DBA Armies

IV/57 LOW COUNTRIES 1297 AD - 1478 AD

This list covers the mostly communal armies of the Low Countries (Flanders, Brabant, Hainault, Holland and the Bishopric of Liege) from their first resistance to Philip IV of France until their absorption by Burgundy after supporting Maximilian I of Austria in his struggle against France for his Burgundian inheritance. The main strength of the army was provided by the disciplined pikemen of the city guilds, supplemented by others using the fearsome plancon (a heavy club with a spiked point). Guild crossbowmen fought behind pavises carried by boys. Mounted troops were provided by rich city burghers of doubtful efficiency, but mainly by nobles, rural gentry and mercenaries. Their quality was denigrated by allies, often justly. The White Hoods of Ghent were ribaulds “loving war more than peace, having nothing to lose”. References: Armies of the Middle Ages Vol 11. Heath, The Low Countries and the Hundred Years War 1326-1347 H. S. Lucas.

IV/57a — Low Countries Army 1297 AD - 1329 AD

List: 1 x General (3Kn/4Pk), 1 x knights (3Kn/4Pk), 6 x guildsmen (4Pk), 1 x guildsmen with plancon (3/4Bd), 1 x guild crossbowmen (4Cb), 1 x feudal levy (7Hd), 1 x archers (Ps)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 0
Enemies:
Allies: ['IV/4b', 'IV/13b or IV/13e']

IV/57b — Low Countries Army 1330 AD - 1410 AD

List: 1 x General (4Pk), 5 x guildsmen (4Pk), 1 x guildsmen with plancon (3/4Bd), 1 x guild crossbowmen (4Cb), 2 x “Whitehoods” (SHd) or guildsmen (4Pk), 1 x archers (Ps), 1 x light or organ guns (Art)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 0
Enemies:

IV/57c — Low Countries Army 1411 AD - 1478 AD

List: 1 x General (4Pk), 7 x guildsmen (4Pk), 1 x guildsmen with halberd (4Bd), 1 x crossbowmen (4Cb) or handgunners (Ps), 1 x handgunners (Ps), 1 x light or organ guns (Art)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 0
Enemies: