Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Medieval Soldier Database

Jay MacBride has pointed me toward an amazing online database from the UK that includes the detailed service records of over 250,000 soldiers who fought between the years 1369 and 1453. Anyone with an interest in medieval history, especially military history, will find this database a veritable treasure trove of information. I'm frankly more amazed that this many records survive than I am that they're freely available online.

There's no question that this is a remarkable resource. Thanks again, Jay.

6 comments:

  1. Wow, if only Gary had lived to see such a creation! This is the type of stuff he was trilled to see put to use.

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  2. What a neat resource! My mother's family was from England, and I actually found someone with her same surname serving in the army of Henry V.

    Of course, "Parr" isn't exactly uncommon and he's probably not a relation, but, still, it was fun to see. :)

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  3. I hate to just drop in and point out typos but...

    pray tell, what is a "medieval solider"?

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  4. pray tell, what is a "medieval solider"?

    I have no idea what you're talking about. ;-)

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  5. I'm frankly more amazed that this many records survive than I am that they're freely available online.

    Centuries of institutional continuity in a nation (+ the tendency of bureaucracies to never throw anything away) has unexpected benefits.

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  6. Readers interested in this type of thing might also get use out of this site.

    "The Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England (PASE) is a database which aims to cover all of the recorded inhabitants of England from the late sixth to the end of the eleventh century. It is based on a systematic examination of the available written sources for the period, including chronicles, saints’ Lives, charters, libri vitae, inscriptions, and coins. For further information, see ‘About PASE’ and ‘About the database’."

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