Proposal a) Out of Love for the Ruler and to Protect Kudos. Addressing soldiers on the eve of battle in the British Isles, in France and in the Roman-German Empire (and Byzantium) in the late Middle Ages
This aspect of war rituals has not been systematically researched to date. Based on a collection of chosen late medieval battle addresses from the British Isles, France and the Roman-German Empire, this ritual will be investigated for a) topical elements b) possible cultural differences c) developments over time d) reliance on the author for content e) the actual performance. They will be compared with Byzantine battle addresses such as those recorded for Constantine VII., Theophylactos Simocattes, Nicetas Choniates and Johannes Cantakouzenos.
Proposal b) After victory – what followed military success?
Late medieval military occupation and the installation of military or civil administrations in Europe have been investigated along the lines of example cases to date (Scotland 1296, Normandy after 1417). We shall ask how victors attempted to win loyalty or at least passive consent to their rule: administration, consideration of local elite in awarding office, management of complaints concerning infringements by occupiers etc. A systematic and comparative approach is chosen, so that further late medieval examples can also be investigated. Where appropriate, comparative situations from the Byzantine Empire can be added.
Proposal c) War culture in late medieval Scotland
The (military) conflict between Scotland and England between 1300 and 1500 had a significant effect on the political and social development in both kingdoms, and in particular in the border regions. Research in the last 30 years has concentrated on military aspects (battles, logistics, goals) of the conflict and the role and importance of the military leaders (kings, generals). Still to be investigated is how for example hostilities, phases of ceasefire and the associated rituals were observed and assessed by Scottish contemporaries. An analysis of the narratives which recorded their observations and evaluations intends to clarify the elements which constituted Scottish war culture. The transformation this culture underwent in the period from King Robert II to James IV (1371-1513) will be examined.