c1250-c1500 - New Weapons And Formations Flashcards
When was the longbow introduced?
1290s
How long were longbows a part of the army for?
150 years
What were the advantages of a longbow?
- 15 arrows a minute could be fired (5x rate of crossbow)
- increased power so could pierce armour
- effective range of 200m, twice that of a crossbow
In 1298 this helped king edward defeat the scots
They were used in victory in the hundred years war vs france
What were schiltrons?
Tight formations of infantry gathered together in a circle or square with pikes facing outwards towards the enemy.
Used to defeat the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The Scottish schiltrons advanced and defeated a force of English cavalry. It was a tactic that increased the power of the infantry and reduced the strength of the mounted knights.
Key points where schiltrons were used:
-battle against english infantry in 1297
-battle against english cavalry in 1314
When was gunpowder introduced?
In the 13th century via china
What was gunpowder first used for?
- to fire cannon
What happened to the cannon by 1450s?
Became a standard siege weapon. This, in turn, affected the design of castles as old styles became increasingly vulnerable to cannon fire
Limitations of the cannon when it was first introduced:
- heavy and expensive (hard to transport)
- inaccurate (only used against large targets)
- short range
- unreliable (likely to blow up or fail to fire)
- slow to reload
- trained personnel needed
Improvements of the cannon:
- range and aim improved
- specialist cannon developed to launch cannonballs high over defensive walls or over longer distances
- metal was used rather than stone which made them more effective and accurate
- useful in destroying city and castle walls, shortening sieges
How did new weapons lead to the decline of mounted knights and what was a consequence?
- longbow was more effective at taking down knights, horses and infantry
- schiltron was effective at defeating cavalry which increased infantry’s importance
- cavalry became more integrated (took on specialist tasks)
- they often dismounted to fight in defensive battles
This meant that kings paid for mercenaries rather than relying on the nobility for their military power.
What was ‘On the march’?
Archers road on horseback - though still fought on foot.
Changes in defence (archers):
They could be placed on the flanks so that when the enemy arrived they were met by showers of arrows, weakening their charge. The attackers were funnelled towards the men at arms. When the mêlée formed, the archers joined them
What was plate armour?
Chainmail was reinforced by adding plates of metal in order to protect the shoulders, elbows, hands, knees, shins and feet
Limitations of firearms:
- slow to load
- unreliable
- used very little by english armies before 1500
