Prisoners of War in the Hundred Years War : Ransom Culture in the Late Middle Ages

The status of prisoners of war was firmly rooted in the practice of ransoming in the Middle Ages. By the opening stages of the Hundred Years War, ransoming had become widespread among the knightly community, and the crown had already begun to exercise tighter control over the practice of war. This led to tensions between public and private interests over ransoms and prisoners of war. Historians have long emphasised the significance of the French and English crowns' interference in the issue of prisoners of war, but this original and stimulating study questions whether they have been too influenced by the state-centred nature of most surviving sources. Based on extensive archival research, this book tests customs, laws and theory against the individual experiences of captors and prisoners during the Hundred Years War, to evoke their world in all its complexity. Cover; Prisoners of War in the Hundred Years War; Title; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Acknowledgements; Note on currency; Abbreviations; Introduction; Prisoners and ransoms; The context of the Hundred Years War; Public versus private interests; Chapter 1 Law, ransom and the status of the prisoner of war; The law of arms; Royal ordinances of war; Honour; The law of contract; Lex talionis; Money; Conclusion; Chapter 2 Princes, masters and prisoners; The rules; The 'Scottish question': Edward III and Henry IV; Edward III and the prisoners of Neville's Cross, 1346; Henry IV, Hotspur and Humbleton Hill, 1402The weight of an alliance: Charles V and Charles VII; Charles V and the Franco-Castilian alliance in 1372; Charles VII and the auld alliance, 1419-24; Henry V, a ruthless master; Conclusion; Chapter 3 Status and politics in Lancastrian Normandy; New policies for a new political order; Guerrilla warfare and the status of prisoners of war; Criminal charges against prisoners of war; Conclusion; Chapter 4 The process of ransoming (I); The lure of profits; The game of capture; Rules and circumstances; Words and deeds; The moment of truth ; Transfer of prisonersCaptivity; Security measures; War prisons; Escapes; Conclusion; Chapter 5 The process of ransoming (II); How to estimate the value of a prisoner; Lands; Status; Functions; Reputation; Connections; Strategy and politics; Added costs; Les marz; A two-tier system; Substitutes for ransoms: rebates and exchanges of prisoners; Conclusion; Chapter 6 Merchants, banking and trade; Money-changing; Money transfer; Money-lending; Licences and safe-conducts to trade; Merchant-prisoners; Conclusion; Chapter 7 Assistance to prisoners (I); Ransom aids and French princes; Noble levies: Jean de Chauvigny and his subjectsRansoms and royal taxations; Conclusion; Chapter 8 Assistance to prisoners (II); An initiative of the prisoner: from petition to grant; Honourable, long and loyal service to the crown; The enquiry; Grants and grantees: a profile; The contribution; Conclusion; Chapter 9 Assistance to prisoners (III); Captains and their men; Treaties of surrender; Companions, partners and brothers-in-arms; Family support; Husband and wife; Parents and sons; Siblings; Conclusion; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index "The status of prisoners of war was firmly rooted in the practice of ransoming in the Middle Ages. By the opening stages of the Hundred Years War, ransoming had become widespread among the knightly community, and the crown had already begun to exercise tighter control over the practice of war. The resulting tensions between public and private interests over ransoms and prisoners of war were apparent. Historians have long emphasised the significance of the French and English crowns' interference in the issue of prisoners of war, but this original and stimulating study questions whether they have been too influenced by the state-centred nature of most surviving sources. Based on extensive archival research, this book tests customs, laws and theory against the individual experiences of captors and prisoners during the Hundred Years War, to evoke their world in all its complexity"-- Provided by publisher

The status of prisoners of war was firmly rooted in the practice of ransoming in the Middle Ages. By the opening stages of the Hundred Years War, ransoming had become widespread among the knightly community, and the crown had already begun to exercise tighter control over the practice of war. The resulting tensions between public and private interests over ransoms and prisoners of war were apparent. Historians have long emphasised the significance of the French and English crowns' interference in the issue of prisoners of war, but this original and stimulating study questions whether they have been too influenced by the state-centred nature of most surviving sources. Based on extensive archival research, this book tests customs, laws and theory against the individual experiences of captors and prisoners during the Hundred Years War, to evoke their world in all its complexity.

Machine generated contents note: Introduction; 1. Law, ransom and the status of the prisoner of war; 2. Princes, masters and prisoners; 3. Status and politics in Lancastrian Normandy; 4. The process of ransoming (I) from capture to captivity; 5. The practice of ransoming (II) the price of freedom; 6. Merchants, banking and trade; 7. Assistance to prisoners I: vassals and subjects - the end of customary aids?; 8. Assistant to prisoners II: kings and princes - first or last resort?; 9. Assistance to prisoners III: the social circle of the prisoner; Conclusion. Explores the individual and complex experiences of captors and prisoners, and the practice of ransoming, in the Hundred Years War