The White Hoods of Ghent

[Lagartija Mike]

Anyone know any lines that could work for the White Hoods of Ghent?

[Atheling]

Anyone know any lines that could work for the White Hoods of Ghent?

Possibly converted Kingmaker Hussites, especially the one's that (I seem to recall) were sculpted by the late (and great) Jim Bowen.

Just replace their flails etc with spears- looking back at some of the poses this shouldn't be too hard to do.

Darrell.

[Arlequín]

Depends on the 'when'. The 'Witte Kaproenen' changed with the times.

In 1379 they are depicted in Froissart in 'chaperons' which are a type of hat rather than an actual hood.





In the last one you can see the tail of the chaperon appearing from under the helmet. Any NW European infantry with pole-arms and a variety of armour should work fine for them, but I imagine you would have to add the chaperon or the visible parts of it yourself.

In the 1470s and 80s when they were actually a professional civic paramilitary police, 'white caps' seems a more accurate rendition, they also apparently wore municipal livery and carried halberds and other pole-arms... although I've yet to see a contemporary illustration featuring them.

[Atheling]

I'd go for the Kingmaker Hussite range and especially the Jim bown sculpts (they are the plumper ones).

Just add spears where necessary- jobs a good-un.

Darrell.

BTW, Froissart, is a major source but he was highly unreliable especially where numbers were concerned! Not unlike most Late Medieval chroniclers with the possible exception of De Wavrin who was actually present at most of the fighting he talks about (in the Burgundian camp fighting for the English)

[Arlequín]

Where or from 'whom' does the English translation 'White-hoods' originate from? Or indeed why is 'Little Red Riding Hood' mostly known as 'Little Red Cap' (i.e.Le Petit Chaperon Rouge, or Roodkapje) in Europe where the tale originated from?* 

Froissart calls them blanc-chaperon, the Flemish refer to them as witte-kaproenen (white-chaperons), which in both cases translates as 'hat' and not 'hood', which would be capuche (or capot, cagoule etc.) in French, or huif (or maybe kap) in Flemish.

Okay the chaperon originates from a hood worn on 'the wrong hole' (i.e. the face opening rather than that of the neck) in warm weather, but it became a hat with a dangly-bit (sorry for getting technical here) that could be drawn across the neck, like an open-plan balaclava helmet.

I'm open to suggestion, but you try finding a contemporary illustration of 'men without hats' ('80s flashback notwithstanding) under 'white-hoods' or the French/Flemish terms.
 

* and why did Charles Perrault change it to wolf from bzou or 'wolfman'? ... but that's another conversation entirely. 

Personally I think the Hussites are too 'peasant' for citizens of Ghent... I might be inclined to hang on for the Perry Agincourt French Infantry, or go for their existing metal ones... maybe slightly out of period for the Late 14th Century, but near enough for me.

The Flemish may be known for their pikes/long spears, but they also used 'ledenhammer' (two-handed pole-hammers with a long spike, like a bec de corbin), 'goedendags', glaives and other pole-arms, even as early as 1302... spears alone seems anachronistic and again too 'peasant'.

My two (Euro) cents, for what they're worth. 

[Lagartija Mike]

Thanks for the tips. I'm using the WHGs as a basis for a game of factional urban mob warfare in an imaginary city (itself a conceptual portmanteau of several real cities), but they have tabletop value even played historically.

[Arlequín]

Ah... so more like the "white hoodies of Ghent". 

[Atheling]

Ah... so more like the "white hoodies of Ghent". 

 

Darrell.

[Modhail]

Is this going to end up as a "Urban Hooligans through the Ages" thread? 

On a more serious note, the diversity and depth of knowledge of the LAF membership keeps amazing me. Some great tips and thoughts in here.
Especially as I'm currently reading up on my home province in the 14th century (with aims to transplant the political landscape into a loose setting for my semi-historical/fantasy games...) and we also had some urban kerfuffles, apparently inspired by the actions of the White Hoods, just across the border.

[Arlequín]

I find the Low Countries fascinating in this era, but sadly very under-represented in English language sources. Of course in Holland there were the 'Hook and Cod Wars'. Really interesting era all round.

[cdr]

Hmm White Hoods as I live in Ghent I feel obliged to intervene. 
What period are you looking at? (No white hoods between 1453 and 1479 eg)

One of the earliest images is the so called Leugemeete Fresco dating to the 1340's (only known through drawings). It shows a group of soldiers with hoods over their helmets. they all carry a uniform 'tunic'. They carry different weapons (swords, pikes, 'gepinde staf' or goedendag and longbows). The leader is mounted. He wears a chapel de fer helmet and is armed with a crossbow. He is identified as William Wenemaer a leader of the hoods in the 1340's

Do not forget that there were similar units in Bruges (Red hoods) and Ypres (Blue hoods)

I hope this helps

Carl

[duivelindoosje]

The White Hoods being the "police" of the town, regulate traffic and also used to protect the intrest of the more important "burgers", they grew to a militia.

Ghent used them to block the making of a canal by the people of Brugge, starting a war between Ghent and the earl Lodewijk van Male.

You could use Perry armed and unarmed civilians,  from the Agincourt range and give them some real weapons, may be add some from the standing and running spearmen from same range.

[Druzhina]

Hmm White Hoods as I live in Ghent I feel obliged to intervene. 
What period are you looking at? (No white hoods between 1453 and 1479 eg)

One of the earliest images is the so called Leugemeete Fresco dating to the 1340's (only known through drawings). It shows a group of soldiers with hoods over their helmets. they all carry a uniform 'tunic'. They carry different weapons (swords, pikes, 'gepinde staf' or goedendag and longbows). The leader is mounted. He wears a chapel de fer helmet and is armed with a crossbow. He is identified as William Wenemaer a leader of the hoods in the 1340's

Do not forget that there were similar units in Bruges (Red hoods) and Ypres (Blue hoods)

I hope this helps

Carl

Illustrations of 14th century Flemish Militia from the Leugemeete Frescos

Reconstructions from
Recherches Historiques sur Les Costumes Civils Et Militaires des Gildes Et Des Corporations De Métiers by Félix de Vigne
     1) Brotherhood of St George
     2) Brotherhood of St George
     3) Brotherhood of St Sebastian
     4) Butchers' Guild
     5) Fishmongers' Guild / Bakers' Guild
     6) Brewers' Guild
     7) Textile Cutters' Guild

Reconstructions from
Afbeeldingen van het Sint-Pietersdorp en de Stad Gent
     1-3) Brotherhood of St George / Brotherhood of St George / Brotherhood of St Sebastian
     2-6) Butchers' Guild / Fishmongers' Guild / Bakers' Guild / Brewers' Guild
     7) Textile Cutters' Guild

There are marked differences in the interpretation of the frescos between the two sets of reconstructions.

MIRROR SITE
Flemish Militia from the Leugemeete Frescos

Druzhina
14th Century Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers