We built a database of 290k English medieval soldiers; here's what it reveals
8 days ago
- #genealogy
- #medieval history
- #military records
- The Medieval Soldier Database, launched in 2009, is the largest online database of medieval military service records, covering 1369 to 1453.
- It includes records of soldiers paid by the English Crown, drawn from muster rolls, protections, and legal documents.
- The database challenges assumptions about medieval soldiers' lack of professionalism and reveals long military careers and social mobility.
- Recent updates expanded the dataset to nearly 290,000 entries, now sustainably hosted by GeoData at the University of Southampton.
- Records show diverse military roles, from men-at-arms and archers to support roles like masons, blacksmiths, and boatmen.
- Notable figures like Geoffrey Chaucer and Thomas Crowe are documented, revealing their military and rebellious pasts.
- The database provides insights into key events like the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 and the garrison of Calais from 1357 to 1459.
- It allows comparisons with other historical projects and helps trace genealogies further back than previously possible.