Cohort

Standing force of freemen and villeins fighting for pay. Spar regularly with each other to train in the use of their weapons and maintenance of their armor. A unit of infantry, of at least a platoon size, usually part of a larger army. This volunteer force is recruited from the peasant classes and paid a reasonable wage. Desertion is punishable by confinement. They are expected to train and drill every morning and uphold the code of chivalry. Can be removed from service for violations of the code of chivalry or for serious transgressions against the gentry or clergy.

Composition

Manpower

Consists of approximately 80 footmen. Men-at-arms lead squads of eight men, ten of which make a platoon led by a Sergeants-at-arms. When part of a larger company, the senior Sergeant among the minimum six platoons is the Master Sergeant.

Equipment

Milites wear light armor consisting of a helm, usually flat top, conical, or spangen, and leather cuirass with light gambeson or heavy gambeson, hose and chausses, leather gloves and boots with greaves. Common shields are large wooden boss gripped tower, kite, or oval.
Lancers wear heavy armor consisting of a helm, usually great helm or bascinet, and brigandine or cuirass with light hauberk or gambeson beneath. Pauldrons, rerebrace, couter, and vambrace, steel mittens, hose and chausses, tasset, with leather boots and cuisses, greaves with poleyns, and sabatons affixed. Common shields are small, steel plated wood, boss gripped round, or strapped heater.

Weaponry

Infantry carry a polearm (billhook, bardiche, vouge, ox tounge, fauchard, or spear) as a primary weapon, and either an arming sword or long dagger (stiletto, rondel or bollock) as a secondary weapon. Tertiary weapons can include a smaller dagger, knife, hand axe, or hammers.
Weapons of prestige include a war hammer, crows beak, halberd, morning star, and glaive.

Tactics

Common offensive tactics include slow advance in lines, squares, or columns, and charging in a wedge. With mandibular formations to protect their flanks and engulf the enemy.
Common defensive tactics include shield or spear walls and circles with spears pointed.

Training

These units drill their men in formations and marching every morning, followed by weapons training after. They use stacked hay piles in place of opponents.

Logistics

Auxilia

Common men with no formal training conscripted to fight as part of their servile obligations to the nobility for defense of the realm.

Upkeep

On average a Master Sergeant earns 28, Sergeants-at-arms earn 18, Men-at-arms earn 10, Lancers earn 5, and Milites earn 3.

Recruitment

Recruited from the freemen and villeins of villages, towns, and cities. Every recruit must be able to provide their own weapons and armor.

Type

Infantry

Overall training Level

Semi-professional

Assumed Veterancy

Trained

Parent Formation

Army