Flayers

The flayers are Grandes companies, armed bands formed with former mercenaries, who prevailed in France of the XVe century, under the reign of Charles VII.

Bands of flayers

With the Moyen-âge, when the King was to leave to the war and to the vassal army of its could not be enough, it recruited Mercenaire S. It is what it did at the time of the Guerre One hundred Year old (1337-1453). After the victories of Jeanne d' Arc, the king Charles VII prepares himself to pare the English out of the kingdom. The peace returned after the treated of Arras of 1435, the former mercenaries who had fought on behalf of the Armagnacs or Burgundian is laid off. They then constitute of bands to plunder on their own account. These bands, which can count several thousands of members, are often carried out by chiefs who had served Charles VII. Among the most famous Flayers one can quote Hire, Jacques d' Espailly, Alain de Tailleco, Antoine de Chabannes, Jean Poton de Xaintrailles or Rodrigue de Villandrando

These bands put at evil the French campaigns, plundering, violating, burning and killing to satiety. They prevail in the Berry, in Languedoc, Burgundy, Albigensian and Auvergne. But it is especially in the Hainaut in 1437, at the time of the revolt of the Netherlands against the duke of Burgundy, that the Flayers make the most devastations. They could put at bag whole cities.

Rehabilitation in the French Army

As from November 1439 Charles VII uses them as mercenaries. The ordinance of Orleans, which tries to limit their employment by the only crown, causes a sling of large vassal: the Praguerie.

After the Franco-English truce of 1444, Charles VII employs the Flayers against Lorraine and Alsace. Others are put at the service of Frederic III of the Holy roman Empire, then in war against the Swiss ones. Several thousands of Flayers perish at the time of the Bataille of Birse in 1444. The May 26th 1445 the companies of ordinance are the first permanent troops, ensuring an engagement of long life the former mercenaries.

See too

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