Warfare: 1250-1500

Question 1

1250-1500: Weapons

Answer 1

. Swords (were thinner and sharper pointed)

• Lances and Spears

• Crossbows

. Longbow (declining use in 16th Century)

.Cannons (Slow to reload and inaccurate)

Question 2

1250-1500 - Composition of Armies ( number, type and tactics of combatants)

Answer 2

.Knights (Mounted 1250)

• Cavalry / Mounted Knights no longer acted alone - integrated with infantry in battle from 1330.

• Infantry the major proportion of the army (1250; infantry to cavalry ratio 2;1 and 3-1 by 1400)

Increase in longbow men by 1400s, (placed on flanks).

• (approx. 500 Knights in 1250, but 4000 by 1300) - but no large permanent army until 1660.

Question 3

Recruitment and Training of Combatants: 1250-1500

Answer 3

Knights from social elites: feudal summons, voluntary service & increasingly contracts (indentures) by the 1400s.

Infantry initially compulsion via local sheriffs when needed (Commissioners of Array from 1277) but later contracts (indentures) especially longbow men.

Feudal troops ended 1350.

No official training but law passed to practice archery from 1363 for all men aged 16-65 every Sunday.

Question 4

Experience of Civilians: 1250-1500

Answer 4

.Could be compelled to serve in armies.

•Food requisitioned (purveyance).

.Victims of plunder.

.Provided shelter for troops.

•Taxes paid to fund wars - doubled between 1337 & 1422.

.Victims of raid and pillage (mainly border and coastal areas.

Received little if any news about wars.