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Osprey - General Military - Knight - The Warrior and ... - Brego-weard

Osprey - General Military - Knight - The Warrior and ... - Brego-weard

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KNIGHT<br />

A trebuchet being used<br />

against the walls of a<br />

town. (Bridgeman Art<br />

Library)<br />

120<br />

seen, even kings like Richard the Lionheart might add their skill with a bow to the<br />

besiegers' efforts). However, Joinville <strong>and</strong> Louis IX's brother the Count of Artois,<br />

<strong>and</strong> their familiae, knights all, stood guard over the belfries at Damietta. As well-<br />

equipped <strong>and</strong> well-trained warriors it was the knights who were at the forefront of the<br />

action, leading the assaults <strong>and</strong> sallies. Even without their mounts they were still the<br />

most effective combatants.<br />

When the siege lines had settled down for the long haul the slower pace of the siege<br />

might allow knights the opportunity for more chivalric endeavours. <strong>The</strong> chronicler<br />

Froissart records a large number of pad d'armed taking place during sieges. Like<br />

behourds, these were ad hoc small scale engagements, such as the daily outings of<br />

Matilda's garrison out of Winchester to joust against Stephen's besieging knights, or<br />

the joust fought by Bertr<strong>and</strong> du Guesclin against Guillaume de Blancbourc during<br />

the siege of Rennes in 1347. Although fought a L'ontrance, they were more diversions<br />

than battles.

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