"HYW - 1415" Topic

In the way of some background, I've been building two medieval armies based around the Agincourt campaign of 1415. The Lancastrians are drawn from likely elements of Henry V advance guard. The Valois forces are based on the troops of the Constable and Marshall that faced them whilst the main army gathered in Rouen. The former then formed the right hand division at Agincourt. Both armies are nearly complete with only a unit of archers and one of men at arms left for the English and a unit of light horse and men at arms for the French – of course I've more lead than that so there will undoubtedly be more coming in the years to come. Anyway:

Sir Robert de Umfraville KG, c. 1363 – 27 Jan 1436

Governor of Roxborough castle 1399
Knight of the Garter 1399
Vice Admiral of England 1410 – 1436
Lord of Redesdale 1421 – 1436
Lord of Kyme 1421 – 1436

Son of Thomas de Umfraville, lord of Redesdale and grandson of Robert de Umfraville, earl of Angus, Robert is perhaps the most famous of all the Umfravilles and certainly one of the most vigorous.  His brother, Sir Thomas fought at Otterburn. Sykes claims that Robert was appointed Vice-Admiral of England by Richard II (1377 -1399), but Hedley believes he attained this position in 1410 and seems to have kept the title for the rest of his life.

In 1399 Robert was made keeper of Roxburgh castle and created a Knight of the Garter after routing a Scottish raid near Fullhope Law. In 1400, Robert smashed a raiding party of 500 Scots who had come to raid, some 200 of whom were slain outright. Hedley says that on his appointment as Vice Admiral, Robert was given command of 10 ships with which he landed troops and plundered the Firth of Forth for 14 days. Also in 1410 he had sacked Peebles and burned down the market town in the company of his 18 year-old nephew Gilbert. In 1414 he was made receiver of customs at Berwick for life and given Warkworth castle as part of the attainder against the Duke of Northumberland.
Robert fought at the battle of Yeavering on 22 Jul 1415 before sailing to France to join Henry V at the siege of Harfleur. He, of course, took part in the battle of Agincourt – perhaps fighting alongside Gilbert with the vanguard and then right hand battle.

Robert would have inherited Redesdale and Kyme on the death of Gilbert at the battle of Baugé in 1421. Robert was the last of his line to hold Otterburn hall and the last Umfraville Lord of Redesdale. Elsdon Pele tower (which dates from the late 14th century) bears the Umfraville coat of arms and the inscription 'R. Dominus de REDE'. The 'R' probably stands for Robert.

Hedley, W. Percy, Northumberland Families, Vol. I (Newcastle, 1968).
Sykes, J., Northumberland and Durham Local Records, Vol. I (Newcastle, 1833).

really nice unit you have made, one critisism it would be nice to see just one or two more knights in with them

I've been basing my Lancastrian units on information available on the medieval soldier database for 1415:

link

Of course, the data is fragmentary, but 4 knights to 17 esquires/men at arms seemed about right, if not a little generous on the knights.

That said, the majority of the figures I've selected for the Duke of York's household in plate or partial plate as he had a higher proportion of higher gentry (Bannerets etc), each of whom would have brought along their own close retainers. They wont be finished until later in the year though…

janner

I would consider your ratio pretty good, however as you stated "a little generous on the knights".

Raglan
link

I like the look of your unit, some very good brush work!

Very nice unit!!

Very nice! And good pics too….

i agree with the ratio, no intention of being critical whatever.
i think it just depends on how you feel a man at arms or esquire was equipped.
the osprey book i have on the conquest of france says men at arms and esquires were classed as lances and were mostly armed as knights with billmen not really being used until the last years of the hyw, the rest of the army was made up of archers. so thats just the way i like it.. i still think yours are great, look forward to seeing the next ones

cheers

Very cool looking unit and nice paint work.

Allen

Hi Steel Fist,

It's okay, I knew you weren't being critical. I was just explaining my reasoning. I agree on the bill point and decided to arm the majority with other pole arms and spears. I think there are two bills in there.

Again I think you are right on armour. For most campaigns there is evidence if troops' armour being inspected prior to departure and before their captain was paid. Agincourt, however, came at the end of a pretty tough march across northern France. This unit represents one of the less wealthy contingents. As I said, the next unit of men at arms I am doing will be Duke of York's. So most will be in full or partial harness.

I've not come across the grouping of English troops into lances before, but will have a dig around when I get home at the weekend.

Thanks again for your kind comments