I am interested in medieval warfare so I want to ask this (I am not talking about knights or high class warriors, just the most common soldiers in medieval battlefields - archers, footmen,....):
Were they levied peasants? Which mean they worked on their fields during peace time and served as soldiers during war. If so then who would tend their fields when they were away fighting? If they had families, who would take care of them?
Or were they full-time soldiers? If so then were they get paid directly by their lords (like household servants)? Or were they given lands and serfs to sustain themselves (like vassals)? How many serfs needed to support a common soldier?
I know there were many classes of soldiers and the recruitment practice varied across medieval Europe. I just want to know the most common way to do so. Thanks in advance!
The problem here is that this is the Middle Ages, and speaking as someone who hangs around near the Medievalists, it's always a lot more complicated than you think. More can always be said on the matter, so if anyone else would like to contribute here, especially if you can cover someplace not Medieval England, please go ahead and do so! With the caution that your post may well be added to the Medieval Armies Compilation, of course.
To your questions, OP, these posts as drawn from said Medieval Armies Compilation may be of interest to you:
Some more links in next post.