Remy Ambuhl

Prisoners of war in the Hundred Years War : ransom culture in the late Middle Ages

Introduction 1. Law, ransom and the status of the prisoner of war 2. Princes, masters and prisoners 3. Status and politics in Lancastrian Normandy 4. The process of ransoming (I) from capture to captivity 5. The practice of ransoming (II) the price of freedom 6. Merchants, banking and trade 7. Assistance to prisoners I: vassals and subjects - the end of customary aids? 8. Assistant to prisoners II: kings and princes - first or last resort? 9. Assistance to prisoners III: the social circle of the prisoner Conclusion.

Henry V and the administration of justice: the surrender of Meaux (May 1422)

ABSTRACT Where did Henry V get his reputation as a ‘paragon of justice’? It is mainly conveyed to us by French chroniclers, and it is therefore necessary to investigate its origins in the French kingdom. This study focuses on Henry’s administration of justice at the surrender of the town and the Market of Meaux. The stout resistance of the besieged was punished harshly. It was a robust response to an obvious breach of the tacit code of honour. The heroic conduct of the defenders, especially the Bâtard de Vaurus, is a later historiographical construction. Uniquely, Henry V ordered the trial and execution of four ‘hardened criminals’. This sent a strong signal to the kings enemies that was meant to leave a lasting impression. No one should defy his authority as heir to the throne of France. And no one, not even a nobleman, could terrorise the population with impunity.ABSTRACTWhere did Henry V get his reputation as a ‘paragon of justice’? It is mainly conveyed to us by French chroniclers, and it is therefore necessary to investigate its origins in the French kingdom. This study focuses on Henry’s administration of justice at the surrender of the town and the Market of Meaux. The stout resistance of the besieged was punished harshly. It was a robust response to an obvious breach of the tacit code of honour. The heroic conduct of the defenders, especially the Bâtard de Vaurus, is a later historiographical construction. Uniquely, Henry V ordered the trial and execution of four ‘hardened criminals’. This sent a strong signal to the kings enemies that was meant to leave a lasting impression. No one should defy his authority as heir to the throne of France. And no one, not even a nobleman, could terrorise the population with impunity.

Agincourt in context: war on land and sea. Introduction

ABSTRACT This special issue contains a selection of nine papers from an international conference commemorating the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt (1415). The contributions place the battle in the broader context of late medieval warfare, highlighting new trends in war studies and engaging with new and old historiographical debates.