How to Start a Fight in the Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages two armies encountering each other didn’t always lead to them actually fighting a battle. In many cases a demonstration of strength was sufficient so that the armies didn't have to engage or a peaceful diplomatic solution was found. But more often than not armies faced each other on a battlefield with clear intent. Yet, although the cause for a conflict was clear and it was certain that battle would take place, it did not just naturally begin. The immediate reason to start fighting had to be actively offered by one of the parties. This often involved… let's say rather vulgar means. In this video we will explore how modern historiography explains the three most common ways to start a fight in the Middle Ages.

#history #siege #sandrhoman

Bibliography
Prietzel, Malte, Kriegführung im Mittelalter. Handlungen, Erinnerungen, Bedeutungen (Krieg in der Geschichte Bd. 32), Paderborn 2006.
Cram, Kurt-Georg, Iudicium belli, Zum Rechtscharakter des Krieges im deutschen Mittelalter (Archiv für Kulturgeschichte, Beiheft 5), Münster 1955.
Rogers, C.J. / Tallet F. (editors), European Warfare, 1350–1750, 2010.
Van Nimwegen, O., The Dutch Army and the Military Revolutions, 1588-1688.

[molybdaen]

"Sir, a messenger from the usupator Henry arrived."
- "What does he said?"-
"He asked us If we could get you from under the bed because he want to fight."
- "Tell him I am not done with his mother yet!" -

[markvoelker]

“Well where are you from then?”
“I’m French! Can’t you tell from my outrageous accent?”
“What are you doing in England?”
“Mind your own business!”

[ShinTsurugi]

"How to Start a Fight in the Middle Ages"
>punch
>proceed to declare a war for the next 100 years

[felipepereira]

So, online gaming keeps the medieval customs alive?

[iainballas]

"Didst... though just bite thine thumb at me?"
"Verily, I dideth such an insult upon you!"
"Dost thou seek to swappeth hands?"
"Verily!"

[andreydragomirov]

The Combat of the Thirty (1351) is probably the best example of a group fight in history.

And the exit of Bohemond of Taranto's Crusader army out of the protection of Antioch's city walls during the siege in order to face Kerbogha's entire army in an open battle -- the Battle of Antioch (1098) -- is probably the best example of a challenge in history.

[justapotato]

Both kings and generals, and sandRHoman uploaded at the same time.

[midshipman]

I really apreciate you going into the ethos and pathos of these things rather than simply the nitty gritty tactics. really brings the setting more to life when you examine how someone thinks rather than simply what they do.

[greenrocket]

Being obsessed with honor is clearly the cause of a great many number of deaths over the centuries

[lsdkush]

I just arrived in 700 AD; your video came super handy since I had no previous experience on how to trigger the enemy. Thanks god for this video! A Time Traveler

[Canadian_Hobbit]

So chroniclers were more honest than modern news media

[zetectic]

What an excellent presentation on a subject I hadn't really thought about much before That word "Honour" has been the cause of so much bloodshed in centuries past. Nice to see some new figures in the animation. Keep up the good work! 👍

[zulubeatz]

Again this channel gives superb and at times amusing History content. Especially going into details that I have not found before

[thanhnguyenngoc]

"Do you know what is good? Your mother"

Then they fought. And we fight.

[russellgardener]

9:33 - I like what you did there with the picture of Henry IV :-)

[wiseSYW]

when did it stop though?
my guess is when cannons are long range enough that yuo'd rather shoot first, taunt later

[NeoZeta]

Medieval II: Total War battle speeches. Those guys did nothing but throw insults for the most part. XD
So reminiscent...

German general: "I spy an English army over there. At least, I assume it an English army, for I can think of no other people who think it necessary to reek like an alehouse privy! Even a Frenchman has more pride than that."

French general: "Saint Denis preserve us! I have seldom seen a more dispiriting sight than the English army. They have no sense of style, no élan, no manly virtues, no reason to live, no decent food, no attractive womenfolk and their leaders - why, the Devil himself would be shamed to have them in Hell!"

I love the second one too much. XD

[cold_static]

How to start a fight in them middle-ages:
"And I'm telling you that the only stench heartier than your rotting burrick of a master is the liquor on his fetid breath."

[Sealdeam]

The knights of the Teutonic Order used that tactic before the Battle of Grundwald they sent Władysław II Jagiełło a couple of plain swords to provoke the battle by implying that Jogaila (Jagiełło) and Vytautas would be acting cowardly if they delayed the battle, it did not worked as the knights would had liked, they lost and the swords became a symbol of Poland, they can be seen in the statue of King Jagiełło in Central Park.

[manicmartyr]

Great citations! The mark of a true historian! Keep up the good work!