Infantry Weaponry

Question 1

how were spears used in medieval warfare?

Answer 1

• most common weapon for infantry & cavalry
• variety of styles based on preferance and/or intended use
• Roman pilum used for thrusting & throwing
• lances used by cavalry (mounted shock combat)
• pikes used by infantry to defend against cavalry

Question 2

how were swords used in medieval warfare?

Answer 2

• less common bc they required metal & skill (Carolingians & Anglo-Saxons were excellent metal-workers)
• mostly used by cavalry
• slashing blades ideal for cutting through chainmail (800-1300)
• designed for thrusting (14th-15th c.)
• heavy swords usually two-handed

Question 3

how were daggers used in medieval warfare?

Answer 3

• most ppl had knives/daggers if unable to own a sword
• esp. effective for penetrating chainmail

Question 4

how were maces used in medieval warfare?

Answer 4

• adopted 11th c.
• esp. popular w/ cavalry
• heavy metal head on a stick (knobbed for crushing, winged for cutting)
• higher status weapon (sometimes a symbol of rulership)

Question 5

how were axes used in medieval warfare?

Answer 5

• pop. among Germanic peoples
• handheld & close combat
• swinging the axe leaves you open for attack
• Francisca = throwing axe (risky bc it could be thrown back)
• cheaper than a sword but still expensive
• causes greater damage than a sword

Question 6

what was recruitment like for infantry?

Answer 6

• infantry were usually serfs or free men (Assize of Arms, 1181)
• communes had the wealth to equip soldiers → led to development of very strong forces
• countries expected to produce a certain number of men for recruitment (desertion common)
• inc. in paid troops caused shift toward smaller, more cohesive armies
• pay (usually cash) depended on equipment & skill

Assize of Arms required freed men in England to bear arms & be ready for military service

Question 7

how were mercenaries incorporated into infantry units?

Answer 7

• paid soldiers from outside the country (usually barbarians)
• overall more reliable than levies (common recruitment)
• talented mercenaries given high positions in government
• known to ravage the countryside when unemployed
• e.g. Vangarian Guard (Byzantine personal guard, viking armoured infantry w/ two-handled axes)

Question 8

what did the composition of infantry forces look like?

Answer 8

• fighting men & support personnel
• likely not very large until 13th-14th c.
• administrative revolution meant kings could manage logistics of large armies
• later armies were better armed, equipped, & experienced
• uniforms allowed armies to identify themselves
• banners & cerain musical instruments (e.g. horm, drums) used to signal basic commands

Question 9

how were infantry units made effective?

Answer 9

• strong centralized gov’t have tax base to hire, train, & equip soldiers long term (e.g. Byzantium)
• more experienced infantry in areas w/ little cavalry (e.g. Scotland) → elites willing to invest in infantry forces
• communal armies able to impose discipline by law (equality & worth of all men)
• poorly trained forces were a liability

Question 10

what were the advantages of using infantry units?

Answer 10

• very effective when in formation
• shield wall mostly defensive but sometimes offensive
• Boar’s head maneuver = triangle pushing inwards to separate enemy force & attack from the sides (cf. Greek phalanx)

Question 11

what were the limitations of infantry?

Answer 11

• size most effective when in large disciplined units
• desertion
• hard to take offensive
• hunger & thirst
• slow to move from one place to another (could ride into combat for efficiency but fight on foot)
• moving large armies quickly produced problems in supply

Question 12

how could infantry make use of the terrain?

Answer 12

• infantry more flexible than cavalry
• could gain the advantage by choosing the land for battle (swampy ground, hills, etc.)
• could use manpower to improve terrian (e.g. dig ditches for protection from cavalry)

Question 13

besides infantry & cavalry, who else made up the medieval army?

Answer 13

• surgeons, engineers, carpenters, blacksmiths, masons, painters, wagon-makers
• gunners from 1320s onward (in great demand)
• prisoners, slaves, & servents often forced to fight by summons or in self-defence
• some women

Question 14

what was the role of women in warfare?

Answer 14

• small number of women warriors from 10th-13th c.
• warfare largely considered a masculine activity
• warfare percieved as unnatural for ‘danity’ women (beleived to be mentally & physically incapable)
• most cases were in emergency situations (defending homes & castles during raids)
• daughters of nobles able to attain knowledge from young age (fathers & brothers training)
• decline of female warriors in 14th-15th c.

Question 15

who was Joan of Arc?

Answer 15

• born a peasant
• travelled to castle of Vaucouleurs after hearing heavenly voices
• offered religious salvation in place of looting & pillaging (forbidden)
• won many battles w/ little loss of life
• mulier sancta (i.e. sent by God to perform duties no one else could)
• made her soldiers confess sins to remain in army
• did not allow looting, blasphemy, gambling, or prostitution
• often disobeyed orders fron noble superiors (gained soldiers’ respect)

Question 16

what is the Bayeux Tapestry?

Answer 16

• tapestry providing artistic depiction for medieval warfare
• used for estimating horse sizes in proportion for the soldier
• warriors depicted wearing chainmail shirts & hoods