How were feudal soldiers trained for battle?

by THREE_EDGY_FIVE_ME

Bonus question: how did this change in the 1500s with the increasing professionalisation of soldiery?

I'm curious about the day-to-day logistics for a late medieval knight (or mercenary captain, etc) of making sure his men were capable of fighting.

SoloToplaneOnly

Are you talking about a knight?

In the King's Mirror text we learn a bit about the general upbringing of a Norwegian nobleman of the mid-late 13th century. It's not a training book, but it gives a brief overview of all aspects, including training, armament and the tactical aspects of field-, siege- and navel battle. It's a normative text (a text on how thing should be done, not necessarily how it was actually done), so take that into account.

It gives a few points on mainly horsemanship and personal sparring training in heavy armour with shield and buckler. It also suggest that you should train most other weapons (bow, javelin, hand-sling, staff-sling, etc.). Having wide assortment of armament are stressed in other texts as well, such as Hirðskrá (Hirdlaw), including bows (which include longbow and crossbow, as well as composite bow and smaller crossbows on horse) by nobles. Training should be done twice a day, except for holidays. That to be a proper fighter, the skills need to be mastered to be of use. If you are gifted in one particular weapon, then seek proficiency in it.

The texts also allow you to drink alcohol to quench your thirst, something which would be seen as barbaric today. The author stresses several times, due to your noble stature, it's important to not overdo it. One of the reoccuring themes is the shame of display non-noble manners in court, because if a foreign visitor was present at court, you may find all the courts of Europe spreading rumors. It's almost like high school in a sense.

Now if your comrades are planning to go from the king's apartments to some drinking bout or other merrymaking, and you, too, have the king's permission to seek diversion, you should prefer the forms of amusement which I shall now point out to you. If you are sojourning where horses may be ridden and you have your own horse, put on heavy armor and, mounting your horse, train yourself in the art of sitting on horseback in the firmest and most handsome manner. Train yourself to press the foot firmly into the stirrup; keep your leg stiff and the heel a little lower than the toes, except when you have to guard against thrusts from the front; and practice sitting firmly with the thighs pressed close. Cover your breast and limbs carefully with a curved shield. Train your left hand to grasp firmly the bridle and the grip of the shield, and your right hand to direct the spear-thrust so that all your bodily strength will support it. Train your good steed to veer about when in full gallop; keep him clean and in good condition; keep him shod firmly and well, and provide him with a strong and handsome harness.

But if you are in a borough or some such place where horses cannot be used for recreation, you should take up this form of amusement: go to your chambers and put on heavy armor; next look up some fellow henchman (he may be a native or an alien) who likes to drill with you and whom you know to be well trained to fight behind a shield or a buckler. Always bring heavy armor to this exercise, either chain-mail or a thick gambison, and carry a heavy sword and a weighty shield or buckler in your hand. In this game you should strive to learn suitable thrusts and such counterstrokes as are good, necessary, and convenient. Learn precisely how to cover yourself with the shield, so that you may be able to guard well when you have to deal with a foeman. If you feel that it is important to be well trained in these activities, go through the exercise twice a day, if it is convenient; but let no day pass, except holidays, without practicing this drill at least once; for it is counted proper for all kingsmen to master this art and, moreover, it must be mastered if it is to be of service. If the drill tires you and makes you thirsty, drink a little now and then, enough to quench your thirst; but while the game is on, be careful not to drink till you are drunk or even merry.

If you should like to try a variety of drills and pastimes, there are certain sports that one can take up out of doors, if that is thought more diverting. For one thing, you may have a pole prepared, somewhat heavier than a spear shaft, and put up a mark some distance away for a target; with these you can determine how far and how accurately you can throw a spear and do it effectively. It is also counted rare sport and pastime to take one's bow and go with other men to practice archery. Another pleasant and useful diversion is to practice throwing with a sling both for distance and for accuracy, and with a staff sling as well as with a hand sling, and to practice throwing stone missiles. Formerly the custom was for all who wished to become expert in such arts and thoroughly proficient in war and chivalry to train both hands alike to the use of weapons. Strive after the same skill, if you find yourself gifted for it, inasmuch as those who are trained in that way are the most perfect in these activities and the most dangerous to their enemies.

Chap. 37 ¶ 11, 12, 13.

From here it talks about moral in battle and how to conduct yourself, which is emphasized throughout the text itself. In simple terms, you're knight and you need to show that. Not arrogance, but bravery, firmness and discretion. It also dips into the tactical aspects of field and navel battle and what weapons are suitable, as well as a large part dedicated to siege.