39th International Congress on Medieval Studies, Western Michigan
University
May 6 - 9, 2004: Report on the De Re Militari Sessions
De Re Militari is once again held several sessions at the International Congress on Medieval Studies, which is held in Kalamazoo, Michigan. For more information about the Congress, please see this website.
Medieval Military History in Honor of Bernard S. Bachrach I:
High Middle Ages
Presider: Kelly DeVries, Loyola College in Maryland
This session had over forty people in attendance.
The Last Italian Campaign of Henry IV - Valerie Eads, Independent Scholar
This paper examined the Vita Mathildis as a source for military history, especially for the period 1090 to 1097. Dr. Eads used several images of the Canossa region to show the terrain and weather which would have been present when Countess Matilda of Tuscany fought against Emperor Henry IV.
"The Most Victorious King Who Ever Was": Henry II's Military Career in English Context - John D. Hosler, University of Delaware
This paper first examined how medieval historians have judged what makes a good military commander, coming up with three broad criteria: objectives, performance and innovations. Hosler then proceeds to show how Henry II, king of England, faired under these criteria, and finds him to be under appreciated for his military efforts.
Logistics and the "Other" Norman Conquests - Mark Vaughn, University of Rhode Island
This paper examined the invasions of Sicily and the Byzantine Empire by the Normans under Robert Guiscard, in regards to their logistics. Vaughn finds that Guiscard was often meticulous in his preparations for war, and this was a factor in his conquest of Sicily. His lack of success against the Byzantine empire following the battle of Durazzo can be in part blamed on his forces' inability to bring supplies with them as they campaigned.
Warfare in Sturlunga Age Iceland - Peter Konieczny, University of Toronto
This paper examined how warfare was practiced in Iceland during the thirteenth century. Konieczny notes some of the peculiarities in battles fought on Iceland, including the use of stone throwing, the treatment of prisoners, and the lack of high casualties.
Medieval Military History in Honor of Bernard S. Bachrach II:
Technology and Chivalry
Presider: Clifford J. Rogers
This session had over seventy people in attendance.
Crossbows in English Warfare: A Question of Continuity - David Bachrach, University of New Hampshire
This paper examined the use of crossbows in England during the thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, using governmental records to track the purchasing and movement of crossbows and crossbow bolts. Bachrach finds that the English government was buying a great deal of these weapons, from both domestic and international sources, and that these items would be stockpiled in castles.
Mail versus Archery II: Arrowheads and Fletching - Russ Mitchell, Independent Scholar
This paper examined the question of why some archers were effective at some times and not at others. Mitchell made several tests of arrow fire against different types of mail armor, and noted that the differences between various arrows would have important consequences on the penetration and damage they did to armor.
Hybrid Theory: Problems with the Hybrid Trebuchet - Michael Basista, Western Michigan University
This paper examined trebuchets to see how differences in their design would effect its abilities, and noted that a counter-poise design would provide more balance and torque.
Practical Chivalry, 1350: Geoffroi de Charny's Questions on War - Steven Muhlberger, Nipissing University
This paper examined the career of Geoffroi de Charny and his work that gave questions on jousts, tournaments and warfare. Muhlberger looks at why Charny wrote these questions, and notes that they may be related to the creation of the short-lived Order of the Star. He also examines the various questions found in this work.
Medieval Military History in Honor of Bernard S. Bachrach III:
Late Middle Ages
Presider: David Bachrach, University of New Hampshire
This session had an attendance of over forty people.
Cavalry Warfare in the Saint Omer's Chronicle - Clifford J. Rogers, United States Military Academy, West Point
This paper examines the role of cavalry in later medieval warfare. After noting that many scholars have played down the importance of cavalry, Rogers shows several areas where he believes that cavalry forces were superior to infantry, including their ability to move broader and faster, their strength in small-scale combat, and their ability to pursue defeat enemies.
Military Reform under the Reign of Alfonso XI of Castile, 1312-50 - Nicolas Agrait, Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY
This paper examined two important reforms of Alfonso XI. The first was to develop a chivalric order, known as the Order of the Bant, and to encourage non-noble knighthood, while the second reform involved having better standards for urban military service.
Chaucer's Experience of War - Kenneth J. Thompson, Independent Scholar
This speaker was unable to attend this session, due to commitments with the US Marine Corps.
Guerilla, à Hundred Years War - Matthieu Chan Tsin, Purdue University
This paper examined the work "Le Jouvencel", by Jean de Bueil, in regards to how boys received training to be knights, and how guerilla warfare was conducted.
Friday, May 7: 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Session 312: Valley III 308
Journal of Medieval Military History Annual Lecture
Presider: Susan Dykstra-Poel, Boydell & Brewer
Literature as the Key to Chivalric Ideology - Richard W. Kaeuper, University of Rochester
Professor Kaeuper examines Chansons and Romances as a source for the study of chivalry. He notes that when you read these works, you are looking at what the author and reader wants chivalry to be. These works can be seen as a sort of fantasy literature for knights, where they are portrayed as being larger than life. These works often show them to have stout independence against other dominant forces in medieval life, such as royal justice and the church. But these works also show that religion played a large role for knights, as they worried for their soul, and had fears about the righteousness of their profession. Often, the ideals of the church were co-opted by knights for their own profession, sometimes twisting these ideas for their own use.
Respondents: Kathryn Talarico, College of Staten Island, CUNY; and Craig D. Taylor, University of York