A brief examination of warfare by medieval urban militias in Central and Northern Europe

Abstract

During the medieval and Early Modern period, the Free cities of
Central and Northern Europe fielded militias which collectively played an
important role in European warfare. The specific military role of the burgher is
not well known outside of the realm of academic specialists in the English
speaking world. In order to highlight this to my fellow layperson, I have chosen
a selection of significant historical events with a special focus on Lombardy,
Flanders, Silesia, Bohemia and Poland, in which urban militias played an
important role. The intention is to allow us to review the effectiveness, tactics
and strategic impact of urban militias and their possible relationship to the
martial arts of pre-industrial Europe.