"Bosworth french mercenaries." Topic

Hi, I would like to ask if there is any information about the french mercenaries at Bosworth. Who lead them? Did they have any Standard/banners/signs? Did they really fight in a Pike block? Did they have any shot/guns?

Thanks in advance.

Hunlion

Hunlion:

Though in theory they could have been French pike it is highly unlikely. The training camp for the French pike had been shut down for two years and the whole program considered a bust.

Much more likely they were Franc archers raised for a campaign in Brittany that became unnecessary and so shipped off with Henry VII (always good to get rid of unemployed soldiers).

At the time "Franc Archers" were mixed bodies of longbowmen and halberd men very much copying English practice. Consequently their formations and tactics were much like the other English troops so draw little comment other than their compitance as professional soldiers.

They probably had some distinctions in dress/banner etc. but as far as I know its lost to history. Recomend Anne Curry's work on Bosworth for more information.

TomT

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the information.

Hunlion