Rémy Ambühl | University of Southampton (original) (raw)

Books by Rémy Ambühl

A Soldiers' Chronicle of the Hundred Years War College of Arms Manuscript M 9, 2022

A remarkable and very important unpublished chronicle written by two soldiers, covering in detail... more A remarkable and very important unpublished chronicle written by two soldiers, covering in detail the English campaigns in France from 1415 to 1429. It lists many individuals who served in the war, and was written specifically for Sir John Fastolf, the English commander.

This previously unpublished chronicle from the mid-fifteenth century covers the English wars in France from 1415 to 1429. It is highly unusual in that it was written by two soldiers, Peter Basset and Christopher Hanson. William Worcester, secretary to the English commander Sir John Fastolf, also had a hand in it, and it was specifically written for Sir John. The content is unusual, as it includes many lists of individuals serving in the war, and records their presence at battles, naming more than 700 in all. Over half these individuals are French or Scottish, so it would seem that the authors had a particularly detailed knowledge of French military participation. The narrative is important for the English campaigns in Maine in the 1420s in which Fastolf was heavily involved and which otherwise receive little attention in chronicles written on either side of the Channel. The progress of the war is well mapped, with around 230 place names mentioned.
The chronicle was extensively used in the sixteenth century by several heralds and by Edward Hall. As a result, it had an influence on Shakespeare. The death of the earl of Salisbury at Orleans in 'Henry VI Part I' Follows the chronicle closely. The 'Mirror for Magistrates' Salisbury narrative is also derived from the chronicle. Another point of interest is that the chronicle is by a scribe who can be identified, and proves to be the only known fifteenth-century account of the war written in England in French, which adds an important linguistic dimension to its study.

Essays exploring how England was governed during a tumultuous period. The twin themes of power a... more Essays exploring how England was governed during a tumultuous period.

The twin themes of power and authority in fourteenth-century England, a century of transition between the high and late medieval polities, run throughout this volume, reflecting Professor Given-Wilson's seminal work in the area. Covering the period between Edward I's final years and the tyranny of Richard II, the volume encompasses political, social, economic and administrative history through four major lens: central governance, aristocratic politics, warfare, and English power abroad. Topics covered include royal administrative efficiency; the machinations of government clerks; the relationship between the crown and market forces; the changing nature of noble titles and lordship;and ideas of court politics, favouritism and loyalty. Military policy is also examined, looking at army composition and definitions of "war" and "rebellion". The book concludes with a detailed study of treasonous English captains around Calais and a broader examination of Plantagenet ambitions on the European stage.

This book investigates the Battle of Agincourt—which continues to be of immense national and inte... more This book investigates the Battle of Agincourt—which continues to be of immense national and international interest—as well as the wider conduct and organisation of war in the late Middle Ages. In England, Shakespeare’s Henry V ensured that the battle holds a place in the English national consciousness, and through the centuries that followed the story of Henry’s famous victory was used to galvanise English national spirit in times of war. In France, the immediate impact of the battle was that it helped to galvanise French national awareness in response to an external enemy. This book showcases new research into Agincourt and the wider issues of military recruitment, naval logistics, gunpowder and siege warfare, and the conduct of war. It also takes a wider European perspective on the events of 1415 by including research on Portuguese military organisation at the time of Agincourt. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Medieval History.

Book chapters and Articles by Rémy Ambühl

Bretons du Moyen Âge, entre guerre et paix Mélanges en l’honneur de Michael Jones, 2023

Lists of dead are often found in late medieval chronicles. It is not easy to know on what sources... more Lists of dead are often found in late medieval chronicles. It is not easy to know on what sources of information they were based, and such questions are often neglected in editions and studies of texts. Building on an initial critical analysis by Olivier Bouzy, we carry out a comparative study of the lists of dead at Agincourt as found in fifteenth-century chronicles. This corpus is complemented by two independent lists compiled soon after the battle, of which one is published for the first time as an appendix. Our research shows that the composition of such lists is the result of two interlinked factors: access to information and authorial choice. We also suggest that these lists were based on an original list in whose compilation, as well as circulation in England, a herald was involved, thereby providing a concrete example of the tallying and identification of battle dead which is often ascribed in the chronicle sources to the officers of arms.

Prendre les armes, prier le Ciel et tenir la plume à la fin du Moyen Âge. Mélanges en l’honneur du professeur Bertrand Schnerb, 2023

Ruling Fourteenth-Century England, 2019

This chapter examines the intertwining of politics and law in the prosecutions of English captain... more This chapter examines the intertwining of politics and law in the prosecutions of English captains charged for the illegitimate surrender of French towns and fortresses under their custody in the 1370s. These prosecutions give a detailed insight in the laws of war (honour, oath and covenants) and their enforcement, while the relative scarcity of these prosecutions, the courts and legal procedures bring the political dimension of their punishment and pardon to the fore.

La guerre en Normandie (XIe-XVe siècle), 2018

Le dimanche 19 octobre 1449, les habitants de Rouen, encourages par Charles VII, se soulevent con... more Le dimanche 19 octobre 1449, les habitants de Rouen, encourages par Charles VII, se soulevent contre le gouvernement anglais. Le duc de Somerset, sa famille et ses hommes sont forces de se refugier dans le château et le palais de la capitale normande. L’armee de Charles VII, qui est venue au secours des habitants, entre dans la ville avant la fin de la journee. Le château et le palais, les deux derniers bastions anglais, sont bientot assieges. Les Anglais ne voient d’autre solution que de negocier leur reddition. Somerset declare etre en droit de partir librement selon ce qui lui a ete promis quelques jours plus tot par un depute de Charles VII, lors de la conference de Port-Saint-Ouen. Charles conteste, mais « il ne voudrait faire chose qui fut a deshonneur ». La requete de Somerset se transforme en litige. Une enquete est ouverte. Charles VII, qui professe son impartialite, propose de remettre le jugement de cette affaire entre les mains d’une commission d’arbitrage. Cette situation extraordinaire, impensable, revele l’importance du langage de l’honneur dans les negociations. Elle met egalement en lumiere la strategie politique du « recouvrement » de la Normandie et questionne son influence sur la production des ecrits.

There was no permanent international court per se in the late Middle Ages, but there were differe... more There was no permanent international court per se in the late Middle Ages, but there were different opportunities for any injured party to seek legal redress from court against an enemy, under the law of arms. Such legal actions, however, were much more likely to be initiated ‘after the war’ rather than during it, and therefore concerned matters which kept on their relevance outside the heat of the action, such as, for instance, the ownership of a prisoner or the payment of a ransom. Treaties of surrender of fortresses or urban communities, on the other hand, which belonged to the heat of the action, had to rely on different forms of enforcement...

Where did Henry V get his reputation as a paragon of justice? It is mainly conveyed to us by Fren... more 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 king’s 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.

Journal of Medieval History, 2017

This special issue contains a selection of nine papers from an international conference commemora... more 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.

The Encyclopedia of War, 2011

In Middle English raunsom or raunson derives from the old French raencon (or raenson, rancon, ran... more In Middle English raunsom or raunson derives from the old French raencon (or raenson, rancon, ranson, ranchon, etc.) and from the Latin redemptio. Ransom is commonly defined as the price or sum paid or demanded for the release of a prisoner. However, it has not always been strictly financial. This nuance is highlighted by the medieval use of the term finance (fenaunce, fynance, financia), which seemed to designate a ransom that was paid in money, whereas ransom could also be partly or entirely paid in goods

A Soldiers' Chronicle of the Hundred Years War College of Arms Manuscript M 9, 2022

A remarkable and very important unpublished chronicle written by two soldiers, covering in detail... more A remarkable and very important unpublished chronicle written by two soldiers, covering in detail the English campaigns in France from 1415 to 1429. It lists many individuals who served in the war, and was written specifically for Sir John Fastolf, the English commander.

This previously unpublished chronicle from the mid-fifteenth century covers the English wars in France from 1415 to 1429. It is highly unusual in that it was written by two soldiers, Peter Basset and Christopher Hanson. William Worcester, secretary to the English commander Sir John Fastolf, also had a hand in it, and it was specifically written for Sir John. The content is unusual, as it includes many lists of individuals serving in the war, and records their presence at battles, naming more than 700 in all. Over half these individuals are French or Scottish, so it would seem that the authors had a particularly detailed knowledge of French military participation. The narrative is important for the English campaigns in Maine in the 1420s in which Fastolf was heavily involved and which otherwise receive little attention in chronicles written on either side of the Channel. The progress of the war is well mapped, with around 230 place names mentioned.
The chronicle was extensively used in the sixteenth century by several heralds and by Edward Hall. As a result, it had an influence on Shakespeare. The death of the earl of Salisbury at Orleans in 'Henry VI Part I' Follows the chronicle closely. The 'Mirror for Magistrates' Salisbury narrative is also derived from the chronicle. Another point of interest is that the chronicle is by a scribe who can be identified, and proves to be the only known fifteenth-century account of the war written in England in French, which adds an important linguistic dimension to its study.

Essays exploring how England was governed during a tumultuous period. The twin themes of power a... more Essays exploring how England was governed during a tumultuous period.

The twin themes of power and authority in fourteenth-century England, a century of transition between the high and late medieval polities, run throughout this volume, reflecting Professor Given-Wilson's seminal work in the area. Covering the period between Edward I's final years and the tyranny of Richard II, the volume encompasses political, social, economic and administrative history through four major lens: central governance, aristocratic politics, warfare, and English power abroad. Topics covered include royal administrative efficiency; the machinations of government clerks; the relationship between the crown and market forces; the changing nature of noble titles and lordship;and ideas of court politics, favouritism and loyalty. Military policy is also examined, looking at army composition and definitions of "war" and "rebellion". The book concludes with a detailed study of treasonous English captains around Calais and a broader examination of Plantagenet ambitions on the European stage.

This book investigates the Battle of Agincourt—which continues to be of immense national and inte... more This book investigates the Battle of Agincourt—which continues to be of immense national and international interest—as well as the wider conduct and organisation of war in the late Middle Ages. In England, Shakespeare’s Henry V ensured that the battle holds a place in the English national consciousness, and through the centuries that followed the story of Henry’s famous victory was used to galvanise English national spirit in times of war. In France, the immediate impact of the battle was that it helped to galvanise French national awareness in response to an external enemy. This book showcases new research into Agincourt and the wider issues of military recruitment, naval logistics, gunpowder and siege warfare, and the conduct of war. It also takes a wider European perspective on the events of 1415 by including research on Portuguese military organisation at the time of Agincourt. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Medieval History.

Bretons du Moyen Âge, entre guerre et paix Mélanges en l’honneur de Michael Jones, 2023

Lists of dead are often found in late medieval chronicles. It is not easy to know on what sources... more Lists of dead are often found in late medieval chronicles. It is not easy to know on what sources of information they were based, and such questions are often neglected in editions and studies of texts. Building on an initial critical analysis by Olivier Bouzy, we carry out a comparative study of the lists of dead at Agincourt as found in fifteenth-century chronicles. This corpus is complemented by two independent lists compiled soon after the battle, of which one is published for the first time as an appendix. Our research shows that the composition of such lists is the result of two interlinked factors: access to information and authorial choice. We also suggest that these lists were based on an original list in whose compilation, as well as circulation in England, a herald was involved, thereby providing a concrete example of the tallying and identification of battle dead which is often ascribed in the chronicle sources to the officers of arms.

Prendre les armes, prier le Ciel et tenir la plume à la fin du Moyen Âge. Mélanges en l’honneur du professeur Bertrand Schnerb, 2023

Ruling Fourteenth-Century England, 2019

This chapter examines the intertwining of politics and law in the prosecutions of English captain... more This chapter examines the intertwining of politics and law in the prosecutions of English captains charged for the illegitimate surrender of French towns and fortresses under their custody in the 1370s. These prosecutions give a detailed insight in the laws of war (honour, oath and covenants) and their enforcement, while the relative scarcity of these prosecutions, the courts and legal procedures bring the political dimension of their punishment and pardon to the fore.

La guerre en Normandie (XIe-XVe siècle), 2018

Le dimanche 19 octobre 1449, les habitants de Rouen, encourages par Charles VII, se soulevent con... more Le dimanche 19 octobre 1449, les habitants de Rouen, encourages par Charles VII, se soulevent contre le gouvernement anglais. Le duc de Somerset, sa famille et ses hommes sont forces de se refugier dans le château et le palais de la capitale normande. L’armee de Charles VII, qui est venue au secours des habitants, entre dans la ville avant la fin de la journee. Le château et le palais, les deux derniers bastions anglais, sont bientot assieges. Les Anglais ne voient d’autre solution que de negocier leur reddition. Somerset declare etre en droit de partir librement selon ce qui lui a ete promis quelques jours plus tot par un depute de Charles VII, lors de la conference de Port-Saint-Ouen. Charles conteste, mais « il ne voudrait faire chose qui fut a deshonneur ». La requete de Somerset se transforme en litige. Une enquete est ouverte. Charles VII, qui professe son impartialite, propose de remettre le jugement de cette affaire entre les mains d’une commission d’arbitrage. Cette situation extraordinaire, impensable, revele l’importance du langage de l’honneur dans les negociations. Elle met egalement en lumiere la strategie politique du « recouvrement » de la Normandie et questionne son influence sur la production des ecrits.

There was no permanent international court per se in the late Middle Ages, but there were differe... more There was no permanent international court per se in the late Middle Ages, but there were different opportunities for any injured party to seek legal redress from court against an enemy, under the law of arms. Such legal actions, however, were much more likely to be initiated ‘after the war’ rather than during it, and therefore concerned matters which kept on their relevance outside the heat of the action, such as, for instance, the ownership of a prisoner or the payment of a ransom. Treaties of surrender of fortresses or urban communities, on the other hand, which belonged to the heat of the action, had to rely on different forms of enforcement...

Where did Henry V get his reputation as a paragon of justice? It is mainly conveyed to us by Fren... more 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 king’s 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.

Journal of Medieval History, 2017

This special issue contains a selection of nine papers from an international conference commemora... more 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.

The Encyclopedia of War, 2011

In Middle English raunsom or raunson derives from the old French raencon (or raenson, rancon, ran... more In Middle English raunsom or raunson derives from the old French raencon (or raenson, rancon, ranson, ranchon, etc.) and from the Latin redemptio. Ransom is commonly defined as the price or sum paid or demanded for the release of a prisoner. However, it has not always been strictly financial. This nuance is highlighted by the medieval use of the term finance (fenaunce, fynance, financia), which seemed to designate a ransom that was paid in money, whereas ransom could also be partly or entirely paid in goods

Journal of Medieval History, 2016

Agincourt in Context, 2018

This edition contains nine chapters that commemorate the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The contrib... more This edition contains nine chapters that commemorate the Battle of Agincourt in 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.

French History, 2005

... 2003. 296 pp. £7.99. ISBN 1 84119 678 9. Desmond Seward relates the story of the Hundred Year... more ... 2003. 296 pp. £7.99. ISBN 1 84119 678 9. Desmond Seward relates the story of the Hundred Years War in the late Middle Ages which saw the confrontation between the powerful monarchies of England and France. ... By John J. Conley. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. 2002. ...