Eminence over Efficacy: Social Status and Cavalry Service in Sixteenth-Century France
This study discusses the composition and function of various types of sixteenth-century French cavalry troops, particularly the heavy cavalry man-at-arms, the medium cavalry lancer, and (from the 1540s) the medium cavalry pistolier. The study compares the military efficacy of these three mounted typ...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sixteenth Century Journal Publishers, Inc.
2001
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| In: |
The sixteenth century journal
Year: 2001, Volume: 32, Issue: 4, Pages: 1057-1095 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | This study discusses the composition and function of various types of sixteenth-century French cavalry troops, particularly the heavy cavalry man-at-arms, the medium cavalry lancer, and (from the 1540s) the medium cavalry pistolier. The study compares the military efficacy of these three mounted types within the rapidly shifting context of contemporary warfare, and it explores the reasons for which one type enjoyed very high status while another did not. The study ultimately argues that the type of mounted military service chosen by a typical sixteenth-century French nobleman was dictated far more by concerns regarding his prestige than by concerns about his ability to make an effective contribution in battle. The continuing (albeit increasingly anachronistic) popularity of service as a traditional man-at-arms, the striking new popularity of service as a pistolier, and the continuing disdain for service as a medium lancer, all had much more to do with eminence than with efficacy. |
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| ISSN: | 2326-0726 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The sixteenth century journal
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.2307/3648991 |