Magnus Kompanie Aufgebot Hesse 1471-1499

Personalities of importance in camp

While it is no doubt that the Hauptmann is the man in charge of the Kompanie, the camp and the army itself could not function without several other administrative positions held by some very important men and women.

A free lord, hired to run the army by a patronage such as the mayor whose city raised the army, has free reign on choosing his aides. While this is a chance to win favor in other wealthy families by taking on their heirs to serve him and thus bring glory and looted wealth in return, charisma is not enough to ensure a successful running of the army. Another common route is to take the lord's own personal retinue, but by the last quarter of the fifteenth century, it was becoming more understood that a professional army needed professional administrators. Often now were personalities being recruited for their minds, rather than their muscle.

"Hauptmann" (Captain)

This is the Man In Charge. Usually he is the guild master from the city or a foreign mercenary in the pay of the Landgraf. Either way he is the end-all be-all of the Army.

"Wachtmeister" (Captain of the Guard)

Very important indeed is the Wachtmeister. Referred to as the "Captain of the Guard" in England, this man carried great status and more important, reputation. Rarely did the Wachemeister need a personal bodyguard to do his job, if he was good at it, his mere presence brought troops into line.

The Wachtemeister ensured that codes were being adhered to, duties were being followed and laws were being enforced. He rode astride his horse through the camp, armed with a baton, a symbol of his authority, being used as a switch to painfully bring rule into order without crippling the soldier, so that he may fight as needed the next day.

 "Pfeiffer" (fife/pipe musician)

"Trommelschläger" (drummer musician)

"Kaplan" (chaplain)

"Büchsenknecht" (soldier with a fire arm)

"Stangen/Spießknechte" (halberd or pike soldier)

"Junge beim Hauptmann" (boy in service to the Hauptmann)

Like any squire serving under a knight, the Junge is a youth given to the Captain to learn the ways of being a Kreigherren, or a lord of battle.

"Jungen/Mädchen" (boy and girl)

Families who follow in the baggage train will also raise children on the march.

"Armbruster" (soldier with a crossbow)

"Fähnrich" (soldier who carries the flag, pennant or guide on)

The standard bearer is one of the most looked-up to soldiers in the entire assembly. Only the bravest and most battle-honored of soldiers is given the honor of carrying the standard. Such a standard might display the heraldic arms of Hesse, or the city, or of the Hauptmann himself.

Smaller pendants and flags denoting each squad are also an honor among squad-mates, but means little compared the the standard bearer.

"Armbruster" (soldier with a crossbow)

"Fahrender Ritter" (a knight errand)

Special thanks to Wolf from Hamburg for his contributions. For without his help, none of this would be outlines so well and completely.

Advancement in the Komapnie

Advancement is ceremonially rewarded as recognition for the effort put into your research, impression and kit. Ranks here are given as a sign of accomplishment, but lack any authority unless voted upon or divvied out by the Hauptmann. In the end, all members of the Kompanie are here of their own free will and love for history and the hobby.

Authority is not given to be pressed upon our members or anyone else. Everyone knows what is expected of them and responsibility is as free and highly regarded in our group as constitutional rights. If someone is breaking the rules, they may be asked to leave. If anyone is unhappy, they are free to leave. Any authority given is done so on the bias that the one it is awarded to is mature and responsible enough to be able to handle it appropriately and not cause anyone in the group hardship, bad feelings or give them cause to feel they must leave the group.

In this group, fun and fairness rules, not the Officers. Everyone is expected to work together to enjoy themselves at every outing!

Addendum: Our group is more concerned with Historic Authenticity than with Modern military-equivalent ranks. But in an effort to give levels of achievement for group members to strive for, I have attempted to divide sections based on the amount of research and time spent on your impression and in the group, as well as the gear acquired.

Note that the main body of our military mobilization is as a militia raised from the city of Kassel.

Only after enough members have been recruited to fill a unit of halberdiers can other units be began. Artillerie, Handgonne, Cavalry and Mercenary groups are all acceptable additions to this Kompanie once we have enough people to accomplish them.

While the Hauptmann of Magnus Kompanie will retain his position for life, Field Officers are voted positions. Any Officer wanting to hold his station is expected to have the required gear to accurately portray his station.

To attain any of the following levels, the candidate must be able to give a short speech on their impression.

As a new member, your required kit is lenient. Within the first six months to a year, you will be expected to have one full set of clothes.

Both sexes should have

• correct leather shoes or boots.

A man should have

• linen briefs and undershirt,
• wool vest or doublet
• wool hosen (split or full)
• points to tie the hosen to the vest or doublet
• a hat or hood.

A woman must have

• linen chemise
• wool under dress (or simple dress) known as a kurtle,
• a linen head-wrap.

By now, you should have a better grasp of the education-side of the group. At this point, you should have your own necessities and a more robust wardrobe. As well as what is required for new members you should have the following...

The pouches and purses may carry personal items that should not be seen by the public but may be needed, such as an asthma inhaler, reading glasses, your wallet, keys, etc, not to mention money in both modern and reproduction currency.

Both sexes should have

• a canvass travel sack of a size capable of holding the following items of which you should also have...
• period correct fork and eating knife,
• sturdy carved wooden bowl,
• sturdy simple drinking vessel (pewter, tin, clay, etc.).
• Any other personal items not of period correct manufacture may be hidden inside this sack.

also:

• a bedroll. The bedroll itself resembles a sleeping bag, except you do not get inside of it. In the 15th century, these had straw in them; which meant they also had bugs. If you want to go that route, make sure you clean it and replace the straw with a fresh supply before EVERY event. Otherwise, it is preferred you fill it with tow (scraps of material or wool), cotton filler, down, feathers, whatever that is durable and will not attract vermin or mold and can be washed frequently (such as newer camping foam pads). Like a sleeping bag, at the foot of the bedroll should be two leather straps and buckle sets so that it may be rolled up and secured for travel. If you want a pillow, keep it in your travel sack until bedtime.

Men will need

• wool coat
• a belt with correct fixtures
• a pouch or purse attached to the belt.
• a dagger, sheathed (ALWAYS SHEATHED) behind his pouch or from his belt.

Women will need

• the overdress
• a ladies belt with correct fixtures
• a pouch or purse.

At this point you should be very serious about historic authenticity and researching all the little nick-knacks that make a simple impression seem amazingly life-like. By now, you should have all of the previous levels’ requirements and the following…

Both sexes should have

• Wicker traveling basket (that can be strapped to your back like a backpack) or a chest, or a bucket, or a barrel (dry or wet-make). These more sturdy carrying devices can display any other historic-correct items when open to the public in a very correct and more realistic way, or these can be sealed to hide items you do not want viewed by the public, but make the camp much more comfortable and durable than the canvass travel sack allows.

Each family unit should have

• a correct tent.
• The spoke-wheel tent is preferred and much more economical. It is easily erected by 1-2 people and quite comfortable, as well as being the single most common tent of the era.
• The “double belled wedge” as some designate it, was also popular in Britain, France and Burgundy. While not so much in Germany, it is an affordable alternative and looks very nice once painted with stripes of sealant over the seems and roof.
• Another less interesting but applicable alternative is a bivouac. This is simply a rectangular piece of canvass pinned to the ground at one end and raised by wooden supports on the other. This is far more common for someone with a storefront, but works as an incredibly less-expensive alternative.