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XV Century

Gelres Overkwartier

Is a Re-enactment group re-enacting the armies of the Duke of Gelre in the late XV Century. We used to be a member of this group. They show military camp life and with the artillery equipped with muzzle and breach loaders they represent mercenary gunners of the era. Many such gun teams were really family businesses and it would have been possible to find several generations of the same family of all ages and gender plying their deadly trade.

Of particular interest in the gunner department is a multi barrel design called a Ribaudequin or organ gun that could be wheeled along as it was discharged although the crew would be at some hazard as they did so due to a distinct lack of protection. Gelres provides the amazing and loud display of ordnance at most of the events in which they take part.  

 
The Duchy of Gelre

The duchy originated in the area of Geldern and Roermond, with its main stronghold at Montfort (built 1260). In the 12th and 13th century, Guelders quickly expanded downstream along the sides of the Maas, Rhine, and IJssel rivers, until it lost the Battle of Worringen (1288).

Four parts of the duchy deserve some special attention, because they had their own centres, as they were separated by rivers:
the quarter of Roermond, also called the Overkwartier (Upper Quarter) - upstream on the Maas,
the quarter of Zutphen, also called the Achterhoek - east of the IJssel and north to the Rhine,
the quarter of Arnhem, also called the Veluwe - west of the IJssel and north to the Rhine,
the quarter of Nijmegen, also called the Betuwe - south of the Rhine and north to the Maas (in between the rivers),
It was often at war with its neighbours, such as the duchy of Brabant, the county of Holland and the Bishopric of Utrecht. However, the territory did not only grow because of its success in warfare, but it also thrived in times of peace. The biggest part of the Veluwe and the city of Nijmegen for example were given as a collateral to Guelders. On separate occasions the bishop of Utrecht gave the Veluwe and William II, who was count of both Holland and Zeeland and who was elected king of the holy Roman Empire (1248-1256), gave Nijmegen in use to Guelders in return of a loan. However neither of them were able to repay their debts, so these lands became integral parts of Guelders.

The last great duke of Guelders was Charles (1467-1538), who expanded his realm further north, to incorporate what is now the Province of Overijssel. He was not just a man of war but also a skilled diplomat and was therefore able to keep his independence. After his death however his nephew who succeeded him was not able to hold on to it and emperor Charles V soon moved in. Guelders finally lost its independence in 1543.

This information is from Wikipedia


 
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