Home Region: Western Europe (Europe)

French Kingdom - Early Valois

1328 CE 1450 CE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 fr_valois_k_1 / FrValoE

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

1150 CE 1328 CE French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

1450 CE 1589 CE French Kingdom - Late Valois (fr_valois_k_2) [continuity]

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General Description

The French crown passed to the Valois Dynasty in 1328 after a succession crisis within the ruling Capetian family, and the Valois reigned over the French kingdom until 1589 CE. Here we focus on the early Valois period, 1328-1450 CE, which was marked by the Hundred Years’ War and the economic and human devastation caused by the Black Death. By the mid-15th century, the beginnings of a more modern bureaucracy had developed under Charles VII.
In this period, the territory of the Kingdom of France was considerably smaller than that of modern France. ^[1] The kingdom covered 390,000 square kilometres in 1350 and 340,000 square kilometres in 1450. ^[2]
In response to the decline in population and production during the Black Death in the mid-fourteenth century, the crown instituted harsh financial reforms and higher taxes. This led to revolts by peasants and in urban areas. ^[3] At the same time, the Valois faced the English Plantagenet dynasty in the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453 CE). The French suffered major defeats at Bruges (1340 CE) and Agincourt (1415 CE). Historian of France W. Scott Haine notes that, “In the darkest days of this war France’s very existence seemed in question.” ^[3] In 1439 CE, inspired by the actions of peasant leader Joan of Arc, Charles VII of France instituted a professional standing army. ^[4] Charles VII conquered Normandy and Aquitaine by 1453 CE, and England only maintained control over Calais.
Population and political organization
We have estimated the population of the French Kingdom as 12 million in 1350 CE using data from Turchin and Nefedov’s Secular Cycles. ^[5] The population declined drastically during the Black Plague in the mid-fourteenth century. ^[6] An estimated one-third of population died in the plague by 1400 CE. ^[3] In 1450 CE, the population was only 9 million. ^[5]
The king and royal lineage dominated French political society. Others were divided into estates: the clergy, the nobles, and the common people. ^[7] During the time of the Valois there were 40,000 noble families in France- nobility was either inherited or bestowed by the king. ^[7] Charles VII (1422-1461 CE) began the process to modernize the crown- instituting reforms to change the government from feudal to bureaucratic. This was continued by Late Valois ruler Louis XI (1461-1483 CE). ^[8]

[1]: (Knecht 2004, 2) Knecht, Robert J. 2004. The Valois: Kings of France 1328-1589. London: Hambledon and London. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/JBFZ35AI.

[2]: (Turchin and Nefedov 2009, 113) Turchin, Peter and Sergey Nefedov. 2009. Secular Cycles. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/7MDE5MUH.

[3]: (Haine 2000, 44) Haine, W. Scott. 2000. The History of France. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/9RS462P7

[4]: (Haine 2000, 45) Haine, W. Scott. 2000. The History of France. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/9RS462P7

[5]: (Turchin and Nefedov 2009, 113) Turchin, Peter and Sergey Nefedov. 2009. Secular Cycles. Princeton: Princeton, University Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/7MDE5MUH/

[6]: (Knecth 2004, 2) Knecht. Robert. 2004. The Valois: Kings of France 1328-1589. London: Hambledon Continuum. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/JBFZ35AI

[7]: (Knecth 2004, 8) Knecht. Robert. 2004. The Valois: Kings of France 1328-1589. London: Hambledon Continuum. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/JBFZ35AI

[8]: (Haine 2000, 46) Haine, W. Scott. 2000. The History of France. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/9RS462P7

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

1 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

2 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

1 Religion Genus

1 Religion Family

1 Religion

1 Alternate Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

3 Population of the Largest Settlement

3 Polity Territory

3 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

2 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

1 Source Of Support

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Non Phonetic Writing

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Indigenous Coin

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

2 Handheld Firearm

2 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

2 Wood Bark Etc

2 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

2 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases

1 Crisis Consequence

Power Transitions

5 Power Transition

Instability Events

31 Instability Event

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1) was in:
(1328 CE 1449 CE)	Paris Basin

Home NGA: Paris Basin

General Variables

Identity and Location French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	31 U	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Original Name	French Kingdom - Early Valois	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Capital	Paris	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Alternative Name	Valois dynasty	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Temporal Bounds French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	[1364 CE ➜ 1380 CE]
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Duration	[1328 CE ➜ 1450 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	none	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Supracultural Entity	Christendom	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Succeeding Entity	French Kingdom - Late Valois	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Preceding Entity 1150 CE 1328 CE	French Kingdom - Late Capetian (fr_capetian_k_2) [continuity]
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Succeeding Entity 1450 CE 1589 CE	French Kingdom - Late Valois (fr_valois_k_2) [continuity]
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Degree of Centralization	unitary state	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Language French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Indo-European	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Language	French	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Religion French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Religion Genus	Christianity	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Religion Family	Catholic	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Religion	Roman Catholic	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Alternate Religion	Uncoded Undecided	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	200,000 people	1350 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement	300,000 people	1400 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement	150,000 people	1450 CE
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Polity Territory	390,000 km²	1350 CE
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Polity Territory	390,000 km²	1400 CE
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Polity Territory	340,000 km²	1450 CE
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Polity Population	11,500,000 people	1350 CE
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Polity Population	9,000,000 people	1400 CE
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Polity Population	9,500,000 people	1450 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	5	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Religious Level	[6 to 7]	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Military Level	[5 to 6]	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Administrative Level	5	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Professions French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Absent Inferred	1328 CE 1364 CE
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Professional Soldier	Present	1365 CE 1450 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Source Of Support	uncoded Undecided	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Merit Promotion	Present Inferred	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Examination System	Present Inferred	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Law French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Judge	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Present	1350 CE 1450 CE
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Court	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Irrigation System	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Food Storage Site	Unknown Suspected	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Transport Infrastructure French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Port	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Canal	Unknown Suspected	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Bridge	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Special-purpose Sites French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Information / Writing System French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Script	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Absent	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Sacred Text	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Religious Literature	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Philosophy	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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History	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Fiction	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Calendar	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Information / Money French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Indigenous Coin	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Information / Postal System French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Uncoded Undecided	1328 CE 1450 CE
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General Postal Service	Absent Inferred	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Courier	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Information / Measurement System French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present Inferred	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Unknown Suspected	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Unknown Suspected	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Modern Fortification	Present Inferred	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Moat	Present Inferred	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Earth Rampart	Present Inferred	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Ditch	Present Inferred	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Complex Fortification	Present Inferred	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Long Wall	absent	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Military use of Metals French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Iron	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Copper	Present Inferred	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Bronze	Present Inferred	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Projectiles French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Sling	Absent Inferred	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Self Bow	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Javelin	Unknown Suspected	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	1328 CE 1349 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Present	1350 CE 1450 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	1328 CE 1379 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Present	1380 CE 1450 CE
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Crossbow	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Composite Bow	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Atlatl	Absent	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Handheld weapons French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Sword	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Spear	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Polearm	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Dagger	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Battle Axe	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Animals used in warfare French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Elephant	Absent	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Donkey	Unknown Suspected	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Dog	Unknown Suspected	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Camel	Absent	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Armor French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present	1328 CE 1380 CE
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Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	1381 CE 1450 CE
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Shield	Present	1328 CE 1380 CE
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Shield	Present Inferred	1381 CE 1450 CE
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Scaled Armor	Unknown Suspected	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Plate Armor	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Limb Protection	Present	1328 CE 1349 CE
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Limb Protection	Unknown Suspected	1351 CE 1450 CE
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Leather Cloth	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Laminar Armor	Unknown Suspected	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Helmet	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Chainmail	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Breastplate	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Naval technology French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Present	1328 CE 1450 CE
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Human Sacrifice French Kingdom - Early Valois (fr_valois_k_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More