"The Heaviest Cavalry in the West": The French Gendarmes

Start speaking a new language in 3 weeks with Babbel! Get up to 65% OFF your subscription ➡️ HERE: https://go.babbel.com/1200m65-youtube-sandrhomanhistory-june-2022/default The French Gendarmes are not only considered the heaviest cavalry in the west, the first standing army in Europe and the military force that won the Hundred Years War, but they also one of the reasons for the rise of Pike and Shot Warfare. Although they were at times the most hated men in their own country, they were arguably the most feared and best organized cavalry force of the Middle Ages. Despite all of that, they are vastly overlooked by modern historians and YouTube his-tory alike. In this video we look at the Gens d'Armes, as they were called in French, why they were created, why they were effective and why they were of great significance for French society in the early modern period. Patreon: (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/sandrhomanhistory Merch store: https://sandrhoman.creator-spring.com/ Paypal: (thank you: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/SandRhomanhistory Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sandrhoman Bibliography: Potter, D., Renaissance France at War. Armies, Culture, Society, c. 1480-1560 (Warfare in History), 2008. Solon, P., Valois Military Administration on the Norman Frontier, 1445-1461: A Study in Medieval Reform, Speculum 1976, vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 91-111. Solon, P., s.v. “Compagnie d’Ordonnance“ in: The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology. Wood, J., The King’s Army, Warfare, Soldiers and Society during the Wars of Religion in France 1562-76, 1996.