What is "arriere-ban"

Arriere-ban \Ar*riere"-ban`\, n. [F., fr. OE. arban, heriban, fr. OHG. hariban, heriban, G. heerbann, the calling together of an army; OHG. heri an army + ban a public call or order. The French have misunderstood their old word, and have changed it into arri[`e]re-ban, though arri[`e]re has no connection with its proper meaning. See Ban, Abandon.] A proclamation, as of the French kings, calling not only their immediate feudatories, but the vassals of these feudatories, to take the field for war; also, the body of vassals called or liable to be called to arms, as in ancient France.

n. 1 A proclamation, as of the French kings, calling not only their immediate feudatory, but the vassals of these feudatories, to take the field for war. 2 The body of vassals called or liable to be called to arms, as in ancient France.

Arrière-ban, in French customs, is a general proclamation whereby the king summons to war all his vassals and their vassals. To the Provost of Paris belongs the convoking and commanding of the arrière-ban.

In the Medieval usage, arrière-ban denoted a general levy, where all able-bodied males were summoned into arms.

The arrière-ban was proclaimed throughout the Kingdom of France on April 30, 1337.