Medieval Times Reference Links

[Gandwarf]

Normally serfs were not sent to battle during the Middle Ages. That was the job of the Knights. Though Barbaric, Feudalism was very strict about who did what when

Actually, some lords required serfs to fight for them. At least that is what I have learned. Those conflicts tended to be nasty also. They generally came down to knights ignoring each other and slaughtering the peasants.

But maybe my history teachers sucked and this is untrue? I really am not sure. I did see some sources stating some serfs had to fight for their lords however.

[Pilias]

Actually, some lords required serfs to fight for them. At least that is what I have learned. Those conflicts tended to be nasty also. They generally came down to knights ignoring each other and slaughtering the peasants.

But maybe my history teachers sucked and this is untrue? I really am not sure. I did see some sources stating some serfs had to fight for their lords however.

It was relatively uncommon, but it did happen, especially as you got into the middle and late portions of the medieval time.

The fact that a peasant could easily kill a knight without much training at all is one of the reasons the Church outlawed Crossbows.

As you got into the later periods especially you saw much more of a more modern style of warfare where the civilian population was drafted into the army to fight instead of it just being specialists.