These knights, shown in an illustration to one of Boccaccio’s works, are shown dining in a comfortable, well-equipped tent. Campaigning is not always so luxurious; knights might even find themselves sleeping in the open, holding their horses’ reins to prevent them from straying. (From Giovanni Boccaccio, On Famous Men and Women, 15th century. Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal, Paris. Photo Art Archive, London)

Fire is an important weapon in warfare. Campaigning normally sees the ravaging of the countryside and the destruction of villages. Here, common soldiers are shown on the left, torching houses with their flaming brands. The knights look the other way. (Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice. Photo Alfredo Dagli Orti/Art Archive, London)

In any war, looting is inevitable. This illustration from a manuscript of Froissart’s Chronicles shows soldiers staggering under the weight of the plunder that they have taken from an unfortunate town. (From Jean de Froissart, Chroniques, 15th century. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris)

Bertrand du Guesclin, one of the most successful French commanders of the war with the English, is shown on his deathbed in a tent at the siege of Châteauneuf-de-Randon in 1380. In the foreground there is a large siege bombard on a wheeled carriage, and archers are shown shooting at the defenders of the castle. (From Jean de Wavrin, Chronique d’Angleterre, Bruges, late 15th century. British Library, London)

The siege of al-Mahdiya by a crusading force under the duke of Bourbon in 1390 was unsuccessful. Food supplies were insufficient, and disease ravaged the army. This illustration shows the town under bombardment from three large siege guns. (From Jean de Froissart, Chroniques, 15th century. British Library, London)

This town is defended by a wooden bastion, from which archers and a crossbowman shoot at their assailants. The besiegers have a large bombard, which shoots stone balls, shown lying beside it. A scaling ladder is being used for the assault, while archers shoot at the garrison. (British Library, London)

The main element in battle is the mêlée, when soldiers engage in fierce hand-to-hand fighting. This illustration shows the fighting at the battle of Poitiers in 1356, at which Edward III of England’s son, the Black Prince, captured the French king, John II. Both sides engaged on foot, with common soldiers fighting alongside knights and men-at-arms. (From Jean de Froissart, Chroniques, 15th century. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris)

The battle of Agincourt. This highly romanticized illustration from a St Albans chronicle depicts the English victory over the French in 1415. The English use of archers, shown wearing the red cross of St George, was a vital element in the battle. The fighting took place on a narrow front, where horrific piles of slaughtered men built up. (From Saint Alban’s Chronicle, 15th century. Lambeth Palace Library, London)

This illustration depicts Christ leading a force of crusaders. Nowadays, sadly, the great days of the Crusades are past, but for knights, crusading is still important, and there are many expeditions to join in the Mediterranean and Baltic regions. (British Museum, London)