Francs-archers

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Francs-archers [ fʁɑ̃.zaʁ.ʃe ] (German: Freischützen) formed the first standing infantry in France .

The Francs-archers was formed in 1448 under King Charles VII , after standing troops of light and heavy riders had been set up in 1445. Every French community was obliged to provide a clothed and armed archer who had to be ready to go into the field at any time.

The Francs-archers were given certain rights, in particular they had tax exemption , from which their name is derived. Joint weapons exercises did not take place, so the troops did not do very well in the battles against Burgundy and the aristocracy . King Louis XI. reorganized the Francs-archers in 1466, whose total strength at that time was about 14,000 men. 28 companies of 500 men each were formed. Part of the crew was armed with a crossbow , another with a spear, and a third with a bow . Parts of the troops were also equipped with axes .

For the raising of the Francs-archers, France was divided into four districts, which remained the basis of the military division into the 18th century. In each district four assembly stations have been determined where on specified dates 1,000 Franc-archer patterned were. The commanders of these four districts were granted the title or rank "Capitaine général".

The whole establishment was hated by the peasants and the nobility . The Francs-archers were mocked as Francs-taupins (“free moles”), and they have occasionally turned out to be a cheeky band of robbers. The troops themselves were disbanded in 1479 after the battle of Guinegate , where they succumbed to the German and Danish spear after a brief resistance.

Charles VIII introduced them in 1485, but without taking part in a battle, and so Ludwig XII sealed them . 1508 its fate and it finally dissolved.

swell

  • Historical weapons and armor - knights and mercenaries from the 6th to the 16th century by Liliane and Fred Funken

literature