This was so normal that the knights almost anticipated being able to survive.
This massively backfired in for example the battle of the golden spurs between the french heavy cavalry and (now Belgium) peasants.
The French thought they where going to have an easy win, when this turned out not to be, many french knights trow their sword away to surrender, expecting etiquette where the farmers imprison them for ransom.
The farmers though had no intention to respecting this and the knights where promptly killed sending a clear message to french rule.
Urban militia, but yes, an excellent example! Robert of Artois, the commander of the French forces, in particular was noted to have attempted to surrender, but the Flemish militiamen who found him claimed to not speak French, and killed him on the spot.
This was so normal that the knights almost anticipated being able to survive.
This massively backfired in for example the battle of the golden spurs between the french heavy cavalry and (now Belgium) peasants.
The French thought they where going to have an easy win, when this turned out not to be, many french knights trow their sword away to surrender, expecting etiquette where the farmers imprison them for ransom.
The farmers though had no intention to respecting this and the knights where promptly killed sending a clear message to french rule.
Urban militia, but yes, an excellent example! Robert of Artois, the commander of the French forces, in particular was noted to have attempted to surrender, but the Flemish militiamen who found him claimed to not speak French, and killed him on the spot.