Urban military forces of England and Germany C. 1240–C. 1315, a comparison

This chapter highlights the essential features of urban military forces in England and Germany with the intention of drawing some comparisons and contrasts. These two kingdoms, of course, were organized on very different political and constitutional foundations, which had substantial influence on the organization of urban fighting forces. The chapter concludes with some observations concerning the differences as well as the similarities in the urban fighting forces mobilized in England and Germany. Because of limitations of time and the large scale of this task, this present work is limited to the period extending from the mid-thirteenth to the early fourteenth century. The chapter also focuses on military matters stricto sensu leaving aside paramilitary and extra-legal activities such as policing duties and piracy.Keywords: England; Germany; urban military forces

Geography · Political science · Historical, Literary, and Cultural Studies · Medieval History and Crusades · Medieval Literature and History