Medieval Warfare 1250 - 1500

Question 1

Weapons - 1250

Answer 1

Cavalrymen fought on horseback – lances and spears
Infantry – swords, daggers, battle- axes, halberds, brown bills, pikes.
Some had bows and crossbows.
Chainmail hauberks and coifs for protection.

Question 2

Continuity of weapons 1250 - 1500

Answer 2

Weapons used in hand- Hand fighting had not changed that much by 1500
Despite development of cannon and firearms, they were still not the
dominant force in warfare (short range, unreliable, heavy to transport)

Question 3

Change in weapons 1200 - 1500

Answer 3

Pikes used differently (Schiltrons)
Longbows (much more power, higher rate of fire, further range) became the dominant force on the Battlefield (e.g. Agincourt)
Plate armour replaced chainmail although not very effective defence against Longbow.

Cannon developed across the period but
not used extensively

Firearms (e.g. Hackbut) were developed
but not really used widely before 1500

Question 4

Tactics and strategy 1200 - 1500

Answer 4

Only Limited warfare was possible
Castles and fortified towns essential parts of strategy.
Cavalry – mounted charges
Infantry – shield wall, archers,melee

Question 5

Continuity in tactics and strategy 1200 - 1500

Answer 5

Limited warfare continued e.g. 100
Years War (1337-1453).
Capturing and building castles continued
Cavalry charges, melees still key tactics seen in battles

Question 6

Changes in tactics and strategy 1200 - 1500

Answer 6

New uses of pikes - Schiltrons used for defence and attack. Decline in mounted knight.
Archers tended to travel on horseback so the whole army could move quicker.
Archers used much more effectively in defence – placed on flanks to weaken enemy charges.
Cavalry now used as a more integrated part of the army. Cavalry was a socially different and more flexible force by 1500.