Nature Of Warfare In 1250

Question 1

Size of Armies C.1250

Answer 1

5000-10,000 men

Question 2

Composition of armies C.1250

Answer 2

Infantry (common men) and cavalry (nobility or gentry) in the ratio 2:1

Question 3

Men-at-arms

Answer 3

Nobles in cavalry would bring 5-25 gentry with them in a group called a retinue

Question 4

Social structure in the army C.1250

Answer 4

Command based off social position rather than ability ir experience

Question 5

Cavalry weapons C.1250

Answer 5

Normally took two horses each to war and fought on horse back. Armed with lances or thrusting spears, perhaps three metres long, and swords.

Question 6

Cavalry armour C.1250

Answer 6

Chainmail garments called hauberks which had a hood (coif) for the head and stretched to the knees. Colourful cloth surcoats (sometimes put on horses also) and flat topped helmets which, by 1250, often had faceguards with slits for sight and ventillation.

Question 7

Infantry weapons C. 1250

Answer 7

Swords and daggers, sometimes maces, battle-axes, halberds.
Brown bills- poles with blades and a hook for hauling knights off of horses
Pikes- long thrusting spears

Question 8

Infantry armour C.1250

Answer 8

Leather or padded linen jackets called gambesons. Some wore shortmail shirts. Most wore metal or leather skull caps.

Question 9

Reasons for limited warfare

Answer 9

Not enough resources
Kings needed the support of nobles
Campaigning season dictated when battles were fought (usually spring/summer after crops had been sown)
Communication was difficult.

Question 10

Strategies C.1250: guerilla warfare

Answer 10

Limited warfare- commanders would try to manoeuvre the enemy into a hopeless position then negotiate a victory, besiege a castle or attack enemy territory and pillage.
Llewellyn the Last of Wales sent small bands of troops to attack english camps

Question 11

Strategies C.1250: castles

Answer 11

If an army tried to attack an area defended by castles:
-They had to divide their forces to besiege each castle
-defenders have a series of bases to counter attack from

This puts the attackers at a disadvantage. In 1266 after the battle of Evesham (1265), Henry the Third’s enemies took refuge in Kenioworth Castle and it took 6 months to get them out.

Question 12

Strategies C.1250: Tactical formations

Answer 12

Armies could give themselves an advantage by:
-standing atop a hill so the enemy has to attack uphill
-protecting flanks (using either your own cavalry or geographical features) so enemy cavalry cannot attack from the side.

Battle of Lewes (1264) Simon de Montfort placed his army on top of Offham hill with his flanks reaching sharp banks which were too steep for cavalry to climb. The enemy had to climb the long slope in front of the army.

Question 13

Strategies C.1250: (cavalry tactics) mounted charge

Answer 13

Battle of Evesham (1265), Prince Edward used cavalry to target the enemy commander, Simon de Montfort. Mounted knights were able to smash through enemy lines and kill de Montfort.

Question 14

Strategies C.1250: (cavalry tactics) rout and chase

Answer 14

Cavalry tried to scatter the enemy infantry. Once foot soldiers ran, they were easy for knights to cut down.

Question 15

Strategies C.1250: (infantry tactics) shield wall

Answer 15

Men stood, overlapping their shields and pikes or spears, facing attacks.

Question 16

Strategies C.1250: (infantry tactics) archers

Answer 16

Only played a minor role but would weaken the enemy before the infantry attacked

Question 17

Strategies C.1250: (infantry tactics) The Mêlée

Answer 17

An infantry attack for when archers and cavalry couldn’t break the enemy. When infantry met, combat was frenzied.