This morning I was admiring my friend's medieval Hungarian army in the making. It was based on a set of rules I have not played for a long time, DBM. But it's not so much the rules but one troop type that was of interest in our discussion. In list 43, (book 4, DBM army lists, 2nd edition 1999) the list includes "Armati – Reg Bd(O)" and we wondered who are these Armati (or armati)?
I painted a Hungarian army for Tactica Medieval rules many moons ago, (using Irregular Miniatures 15mm mainly) and the only close order foot I (or the rules) included were spearmen. And of course I also played "Armati" rules for many years. And my understanding of this Latin word is much as one finds on googling it, that armati is Latin for an armed man or soldier, where the Latin base wood is referring to arms or weapons. So where did DBM get its 'Blade' descriptor from? Axemen, swordsmen, halberds?
This morning we consulted volume 2 of Ian Heath's Armies of the Middle Ages, where [pages 142 to 147, and figures 85 to 96] do not include any one suggesting a 'blade' armed soldier other than figures 88, 92 and 93, who are all Hungarian men-at-arms, who are more likely mounted than a foot soldier; and figure 91, described as a fifteenth century 'Eastern European peasant infantryman' then as "more specifically Transylvanian" one third of whom (under Janos Hunyadi) the 'Historia Boemica' identifies as becoming "competent at handling arms" (sword?) the rest with typical sling or scythe. Then proceeds to state (page 145, entry for figure 91) "In Hungary itself serfs armed with scythes and other agricultural implements performed sterling service against Bohemian invaders and routed Ottomans alike in 1465 and 1479".
To add to my uncertainty about what this DBM list is depicting, I later read (under figure 114 German Infantrymen, mid 14th century) [who is clad in mail head to foot with helmet and possible lamella corset, wielding an axe two handed]: "a selection of such German infantry as are likely to have been found in armies fighting in Central and Eastern Europe". For whom, I wondered. The Hungarians?
So is the DBM list entry of Reg Bd (O) (in this edition above compiled by Phil Barker and Richard Bodley Scott) depicting a peasant soldier such as those raised by Janos Hunyadi, or a Hungarian serf with scythe, or a German soldier (presumably a mercenary) like figure 114?
Interestingly, book 4 of the DBMM list 43 Later Hungarian, (compiled by Phil Barker) includes the same Armati – Reg Bd (O) [from 1442AD].
Advice, opinions or any historical evidence welcomed!?!
CarlL
As I understand the usual medieval use of armatus, it meant an armed i.e. armoured soldier. In various places and at various times, it could mean an armoured foot soldier or a man-at-arms. So I think that rules out armed serfs.
See Matt Haywood's site - https://www.warfareeast.co.uk/main/Hungarian_Composition.htm#Armati
Perhaps the half-armoured men in https://warfare.6te.net/15/Hungary-Thurocz-Chronicle-p73.htm might be a guide?
The paper at https://www.academia.edu/4152525/THE_PAVISE_INFANTRY_SHIELD_OF_MATTHIAS_CORVINUS_ARMY_LATE_MEDIEVAL_INFANTRYS_TACTICS_IN_CENTRAL_EUROPE_ includes on the first page a quote from Corvinus himself, which mentions "the common infantry, the armoured infantry, and the shield-bearers"- I think "the armoured infantry" translates "armati".
Duncan you are a goldmine of information and links, thanks once more for your help.
CarlL