Free Companies :: Essays Papers

unleash Companies In 1337 hostilities erupted between France and Eng drink down that would continue, with brief beats of peace, until 1453. This war, which lasted for over a century, would latter be known as The degree centigrade Years War. integrity of the terms that originated during this war were bands of mercenaries formed in France called Free Companies. To understand Free Companies fully one must first look at the Hundred Years War for explanation. The Hundred Years War was the last striking medieval war. (http//www.cfcsc.dnd.ca/links/milhist/100.html) Not only was this war between kings, moreover lesser nobles too were fighting for their own interests, while they fought for their country. Looking cover charge cardinal centuries earlier can be seen as the true convey for this war. When Duke William of Normandy conquered England in 1066, he did so as a subject of the cut King. The French speaking English Kings to follow gained more and more land fr om the English. But the English King still ruled two French provinces, Gascony and Guyenne. In the 14th century, the French king Philip VI demanded that the English harvest-time these provinces to the French. When Edward III denied Philip VI of this, saying that Philips claim to the French thrown was non as strong as Edwards own right to rule twain France and England, war broke bulge out. Because the kings and nobles were not wealthy enough to maintain armies permanently, and the antique system of raising troops through feudal obligation had, for the time being, fallen apart, the most effective armies were made up of mercenaries. The definition of mercenaries accustomed by the Oxford American Dictionary is professional soldiers serving a external country. These professional, paid troops became a popular practice through out Europe in the 14th century. Both Knights and commoners under arms were calibre to take the money of anyone wishing to raise an army. The Engl ish were the first of these two countries to use this practice. Free Companies were formed by the English to fight in France.