Editing Medieval Infantry (section)

==Retainers==
The professional and semi-professional classes, they became more important once it became clear that spamming [[Skaven|the board with bodies]] was not going to win wars; unlike the levies above, retainers ''had'' to answer their liege's call-to-arms, either themselves, or by supplying someone to take their place; in exchange for their service, they were often granted land or privileges. The exact specifics of the agreement varied between class and time periods, but it's useful to think of their status as being dependent on how much of their time was actually spent as a "soldier" 

Examples:
*'''Men-at-Arms:''' A broad term to describe all the full time professional soldiers, what we normally think of as [[Knight]]s but could be a mercenary instead. Basically all Knights were  Men-at-Arms, but not all Men-at-Arms were Knights. Besides paying for their own equipment, they'll also raise retainers to form a lance of troops that join the company. Men-at-Arms evolved over time from heavy cavalry to heavy infantry; the former using lances as their main weapon, and the latter switching to some heavy two-handed weapon such as a Pollaxe when full-plate armor allows one to ditch a shield. Can either be feudal lords with their own lands, an attache in the service of one, or a professional under the employment of the royal guard.
*'''Huskarl:''' To continue with the Anglo-Saxon examples, ''House-carls'' were professionals warriors on retainer and in the direct service to a noble. 

===Yeoman===
Unlike serfs or tenants, yeomen owned a plot of land of their own, which they themselves tended to when not at war. This meant they had more income than Paul the Peasant but they were also required to use some of that money to buy gear and serve as soldiers, and not to mention tend to their land. 

In some countries, Yeoman as professional soldiers are also specialists in a particular area of war; England was famed for its Yeoman archers, as they trained relentlessly to be the best archers in all of Europe.

===Sergeants===
Full time common-born warriors retained by a noble. A lordling will find a big strong guy from his peasantry (often one of the better Levies) and tell him that he has a job for him. He gets more training than a levy does, a regular wage and room and board as well as better arms and armour (usually helmet and some chainmail early, eventually giving way to brigandines and breastplates later on, or just a gambeson if you're unlucky and/or your knight is poor). In peace, having a big strong dude who's good in a fight and owes everything to you is a good asset to have to collect taxes, guard gates, go out on patrol, provide general security, handle criminals, etc, and he can train up levies. In times of war, these guys can be your heavy infantry and oversee levies. They’re the first step below professional soldiers in standing armies.

And yes, the modern NCO rank is named after them. There is a similar feudal rank called a ''serjeanty'', but they're only related by the root word of "servant." Sergeants are commoners serving as muscle and paid a wage, ''serjeanties'' was like being made a landlord in exchange for providing the King with some niche service in perpetuity, like [[Magical realm|rubbing his feet]].