The Armour Archive

I would like to learn more about the political and 'military' structure of German 'free Imperial cities,' especially how defensive forces were mustered and commanded.

Are there good sources in English?
Are there any insightful English fictional accounts?

x-posted to OT
http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... ?p=1477882

Ron Broberg wrote:I would like to learn more about the political and 'military' structure of German 'free Imperial cities,' especially how defensive forces were mustered and commanded.

Are there good sources in English?
Are there any insightful English fictional accounts?

Well you need a date or decade or some such. As a general rule there are few scholars who study Germany from about 1250 to about 1520 who write in English. The somewhat exception to that is the students of Heiko Oberman who study religion in pre-Reformation religion.
There are a few small studies that are generally hard to get your hands on. Once you get into the 16th century English scholarship on Germany is much more extensive.

While I'm at it, how about source for the development of the Anglo-American 'militia' and it's connection (if any) to yeomanry?

Yeomanry is kinda a side issue but there actually is a really pretty good book Military Obligation In Medieval England. You really get to see how important the idea military obligation is to our society.

The era of the Reichsstadte that I am most interested in? 30 years war.

Thanks the book tip. Amazon had a couple of used copies.

And I miswrote. Not so interested in yeomanry as I am in the origins of the 'militia' tradition which I suspect is tied somewhat to yeoman and their obligations but for all I know might have sprung entirely out of Cromwell's forehead.

Ron Broberg wrote:The era of the Reichsstadte that I am most interested in? 30 years war.

You will end up slightly better off but I only saw a few things in DeVries's Cumulative Bibliography but I'm also not sure how good it is for that late. But you will definitely have more luck then earlier because there are many more studies in English on that war and Germany of the time to guide you through the German sources.

And I miswrote. Not so interested in yeomanry as I am in the origins of the 'militia' tradition which I suspect is tied somewhat to yeoman and their obligations but for all I know might have sprung entirely out of Cromwell's forehead.

To my knowledge yeoman have no specific obligations. Obligation comes from value of land. And it has been around since before Alfred the Great and tended to get reformed every so often.