Warfare Through Time 1200-1500

Question 1

What was the cavalry and what was their role in 1250?

Answer 1

Mounted soldiers. Elite of the army. Some were from the nobility. The rest of the cavalry were men-at-arms, heavily armed mounted troops brought to battle by nobles. They were usually from the gentry - wealthy families who didn’t have titles.

Question 2

What were the infantry and what was their role?

Answer 2

The infantry were common men who fought as foot soldiers. They were the bottom rung of the social ladder and were treated like second-rate troops in comparison to the mounted cavalry.

Question 3

How did the nature of warfare stay the same?

Answer 3

• Size of armies

- Strategy and command

Question 4

How did the size of armies stay the same during 1200-1500?

Answer 4

Army size in:
1264 - 10,000
1415 - 8,000
1485 - 12,000

Question 5

How did the strategy of armies stay the same in 1200-1500?

Answer 5

Two key strategy used mainly throughout the period:
> Limited warfare - Dozens of chevauchees (short raids on horseback by small armies) to terrorise local population and make it impossible to the French to raise taxes or grow crops.
> Capturing or building castles or fortified towns - to help sides to gain control of land.

Question 6

How did the command of armies stay the same in 1200-1500?

Answer 6

Kings continued to use their closest relatives and leading nobles as commanders of armies.

Question 7

What were schiltrons?

Answer 7

These were when pikemen formed huge circles or squares of up to 2000 men. They were a natural defensive formation as horses were unwilling to charge at a solid wall of pikes. Also, it was also quite useful in attacking as well.

Question 8

How did schiltron impact warfare?

Answer 8

It was a tactic that increased the power of infantry and reduced the strength of mounted knights because they could be defeated by attacking pikemen. This increase in effectiveness against mounted knights led to the decline of the mounted knights.

Question 11

Describe the longbows?

Answer 11

Longbows were about 2m long, taller than most men. The archer would hold the arrow close to his ear before firing. This took great strength, so it took a long time to train. ADV:

• Can fire around 12 arrows per minute, at least 8 more than normal
• It was effective up to 200m, more than normal
• More powerful - could pierce armour

Question 12

How did Longbows affect warfare?

Answer 12

Longbows became the dominant force on the battlefield. Its effectiveness made it a key part to English armies for the next 150yrs. Its introduction caused changes to tactics, the composition of armies and armour.

Question 13

How did the Longbow affect tactics?

Answer 13

• When marching, archers rode on horseback but still fought on foot. This is so that the whole army could move at the speeds of the cavalry
• In attack, archers softened the enemy with greater effect before mounted cavalry charged.
• In defence, knights and men-at-arms dismounted to fight alongside the infantry so that archers could be placed on the flank. As the enemy attacked, they were met by a shower of arrows weakening their charge so they could funnel.

Question 14

How did the longbow affect the composition of the army?

Answer 14

Armies began to have more infantry and less cavalry. Went from 2:1 (infantry:cavalry) to 4:1. The dominance of the cavalry was reduced even more with the longbows and schiltrons.

Question 15

How did the longbow affect the armour?

Answer 15

Plate armour - Chainmail was reinforced by adding plates of metal
Suits of armour - By 1420, the whole body was covered and whole suits of armour were developed.

These were effective against sword but less effective against arrows.

Question 16

How did Gunpowder impact warfare?

Answer 16

It is another of science and tech causing change to warfare. In 1250-1320, people knew about gunpowder but it was hardly used. It led to the creation and the use of the cannon?

Question 17

Describe the impact of the cannon in 1320-1430.

Answer 17

The earliest cannon had wooden barrels, bound with metal bands and shot balls of stone. The cannon weren’t yet the dominant force in warfare. They only had an effective range of 100 yards. They were also heavy so difficult and slow to transport. Therefore they were mainly used for sieges during this period.

Question 18

Describe the improvement of the cannon in 1430-1500.

Answer 18

• Metal cannon balls gradually replace the stone balls
• Design improved. They were sometimes three times as long as their diameter, giving greater accuracy, power and range.
• Trunnions created. Rods that allowed the barrel to be lifted to adjust the height and distance of fire
• Specialist cannon made. Light mobile cannon, heavy cannon to fire heavy stone balls and mortars to lob missiles over high over castle walls.

Question 19

Describe the impact of the improved cannon 1430-1500.

Answer 19

Sometimes useful in battles but still were mainly useful in sieges. Tall castle walls and city walls were suddenly vulnerable. They needed to made thicker and shorter to withstand the cannon and to make them harder to knock down.

Question 20

Describe the development of firearms from 1400 onwards.

Answer 20

These gunpowder weapons that could be carried and fired by individuals. Firearms such as the arquebus became common in Europe.

Question 21

Describe the drawbacks of the cannon.

Answer 21

. Unreliable - could blow itself up
. Slow to reload and inaccurate over long distances.
. Only useful in sieges.

Question 22

Describe the drawbacks of firearms.

Answer 22

. Slow to load
. Unreliable (could fail in damp weather)
. Used very little by English armies.

Question 23

What caused the decline of the mounted knight?(4)

Answer 23

• Pikes were used to defend as well as attack and defeat the mounted knights (schiltrons)
• Longbows weakened the infantry better than the cavalry and could destroy the cavalry
• Cannons and firearms began to do the same jobs as the longbow.
• Also, improved tech (better bows and new gunpowder weapons) were a key cause on the decline.

Question 24

Describe how cavalry tactics changed from 1330.

Answer 24

The cavalry now:

• took specialist tasks, like patrolling, foraging for food, scouting and raiding
• dismounted in battle, joining the infantry in defence, whilst the archers weakened enemy charge
• mounted and chased fleeing troops

Question 25

Describe how cavalry numbers changed.

Answer 25

The ratio of cavalry to infantry changed from around 1:2 to about 1:3 by 1400.

Question 26

Describe how the social structure of the cavalry changed.

Answer 26

In 1250, around 30% of the cavalry were from the nobility. By 1375, only 5% was from the nobility. Then many knights paid scutage instead of fighting. More mercenaries were employed as mounted men-at-arms. This weakened the link between social class and command.

Question 27

How was the cavalry different in 1500 than in 1250?

Answer 27

The cavalry of 1500 was a smaller, socially different and more flexible force compared to the elite cavalry of 1250.

Question 28

How was the cavalry recruited under the feudal system?

Answer 28

The King granted his most powerful supporters control of large areas of England. They were usually earls or dukes and were known as the King’s tenants-in-chief. They recognised the king as their lord and promised to give him military support. These tenants-in-chief then granted some land to lower nobles - sub-tenants. In return, they promised military support to the tenants-in-chief.

Question 29

What was the assize of arms?

Answer 29

An extra way of providing the king with military support. This assessed people’s wealth to see if they should support the King with arms. The wealthier the people were, the more military support they should give.

Question 30

How did scutage lead to the employment of mercenaries?

Answer 30

Kings found it difficult to force people to honour their feudal duties or accept the assize of arms so they routinely accepted money from money instead of military service (scutage). As a result, the kings used scutage to employ paid troops - mercenaries. They were better trained, better disciplined and better armed than feudal troops but much more expensive.

Question 31

How was the Feudal infantry recruited?

Answer 31

Some joined out of loyalty to their King. Others joined for adventure or to escape poverty at home in exchange for regular food and chance of plunder. This wasn’t very effective.

Question 32

How did the assize of arms?

Answer 32

The assize of arms also stated that all men of England should be ready to serve the king for 40 day.

Question 33

How was the infantry trained in 1250?

Answer 33

The men had to be already skilled at using weapons but there was no official organised training for them.

Question 34

How as the cavalry trained in 1250?

Answer 34

There was no training in how to fight in large, disciplined groups. They were usually involved in individual combat such as tournaments.

Question 35

What happened to recruitment in 1250-1500?

Answer 35

• Feudal troops continued to be used until 1350
• Assize of arms was used more after 1285 and then continually to 1500
• Payment for troop was used more after 1317, and became the main way of recruiting.

Question 36

Why were the feudal troops not used after 1350?

Answer 36

• Small numbers and limited the size of armies
• Only required to fight in England, only for 40 days and expected pay
• Unreliable quality. Little training and discipline was low.
• Part-time infantry and poor quality weapons

Question 37

Why was the Assize of arms used more often?

Answer 37

As feudal duties declined, kings had to use the Assize of arms to gain military support. It was extended by The Statute of Winchester.

• Commissioners or Array would muster all local able-bodied men.
• Every man had to bring a bow and 24 arrows, a sword and a dagger however poor they were.

Question 38

Why did the number of paid troops increase?

Answer 38

Kings could never increase the quantity or quality of troops by Feudal duties and the Assize of arms so they became increasingly reliant on paid troops.

Question 39

How did training change?

Answer 39

The Assize of arms made troops better prepared for war:
- At the annual array of arms, men mustered for inspection gave the commissioner a chance to check the quality of weapons and equipment and practice using them.
Paid troops were better trained:
- They were experienced, fighting in fixed groups.
- Kings often insisted on regular checks to make sure that they are getting good value for money.

Question 40

What was requisitioning?

Answer 40

A formal order from the authorities for private property or goods to be handed over to military forces for their use. The goods were usually paid for but not always.

Question 41

How did the cost of warfare impact civilians?

Answer 41

War was expensive and England was constantly in war between 1250-1500. Kings had to find new ways to raise money to cover its costs. These methods impacted civilians.

Question 42

Describe increased taxation.

Answer 42

Kings constantly raised taxes during this period. Paying Extra taxes caused hardship to civilians.

Question 43

Describe purveyance

Answer 43

This was requisitioning food and supplies. The government rarely paid the people back. They also seized ships in order to transport troops via the seas.

Question 44

How were civilians affected by raids?

Answer 44

Sometimes armies raided towns and villages in enemy’s territories. This caused suffering and panic amongst the civilian population. It deprived civilians of food, which could lead to starvation.

Question 45

How did sieges affect civilians?

Answer 45

Sieges involved cutting off food and water supplies from towns and villages. This caused great suffering to civilians inside. Usually around 10,000 - 50,000 civilians die and survivors look more like the dead than the living.

Question 46

What were the benefit of warfare to civilians?

Answer 46

Civilians that joined the army would get good wages. But also other civilians made goods for the warfare which benefitted them with good wages.
The benefits did not outweigh the drawbacks of warfare.

Question 47

What was the cause of the Battle of Falkirk?

Answer 47

Scottish resented English control of Scotland and William Wallace led an uprising. Edward I raised an army and confronted Wallace’s uprising.

Question 48

Describe the composition of the Scottish army

Falkirk

Answer 48

• Had 1,000 cavalry; 4,500 infantry and 4,500 archers
• 10,000 troops
• Schiltrons made it hard for English cavalry but they had a lack of armour so was vulnerable against archers.

Question 49

Describe the composition of the English army (Falkirk).

Answer 49

• Had 2,500 cavalry; 6,500 infantry and 5,000 archers
• 14,000 troops
• 5,000 Longbowmen

Question 50

What were the key weapons and tactics?

Answer 50

• Schiltrons

- Longbow

Question 51

Describe how Edward I impacted the Battle of Falkirk

Answer 51

Good Decisions:

• Outmanoeuvring Wallace to attack him from the flanks
• Using archers against schiltrons

Bad Decisions:
- Little control over cavalry but still was a good thing

Question 52

Describe the impact of William Wallace in the Battle of Falkirk.

Answer 52

Good Decisions:

• Use of schiltrons
• Positioning his forces on a slope, with his rear protected

Bad Decisions:

• Didn’t protect his schiltrons
• Didn’t control his nobles
• Didn’t utilise his remaining cavalry

Question 53

What was outcome of the battle of Falkirk?

Answer 53

Edward I and the English won due to Wallace’s bad decisions and Edward’s utilisation of his troops.

Question 54

Why did the Battle of Agincourt occur?

Answer 54

Henry V wanted to conquer land in France so invaded them to try and capture and control parts of Northern France.

Question 55

Describe the composition of the English army (Agincourt)

Answer 55

8,000 troops:

• 2,000 men-at-arms
• 6,000 archers

Question 56

Describe the composition of the French army (Agincourt)

Answer 56

15,000 troops:

• 10,000 armoured cavalry
• 5,000 infantry
• Very few archers

Question 57

Who won? (Agincourt)

Answer 57

Henry V and the English.

450 English deaths
4,000 French deaths

Question 58

What were the reasons for the outcome of the Battle of Agincourt?

Answer 58

> Positioning armies - Henry chose an ideal defensive position
French tactics - French relied too much on cavalry. Their infantry and archers were too weak and underused.
French indiscipline - Cavalry attack was badly coordinated with infantry.
The longbow - The English could fire up to 100,000 arrow per minute at the French attack.

Question 59

Describe the role of Henry V in the Battle of Agincourt.

Answer 59

Good Decisions:

• Fought alongside army
• Chose an excellent defensive position
• Made cavalry fight on foot
• Sent the archers to gall the French into attacking

Bad Decisions:

• The march across France weakened his army
• He was trapped and forced to fight