Categories of combatants and their armament in the kingdom of Aragon in the later middle ages: the War of the two Pedros (1356-1366)

Abstract

In this article, we analize the tecnical conditions of the armament employed in the War called «of the Two Pedros», an important conflict developed between the monarchies from Aragon (Pedro IV) and Castille (Pedro I), between 1356 and 1366. In order to do it, we offer a definition about the main categories of combatants in the Aragonese army and, after it, we describe their equipment. Our thesis argues that, in a thecnical sense, this war can be considered as a prelude of the Military Revolution in the Crown of Aragon, because of, during the conflict, the Aragonese army employed traditional kinds of combat (large sieges and short attacks to capture people and things) and, also, little technical changes, like the use of gunpowder.