Meet the Middle Ages
BackSoldiers
It was in everybody’s interest to defend the town if it was attacked. To the King, the town was an important source of income. The people of the town had to defend their lives, their houses and their property.
Even though all citizens had to help with the defence of their town, they could not manage on their own if an enemy attacked. Therefore, the towns also had a force of hired soldiers, mercenaries, who were employed by the King. The Royal Bailiff was their commander. He trained the soldiers and gave them their wages. If there was a castle in the town, the soldiers lived there, if not, they stayed in town. The mercenaries could be compatriots or foreigners. There was often a wall around the town to protect it. It made it possible to resist a siege.
The soldiers’ task was to protect the town against an attack from the outside. Their presence also made it possible for the Bailiff to enforce his and the King’s will. Few people dared rise up against the Bailiff and his soldiers.