Ribauds
The Ribauds were an armed corps, a kind of militia, instituted by Philippe-Auguste around 1189 and which was suppressed by Philippe le Bel.
History Philippe Auguste set up and maintained, both in times of war and in times of peace, a kind of soldier who was responsible for the protection of the king but also for the shock corps. The leader of this militia was called Roi des Ribauds.
The Ribauds were a light infantry, made up of intrepid men, who were like the lost children lightly armed who were put at the head of the assaults and who served in all actions of boldness. This title then designated a lower officer of the king's household, having certain police functions (surveillance of gambling and brothels), who had under him a lieutenant called provost with a certain number of archers or sergeants and servants.
This office depreciated more and more during the 14th century, as shown by the reduction in its wages, from 20 cents per day in 1324 to 4 cents in 1386. There were also kings of ribauds in the provinces or in princely houses (thus, the executioner of Toulouse was called the king of ribalds; there is also a king of ribalds in the duchy of Lorraine).
At the end of the Middle Ages, the feminine “ribaude” became synonymous with "prostitute": we thus see Joan of Arc chasing the “ribaudes” from the camp of her army for the sake of purification. The word is often used as an insult and sometimes aggravated in “orde [sale] ribaude.”
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