Even so the 'mesnie' (retained military household) was the elite core of any great lord's following in war and in tournament, and a sign also of his power and dignity. The 'feudal' nature of even this part of the medieval army has been qualified by some, in that many 11th and 12th-century lords gathered under their banners extra knights available for hire for a campaign, men who were disparaged at the time as 'mercenaries'. Though modern scholarship has had a lot to say about the varied means by which medieval princes raised their forces, the obligation of a vassal to serve on horseback either in person and (for some) with a contingent raised by his own means is still seen as providing the core of any army of the time. There were no standing armies in the middle ages (except the military orders). The wife of a banneret was styled as banneress. His proxy could be regarded as a sufficient substitution for his presence. There were some technical exceptions to this when his standard was on the field of battle he could be regarded as physically present though he was not. Under English custom the rank of knight banneret could only be conferred by the sovereign on the field of battle. The military rank of a knight banneret was higher than a knight bachelor (who fought under another's banner), but lower than an earl or duke. Sir Rhys ap Thomas (1449–1525), knight banneret and Knight of the Garter.Ī knight banneret, sometimes known simply as banneret, was a medieval knight ("a commoner of rank") who led a company of troops during time of war under his own banner (which was square-shaped, in contrast to the tapering standard or the pennon flown by the lower-ranking knights) and was eligible to bear supporters in English heraldry. For other uses, see Banneret (disambiguation).
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