Warfare Flashcards
Nature of warfare in 1250
Size of armies: 5000-10,000 British men
Composition of armies: infantry & cavalry in 2:1 ratio
Social structure: command of armies directly linked to strcuture of society in England & attitudes in society rather than ability/experience
Weapons & protection: Cavalry fought on horseback armed w lances, thrusting spears or swords. Infantry used swords & daggers, some had mace, battle axe or halberds. Some also used ‘brown bills’, pikes, bows or crossbows.
Most cavalrymen wore chainmail garments - hauberks w a coif for the head. Knights (sometimes horses) had surcoats and helmets. By 1250, many face-guards had slits for ventilation/vision
Most infantrymen wore leather or padded linen jackets - gambesons with metal or leather skull-caps
MEDIEVAL STRATEGY: Reasons for limited warfare in 1250
- Henry III had limited resources, could only raise small armies w limited weapons
- He had limited power, to raise an army he had to persuade powerful nobles to support him
- Campaigning season, months of the year when it was possible to fight was limited (most took place in late spring, after crops sown, until autumn, when crops needed harvesting & weather made it difficult for troops to move)
So strategy in 1250 consisted of limited warfare where commanders preferred to manoevure the enemy into hopeless positions & negotiate victory (besiege castle, steal property or food). Battles were last resort
MEDIEVAL STRATEGY: Guerilla tactics
Henry III avoided large battles using guerilla warfare - mobile bands of warriors ambushing troops & raiding camps/food supplies then slipping away into woods/mountains.
MEDIEVAL TACTICS: Use of castles
Essential part of defensive strategy in 1250. If an army attacked an area defended by castles:
- Attackers had to divide their forces to besiege each castle
- Defenders would have series of bases from which to launch counter-attacks
Putting attackers at disadvantage
MEDIEVAL STRATEGY: Cavalry tactics
Seen as the shock troops & dominant force on battlefield. Main tactics:
- The mounted charge: Used at Battle of Evesham (1265), mounted knights smashing through enemy lines
- Rout & Chase: Cavalry tried to scatter enemy infantry. Once foot-soldiers ran they were easy for mounted troops to chase & cut down. (Often more troops died fleeing than in battle)
