But military service was widespread as an obligation, and armies were not always small. The small size of most medieval armies has more to do with logistics concerns and speed of mustering from distant fiefs more than a general lack of use of the poor. During The Anarchy in England, clashes of tens-of-thousands of troops occurred, despite England only having a population of ~1 million to begin with. Not only that, but garrison forces were still needed in wartime, a common obligation of serjeanty and wardstaff in feudal contracts. Recruitment of mercenaries became more common as the medieval period wore on, but mercenaries aren’t always available - and the earlier in the medieval period, the more sparse mercenaries are. Not to mention the trouble of seeking them out to begin with; not always a good choice when forces are needed quickly.
Being rewarded for service and being obligated aren’t mutually exclusive. And you don’t have to be threatened with death for it to be obligatory - fines were the usual punishment for evading service in most medieval polities.
But military service was widespread as an obligation, and armies were not always small. The small size of most medieval armies has more to do with logistics concerns and speed of mustering from distant fiefs more than a general lack of use of the poor. During The Anarchy in England, clashes of tens-of-thousands of troops occurred, despite England only having a population of ~1 million to begin with. Not only that, but garrison forces were still needed in wartime, a common obligation of serjeanty and wardstaff in feudal contracts. Recruitment of mercenaries became more common as the medieval period wore on, but mercenaries aren’t always available - and the earlier in the medieval period, the more sparse mercenaries are. Not to mention the trouble of seeking them out to begin with; not always a good choice when forces are needed quickly.
Being rewarded for service and being obligated aren’t mutually exclusive. And you don’t have to be threatened with death for it to be obligatory - fines were the usual punishment for evading service in most medieval polities.