Warfare - 1250-1500 Flashcards
How were the size of armies affected over the medieval period?
They remained relatively unchanged. This is an example of continuity.
How was military strategy affected over the medieval period?
What was its main feature?
Give evidence.
Strategy remained relatively unchanged, an example of continuity.
Limited Warfare - Where not all recourses at disposal are used.
E.g: The 100 years war
How was the command of armies affected in the medieval period?
Give an example.
Kings continued throughout to use closest relatives and nobles to lead armies.
E.g: Henry V using Duke of York as his senior commander.
How was the use of pikemen affected in this period?
Give an example.
Pikes were not new, mainly used for defending cavalry. But a new use emerged, the Scottish used schiltrons, circles or squares of pikes directed at the enemy.
E.g: The Scots beating the English at the battle of Stirling Bridge.
How was the use of bows affected in the medieval period?
Give factors of change.
Give an example.
Longbows began to be used in English armies, an example of a change. These bows shot a lot further and more arrows per minute than crossbows. They soon became the dominant force, a huge change.
This was due to individuals and technology.
E.g: The battle of Agincourt against the French
How was the composition of armies affected?
Why?
Armies changed and began to have fewer cavalry and more infantry.
This is because cavalry effectiveness was dented by schiltrons and longbows began to play the key role.
How was armour affected over the medieval period?
Why?
Armour began to be reinforced from chainmail to plated armour to offer more protection from arrows though not very effective and mainly protected against slashes.
How were gunpowder weapons affected?
Give a factor of change.
Canons began to be used but were not developed enough yet to be very significant. Later on, around 1400, canons were improved, now metal not wood or stone.
This was driven by technology.
How was the cavalry and mounted knight affected?
Why?
Give a factor of change.
The use of mounted knights declined and the structure of cavalry changed.
This is because schiltrons and longbows made them less effective, driven by technology. They were no longer an elite, main fighting force but now a part of an integrated force with the rest of the army.
How was recruitment affected?
Give a factor of change.
Until around 1300, the feudal levy was used to recruit nobles, knights and their peasants to fight to pay homage.
After this, the assize of arms was mainly used. Which is essentially the same but passed through written law and paid (Statute of Winchester) rather than feudal loyalty which was declining.
Society drove this change.
How was training affected?
Feudal troops would only be summoned for war with no peacetime training.
The Assize of Arms had a yearly Array of Arms where men 16-60 were mustered, provide their own equipment and trained and inspected.
How was provisioning affected?
Armies began to have more troops, wars, horses and weapons to maintain and upkeep.
As a result, the crown requisitioned provisions and sent them to troops, this often didn’t work well and troops had to forage and plunder locally.
How were civilians affected?
Nothing much changed over this period. England was almost constantly at war overseas or at the border with Scotland. Main issues were huge taxes to fund the war, requisitioning and seizing of other goods like ships. Some villages also faced enemy raids.
