Medieval Warfare 1250-1500

Question 1

Weapons in 1250

Answer 1

• Cavalry had spears/swords on horseback
• Infantry had swords, daggers, ‘brown bills’ poles with blades
• chainmail armour, metal helmets

Question 2

Tactics/ strategy in 1250

Answer 2

• Limited warfare: not enough recourses, limited power, battle avoided
• manoeuvres, sieges
• cavalry smashed enemy lines (mount charges) and (Mount & Chase)
• infantry had shield walls, archers

Question 3

Composition in 1250

Answer 3

• 5,000 to 10,000 men

- Infantry (men), cavalry (noblemen) relied on social structure

Question 4

Recruitment in 1250

Answer 4

• feudal system, Assize of Arms (people wealth), royal household, mercenaries

Question 5

Training in 1250

Answer 5

• no permanent barracks, little training

- Assize of Arms already skilled, tournaments

Question 6

Provisions in 1250

Answer 6

• men bring own supplies

- baggage trains

Question 7

Experience of Civilians in 1250

Answer 7

• Armies stole supplies + give supplies
• some forced to be in the army
• good wages
• better industry (weapons/clothes making)

Question 8

Weapons: continuity/ change 1250-1500

Answer 8

• hand to hand combats, cannons not dominant
• schiltrons used as defensive formation, more power of Infantry
• longbow more powerful and pierces chainmail (so changes to plate armour)
• cannons good for sieges but unreliable

Question 9

Tactics & Strategy: continuity/ change 1250-1500

Answer 9

• limited warfare, sieges, cavalry charges & melees

- archers on horseback and cavalry more integrated

Question 10

Composition: continuity/ change 1250-1500

Answer 10

• Battle of Lewes 10,000 men and command on social status
• ration infantry to cavalry went from 2:1 to 3:1
• feudal system declined so cavalry declined

Question 11

Recruitment: continuity/ change 1250-1500

Answer 11

• feudal system, assize of arms and mercenaries

- assize of arms not reliable, paid troops + more Royal Household

Question 12

Training: continuity/ change 1250-1500

Answer 12

• still little/ no training and still tournaments

- archery training in towns on Sundays, paid troops better trained

Question 13

Provision: continuity/ change 1250-1500

Answer 13

• baggage trains still used, but targeted

- increased importance as more supplies, Royal Armoury in Tower of London and ‘Purveyance’ fair prices of supplies

Question 14

Experience of Civilians: continuity/ change 1250-1500

Answer 14

• still stealing + destruction of property
• feudal system forced people join and sieges impact way of life
• taxation means cost (£) of war increased
• more wars meant more plundering (stealing)

Question 15

Battle of Falkirk 1298: Armies involved

Answer 15

• Edward for England v Wallace for Scotland
• England 2000 cavalry, 12000 infantry
• Scotland 500 cavalry, 12000 infantry

Question 16

Battle of Falkirk 1298: events

Answer 16

• English launch charge did not force Scotland off field but went into gaps between archers/ schiltrons
• Edward won with longbows and sieged castles

Question 17

Battle of Falkirk 1298: significance

Answer 17

• Scottish schiltrons effective against cavalry

- Use of longbow turning point, very effective

Question 18

Battle of Agincourt 1415: Armies involved

Answer 18

• England (Henry) v France (Albert)
• England 8000 troops, 6000 archers
• France 10000 cavalry, 5000 infantry

Question 19

Battle of Agincourt 1415: Events

Answer 19

• Henry’s archers fired at cavalry forcing them to charge the fired at them moving
• French infantry exhausted in muddy conditions after fighting England with swords (they retreated)

Question 20

Battle of Agincourt 1415: Significance

Answer 20

• Henry showed importance of positioning

- again demonstrated importance of the longbow