Battle Of Poitiers ..... Big Defeat For French |
Court documents from 1357 AD show the term being used instead of 'slave' or 'owned' to describe someone held for ransom after being captured in battle.
Sir Bartholomew Burghersh ... POW Taker |
As for the luckless count, he had been legally "owned" by Lord Burghersh, a close adviser to Edward, the Black Prince, and had been bought for 10,000 marks (£5,000) by King Edward III .... a phenomenal amount when you realise that the amount raised by taxation in England annually would have been about £40,000.
He had been released by1360 AD, as he formed part of the deal to return King John II, the French King, who was also captured at Poitiers. Lord Burghersh (Sir Bartholomew Burghersh, the younger), also captured Henry Vaulx in 1360 AD .... he made a lot of money from these and other ransoms.
Interesting use of language. Lord Burghersh must have realised that his "slaves" were somebody else's prisoners and worth more than a slave. An early marketing executive perhaps?
ReplyDeleteA proto-free-marketeer capitalist in the making. Family probably one of the top 1 per-cent now ... just pulling your leg Vroomfondel.
DeleteI'm not against free marketeers Orange Male, just the excesses.
DeleteI suspect that hostage taking for ransom, or POW taking, as we now should call it, is possibly an excess.
DeleteWell, if it is, I'm against it. Always know where your towel is.
Delete