Renaissance France at War: Armies, Culture and Society, c.1480-1560 (Warfare in History)

456 Pages·2008·8.14 MB·English

by  David Potter

Warfare in History
Renaissance FRance at WaR
aRmies, cultuRe and society, c.1480–1560
Warfare in History
issn 1358–779X
Series editor
Matthew Bennett, royal Military academy, sandhurst
this series aims to provide a wide-ranging and scholarly approach to military
history, offering both individual studies of topics or wars, and volumes giving
a selection of contemporary and later accounts of particular battles; its scope
ranges from the early medieval to the early modern period.
new proposals for the series are welcomed; they should be sent to the publisher
at the address below.
Boydell and Brewer Limited, Po Box 9, Woodbridge, suffolk, iP12 3Df
Previously published volumes in the series
are listed at the back of this volume
Renaissance FRance at WaR
aRmies, cultuRe and society, c.1480–1560
David Potter
tHe BoyDeLL Press
© David Potter 2008
All Rights Reserved. except as permitted under current legislation
no part of this work may be photocopied, stored in a retrieval system,
published, performed in public, adapted, broadcast,
transmitted, recorded or reproduced in any form or by any means,
without the prior permission of the copyright owner
the right of David Potter to be identified as
the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with
sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents act 1988
first published 2008
the Boydell Press, Woodbridge
isBn 978–1–84383–405–2
the Boydell Press is an imprint of Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Po Box 9, Woodbridge, suffolk iP12 3Df, UK
and of Boydell & Brewer inc.
668 Mt Hope avenue, rochester, ny 14620, Usa
website: www.boydellandbrewer.com
a CiP catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library
this publication is printed on acid-free paper
Printed in Great Britain by
CPi antony rowe Ltd, Chippenham, Wiltshire
Contents
List of Illustrations viii
Preface and Acknowledgements xv
Abbreviations xvi
Introduction: France and its Wars, 1494–1559 1
1 ‘One World is Not Enough’: Kings, Ministers and Decisions 15
on Policy and Strategy in Renaissance France
Dynastic war and personal rivalry 15
French diplomacy and justifications for war 19
Contemporary writers on the causes of war 21
Starting wars 26
The Italian wars, 1494 27
The war with the Emperor, 1521 30
The war of 1536 33
The war of 1551–2 37
2 The High Command, Planning and the Army as a Whole 42
Kings and generals: the High Command 42
Planning for war 53
Numbers of troops 62
3 Cavalry and the Nobility at War 67
The Royal Guards 68
The compagnies d’ordonnance 70
Light horse 86
War and the noble mentality 88
4 The Birth of the French Infantry 95
The reputation of foot soldiers 95
The francs-archers 102
The quest for a permanent infantry 105
The legions 112
Recruitment of gens de pied 117
Command of the infantry 119
5 Foreign Mercenaries in the Service of the King of France 124
The need for foreign troops 124
The Swiss 125
the Germans: Lansquenets 131
the Germans: Reiters 143
the italians 146
6 the artillery Revolution, Fortifications and siege Warfare 152
artillery 152
fortification of the frontier 157
Zones of fortification 161
Personnel: architects and technicians 179
Building operations and financing fortifications 183
7 the Field of Battle 187
the evidence: the memoirists describe war 187
the military manual 190
Keeping order: discipline 197
Deployment: giving battle, ensigns, cries and speeches 199
new tactics: the fortified camp; battle-field artillery 203
the conventions of siege warfare 205
the aftermath: casualties 209
8 ‘the sinews of War’: military administration and Finance 212
the cost of war 212
officialdom, financial and military 220
the Ordinaire des guerres 222
the Extraordinaire des guerres 223
officials and their social status 225
Controlling fraud: payment and muster 227
9 the impact of War: supply, Garrisons, logistics and the Problem 236
of disorder
the bonnes villes, garrisons and military supply 236
armies on campaign: new systems of supply 242
Destruction, problems of discipline and the impact of disorder 248
10 War, Propaganda, History and Public opinion 255
news reporting and public opinion 258
War propaganda and taxation 267
Ceremony and commemoration 271
Public opinion and narratives of war: ‘la matière historiale’ 274
scholars and contemporary history 280
11 War and Renaissance culture: music and the Visual arts 285
Les bruits de la guerre 285
Music and the art of war 288
War and the visual arts 296
12 War, Renaissance Culture and the Literary World 307
War, ideas and public opinion 307
War and the literary world 309
Propaganda and the literary milieu 311
Major poets and war 313
Poetry and politics 315
War in popular verse 319
Literature and satire: sotties, farces and contes 322
Conclusions: War in French public opinion 328
Conclusion: ‘Until It Fill the Whole World?’ 332
Appendices 335
Bibliography 369
Index 397
Illustrations
Plates between pages 206 and 207
1. French artillery in 1494 (Cronaca della Napoli aragonese, MS, c.1498,
Pierpoint Morgan Library)
2. First page of Clément Janequin’s ‘La Bataille’, from Le Dixiesme
Livre Contenant la Bataille a Quatre de Clement Iannequin avecq la
Cinquiesme partie de Phili. Verdelot Si placet by Tylman Susato (Antwerp,
1545)
3. Commemorative medals:
i Charles VII, 1451, commemorating the reconquest. Obv.: Legend in
two concentric lines: QVANT IE FV FAIT SANS DIFERANCE AV
PRVDENT ROI AMI DE DIEV ON OBEISSOIT PAR TOVT EN
FRANCE FORS A CALAIS QUI EST FORT LIEV. Escutcheon with
arms of France surmounted by open royal crown surrounded by two rose
branches. Lenormant, Trésor, pl. II, no. 1; 82mm. Mazerolle, Médailleurs
français, no. 1
ii Louis XII, 1499. Obv.: LVDOVICVS XII FRANCORVM REX MEDI-
OLANI DVX. Rev.: VICTOR TRIUMPHATOR SEMPER AUGUSTUS,
crowned porcupine; 37mm. Lenormant, Trésor, pl. IV, no. 2; Mazerolle,
Médailleurs français, no. 26
iii Francis I, 1515. Young head, armour. Obv.: FRANCISCUS REX FRAN-
CORUM PRIMUS DOMITOR ELVETIORUM. Rev.: DEO FAVENTE ET
IMPERATORIS VIRTUTE, trophy; Lenormant, Trésor, pl. VIII, no. 1
4.i Francis I, 1515. Obv.: young head. FRANCISCVS PRIMVS F R INVIC-
TISSIMVS. Rev.: DOQM [? Dominusque Mediolani], army and a city. On
banner ‘LP’ [Leo Papa?]; Lenormant, Trésor, pl. VII, no. 5
4.ii Francis I, 1515? Obv.: FRANCISCVS I FRANCORUM REX. Rev.: VICI
AB VNO CAESARE VICTOS. Below: MARIGNAN, trophy
4.iii Francis I, 1515 (same head as ii). Rev.: VNVS NON SVFICIT ORBIS
MDXV, terrestrial and celestial globes, closed crown; Lenormant, Trésor,
pl. VI, no. 2
4.iv Francis I, 1519 (same head as ii). Rev.: PACE STABILITA ET RECEPTO
A BRITANNIS TORNACO. Peace seated holding olive branch and arms
cast into flames; Lenormant, Trésor, pl. VIII, no. 3
5.i Henri II, 1550? Young head. Obv.: HENRICVS II FRANCORVM REX.
Rev.: ΟLΟΣ ΛΓΟ ΜΗΧΑΝΗΣ (transl.: ‘I fight by all means’), Perseus
rescuing Andromeda [Boulogne?]; Lenormant, Trésor, pl. XIII, no. 5
5.ii Henri II, 1551 [Etienne Delaune]. Obv.: HENRICVS II D G FRAN REX.
Rev.: SVA CIRCVIT ORBE FAMA 1551. Victory on globe holding two
trumpets and blowing into the one in her right hand, 35mm.; Mazerolle,
Médailleurs français, no. 95
Illustrations ix
5.iii françois duke of Guise, 1552. obv.: franCisVs DVX GVisiVs. rev.:
1555 HaeC tiBi Meta, Metz besieged; Mazerolle, Médailleurs fran-
çais, no. 408
6.i Henri ii, 1552 (Guillaume Martin). obv.: HenriCVs ii GaLLiar[um]
reX CHristianiss[imvs] P P. rev.: noMen aD astra 1552, Diana
with a bow and arrow, 37mm.; Mazerolle, Médailleurs français, no. 112.
6.ii Henri ii, 1552? obv.: HenriCVs ii GaLLiarVM reX inViCtis-
siMVs PP. rev.: two armies facing each other; the King, crowned by
victory greets another commander [the duke of Guise?]; Lenormant,
Trésor, pl. Xiii, no. 7
6.iii Henri ii, 1552 (by etienne Delaune; same head as 8.i). obv.: HenriCVs
ii GaLLiarVM reX inViCtissiMVs PP. rev.: restitVta
reP[upblica] senensi LiBeratis oBsiD[ione] MeDioMat[ricis]
ParMa MiranDoLa sanDaMi et reCePto HeDinio orBis
ConsensV 1552, laurel wreath; Lenormant, Trésor, pl. Xii, no. 2;
Mazerolle, Médailleurs français, no. 101
7.i Henri ii, 1552 (by Marc Bechot). obv.: HenriCVs ii reX CHristia-
nissiMVs. rev.: oB res in itaLiaM GerManiaM et GaLLiaM
fortiter Gestas (transl.: ‘for courageous and happy achievements
in italy, Germany and france’). triumphal chariot pulled by four horses
bearing peace with horn of plenty. renown with trumpet with arms of
france. Below: eX Voto PUBLiCo 1552. Lenormant, Trésor, pl. Xiii,
no. 2
7.ii Henri ii, 1552 (by Bechot; same head as 7.i). King armed, laurel wreath.
obv.: HenriCVs ii reX CHristianissiMVs. rev.: LiBertas,
bonnet of liberty between two naked swords (symbol of Brutus). Below:
VinDeX itaLiae et GerManiCae LiBertatis.
7.iii Henri ii, 1552 (by Bechot; same head as 7.i). obv.: HenriCVs ii reX
CHristianissiMVs. rev.: et PaCe et BeLLo arMa MoVet
(transl.: ‘He is armed both in peace and war’). Henri ii in antique mode,
sword in one hand and in the other a bow topped by a caduceus; two
angels supporting crown above head; Lenormant, Trésor, pl. Xiii, no. 1
8.i Henri ii, 1552 (by etienne Delaune; another version of 7.i; same head
as 6.iii). obv.: HenriCVs ii GaLLiarVM reX inViCtissiMVs PP.
rev.: oB res in itaLiaM GerManiaM et GaLLiaM fortiter
Gestas, triumphal chariot facing right. Below: eX Voto PUBLiCo
1552; Lenormant, Trésor, p.Xii, no. 1; Mazerolle, Médailleurs français,
no. 99
8.ii Henri ii, 1558 (Guillaume Martin). obv.: same head as as 6.i. rev.:
DoneC totVM CoMPLeat orBeM 1558; crescent surmounted by
royal crown, 38mm.; Mazerolle, Médailleurs français, no. 113
8.iii Henri ii, 1558. new head, armour. obv.: HenriCVs ii reX CHris-
tianissiMVs. rev.: Maiora seQUentUr (transl.: ‘greater things
will follow’). the King as roman emperor rides to the right followed by
a soldier with legionary ensign and preceded by Mars and Victory. Below:
eXaCtis Britannis et CaLeto GUiniaQ[ue] reCePtis (transl.: