics, allowed these infantry forces to defeat cavalry-heavy opponents. These tactics, which seem simplistic now, included being first to arrive at the battlefield and establishing a position on the best ground and also emplacing obstacles which would impede or canalize enemy movement. Dr. DeVries traces this tactical innovation through 14 battles, including Courtrai in 1302 and Crecy in 1346. Additionally, he includes three infantry ambushes in an appendix at the end. These ambushes are enlightening as to the rapid development of infantry operations and leadership in the 14th century. In each chapter, Dr. DeVries analyzes the primary sources, and it is this and the bibliography as well as the textual analysis, which makes this a valuable work. I recommend this book for those who think Agincourt is the end all and be all of medieval warfare.