War, Battles and Sieges: Keeping your Army in Line
The army has assembled. You have gathered all your knights and conscripts in the camp. Now we must make them an army.
Factions
Armies are not just sizeable groups of men with weapons trying to kill the other side. Well technically they are but they aren't just a mass of people. A commander can be the Monarch, a member of the royal family or anybody of rank. Under the commander are the Constables and Marshals. The troops were divided into companies of 20 men, grouped in masses of a hundred, then into thousands. Like every group project there will be factions, all using different methods to achieve a victory. Let's look at each rank of fighters.
Knight: The knight, in basic terms, is a mounted soldier. Most knights are noble or even royal yet some could be common men rewarded for bravery or leal service. The cost of maintaining a knight would be large. They would bring their own armour, horses and servants but may be provided replacements if these are lost. The knights fell into two categories- the banneret and the bachelor. The first was entitled to a banner on the field.
Light Cavalry: The light cavalry is made of mounted men who wore light armour and wielded lighter weapons such as lances or bows. The light cavalry was usually made up of wealthy commoners. Some officers in the light cavalry would be knights or have been trained the same way. Light cavalry could be used as scouts, skirmishers or outflankers.
Archers: The archers were assets to any army. The rank always included skilled and trained soldiers. To train a bowman you start with the grandfather, it was said.
Infantry: The infantry were made up of mostly unskilled fighters recruited from the common class. Some of the infantry may be skilled from old campaigns and such. This is the largest portion in may mediaeval armies. They would be armed with spears, pikes, axes, swords and perhaps shields.
Marching
An army will have to move from one place to the next. Here is a helpful table I found (credit where credit is due).
However, one must consider the army's size, health, load and the terrain they travel over. An army on the march must travel in certain formations to keep them safe and keep the army intact. An army will always be vulnerable on the road. Here is a rough doodle of what an army on the move should be laid out like.
An army are like that goldfish you had as a kid to teach you responsibility. They need to eat. You need to feed them. And just like that goldfish, it can be a daunting task. An army will always need:
Weapons: Which can be bought, forged and pillaged from the dead enemies/allies.
Supplies
Food: Food can be bought and foraged from the land about the army. Low food will lead to starving and weakened soldiers who may desert or turn to banditry.
Water: Can be sourced from any river, stream, pool. Bad water can lead to dysentery and death.
Fodder: An army will need something to feed their pack animals with. The oxen, horses and mules of any force need fodder to survive any march.
Morale: Your army will not fight without belief. It can be belief in a righteous cause, a god, a vow, victory or financial gain. A confident army will be fearless. An army with no spirit will not fight as fiercely.
An army is a city on the move. Every city has laws and rules. The Romans were very strict with their laws.
For dereliction of duty or even desertion a the soldier would be stoned in punishment for all the lives he could have put in harm's way.
Camp Rules
Stoning and public whippings and beating were inflicted on thieves, perjurers and anybody getting caught three times for a minor infraction
For treason, the guilty would be sewn in a sack and thrown into a nearby river or lake
(There are plenty more examples but these are the most interesting)
