warfare through time Flashcards
What was the weapons situation like in 1250
Cavalrymen fought on horseback – lances and spears
Infantry – swords, daggers, battle axes,halberds,brown bills, pikes. Some had bows and crossbows.
Chainmail hauberks and coifs for protection
What was the continuity of weapons like in 1250-1500
Weapons used in hand-to-hand fighting
(e.g. swords, axes etc.) had not changed
that much by 1500
Despite development of cannon and
firearms, they were still not the dominant
force in warfare (short range, unreliable,
heavy to transport)
What was the change of weapons like in 1250-1500
Pikes used differently (Schiltrons)
Longbows (much more power, higher rate of
fire, further range) became the dominant
force on the Battlefield (e.g. Agincourt)
Plate armour replaced chainmail although
not very effective defence against Longbow
Cannon developed across the period but not
used extensively
Firearms (e.g. Hackbut) were developed but
not really used widely before 1500
What was the tactics and strategy situation like in 1250
Only Limited warfare was possible
Castles and fortified towns essential
parts of strategy.
Cavalry – mounted charges, rout and
chase
Infantry – shield wall, archers, melee
What was the continuity of Tactics and
strategy like in 1250-1500
Limited warfare continued e.g. 100 Years
War (1337-1453).
Capturing and building castles continued
Cavalry charges, melees still key tactics
seen in battles
What was the change of Tactics and strategy like in 1250-1500
New uses of pikes - Schiltrons (up to 2000 pikemen) used for defence and attack (eg Falkirk) increased power of the infantry and decline in mounted knight
Archers tended to travel on horseback so the whole army could move quicker
Archers used much more effectively in
defence – placed on flanks to weaken enemy charges
Cavalry now used as a more integrated part of the army, rather than an elite strike force acting alone.
Cavalry was a smaller, more socially different and more flexible force by 1500
What was the Composition and Command of Armies
situation like in 1250
5,000-10,000 men
Infantry (common men) and Cavalry (nobility)
Command linked to social position
What was the continuity of Composition and Command of Armies like in 1250-1500
Size of armies stayed similar (e.g. Battle of Lewes 1264 10,000, Battle of Bosworth 1485 12,000)
Command of armies still connected to status in society (e.g. King’s relatives or leading Nobles)
What was the change of Composition and Command of Armies like in 1250-1500
Change in tactics and weapons (e.g. schiltrons and Longbows) meant less reliance on cavalry
Number of cavalry was less by 1500 (ratio of infantry:cavalry now 3:1 rather than 2:1)
As the feudal system declined, less cavalry were from the nobility
More mercenaries used as men-at-arms
What was the Recruitment situation like in 1250
Recruitment via feudal system – most troops in 1250 were feudal knights. Assize of Arms also used. Like a form of taxation – wealthy men had to provide the king with military support Attitudes were changing and many
paid scutage or shield money instead of providing military service. The king often used this money to pay for mercenaries
What was the continuity of Recruitment like in 1250-1500
Feudal troops still used up to 1350
Assize of Arms still in use by 1500
Mercenaries still used widely
What was the change of Recruitment like in 1250-1500
Change in society (e.g. breakdown of feudal
system) meant that recruitment changed
Assize of Arms not very reliable
Payment of troops became more common
after 1300s
Many more soldiers within Royal Household
by 1500
What was the training situation like in 1250
No permanent armies or barracks so very little training Anyone answering to an Assize of Arms was assumed to be competent in using weapons anyway For cavalry, most young men were trained in military skills and
horsemanship Men competed in tournaments and much was based around the culture of chivalry. Mostly based around the idea of individual combat rather than fighting in large disciplined groups.
What was the continuity of training like in 1250-1500
No major changes – command, organisation and training of troops remained very simple.
Knights still practised combat at tournaments
What was the change of training like in 1250-1500
Kings insisted on archery targets and practice in towns
Paid troops tended to be better trained – as the king was paying directly for them inspections of weapons and equipment more
common
What was the Provisions situation like in 1250
Men were expected to bring their own provisions for first 40 days
Baggage trains sometimes followed the armies
Supply depots sent ahead occasionally Often armies resorted to demanding supplies from locals by either paying for it or stealing what they needed in enemy territory
What was the continuity of provistions like in 1250-1500
Armies still often resorted to demanding supplies from locals by either paying for it or stealing what they needed in enemy territory
Baggage trains still used (often targeted by enemy as this could lead to starvation of army)
What was the change of provisions like in 1250-1500
Became more important because:
There were more wars
Armies used more horses so needed more fodder
More weapons (e.g. men needed to be supplied with arrows)
Royal Armoury based in Tower of London provided arrows etc.
Officially ‘purveyance’ was introduced that should have given a fair price for supplies
What was the experience of civilians situation like in 1250
Suffered threat of plunder from armies.
In home territory, armies might pay locals for supplies but in enemy territory, armies normally stole it
Feudal system and Assize of Arms for recruitment forced men to fight
Civilians joining the army could get good wages
Demand for wartime goods (weapons, armour, clothing) helped industries and citizens benefitted from good, secure wages
What was the continuity of experience of civilians like in 1250-1500
Plunder/destruction of property still a problem.
Requisitioning food often impacted civilians
Feudal system up to 1300s and then Assize of Arms still forced men to fight
Sieges of fortified towns continued to impact civilians living within them.
What was the change of Experience of civilians
like in 1250-1500
Cost of war began to impact on civilians more (tax)
More wars in this period lead to more raids that created fear and panic amongst civilians
Why did falkirk 1298 happen
Part of Scottish Uprising - William Wallace rebellion against Edward I’s English
What was the significance
Scottish use of schiltrons very effective against English cavalry
Edward’s use of Longbows proved to be the turning point in the battle
Why did the Agincourt 1415 happen
Hundred Years War – Henry V of England tried to capture land in Northern France
What was the significance of Agincourt 1415
Showed the dominance of the Longbow by the 15th Century
French relied too much on cavalry
Sieges also important in lead up to battle (Harfleur)
Henry V’s military leadership – positioning of archers/men-at-arms
What was the weapons situation like in 1500
Pikes used differently (Schiltrons)
Longbows (much more power, higher rate of fire, further range) became the dominant force on the Battlefield (e.g.
Agincourt)
Plate armour replaced chainmail although not very effective defence against Longbow
Cannon developed across the period but not used extensively – useful in seiges
Firearms (e.g. Hackbut) were developed but not really used widely
before 1500
What was the continuity of weapons like in 1500-1750
Pikes still used extensively in 1500s
Longbows still used in early 1500s
Plate armour still used in 1500s
What was the change of weapons like in 1500-1750
Artillery was used much more in battles – guns were much lighter and easier to transport. Also cannon were more reliable by 1750
1500s - English wanted to copy Swiss Pikemen (armoured helmets and back and breast plates)
1500s - Infantry units gradually became a mixture of pikemen and musketeers
Hackbut replaced by matchlock musket by 1550s. Flintlock musket gradually replaced matchlock by 1700
Gradual trend from longbows to muskets in the 1500s due to changes in society (e.g. changes in farming, growth of towns meant that men had less time to practice archery)
Cavalry armed with swords and pistols (mounted infantry – Dragoons)
Armour gradually abandoned by 1700
Muskets also had bayonets attached by the 1600s which made them more useful in hand to hand combat – meant that pikes were no longer necessary
What was the Tactics and strategy situation like in 1500
New uses of pikes - Schiltrons (up to 2000 pikemen) used for defence and attack (eg Bannockburn)
increased power of the infantry and decline in mounted knight
Archers used much more effectively in defence – placed on flanks to weaken enemy charges
Cavalry now used as a more integrated part of the army,
What was the continuity of Tactics and strategy
like in 1500-1750
Cavalry and infantry still used in combination throughout the period
What was the change of Tactics and strategy
like in 1500-1750
From 1530s onwards, new fortifications were built to withstand cannon fire (thick, low walls, bastions, angled to deflect cannon fire)
Development of infantry tactics using musketeers and pikemen together. (e.g in Civil War)
Musketeers in line in front of pikemen at the start of battle to fire freely but if attacked they would form a square with the pikemen
outside to provide protection from cavalry
From 1540s, Cavalry were used to ride close to the enemy and fire pistols. From 1640s, they were used as ‘shock troops’ again
What was the Composition and Command of Armies situation like in 1500
Change in tactics and weapons (e.g. schiltrons and Longbows) meant less reliance on cavalry
Number of cavalry was less by 1500 (ratio of infantry:cavalry now 3:1 rather than 2:1)
As the feudal system declined, less cavalry were from the nobility
What was the continuity of Composition and Command of Armies like in 1500-1750
Armies continued to be a mix of cavalry, infantry and artillery
Most generals were still from higher classes, particularly on Royalist side during the Civil war
What was the change of Composition and Command
of Armies like in 1500-1750
Ratio of Cavalry to infantry changed all the time but with no particular pattern.
Most generals wanted 2:1 (Infantry:cavalry) but this did not always happen.
Successful soldiers given the command of the New Model Army during the Civil War – Cromwell, Fairfax
Officers in NMA were given positions on merit, not because of social class
What was the Recruitment situation like in 1500
Change in society (e.g. breakdown of feudal system) meant that recruitment changed from medieval period
Assize of Arms not very reliable
Payment of troops became more common after 1300s
Many more soldiers within Royal Household by 1500
What was the continuity of Recruitment like in 1500-1750
Militia system used in Tudor period (non-professional soldiers who can be called upon in time of need)
Organised by Lord Lieutenants, with general musters every couple of years
(Similar to the Assize of Arms)
What was the change of Recruitment like in 1500-1750
Soon became apparent that system wasn’t effective
More men ‘pressed’ or forced to serve as the period went on
What was the training situation like in 1500
Kings insisted on archery targets and practice in towns
Paid troops tended to be better trained – as the king was paying
directly for them inspections of weapons and equipment more
common
What was the continuity of training like in 1500-1750
Early 1500s – little in the way of official training
Poor standard of training continued through Tudor
Period
What was the change of training like in 1500-1750
Threat of Spanish invasion in 1580s lead to change – professional soldiers called Muster Masters ran training. Not that effective as many gentlemen didn’t like taking orders from ‘lower’ classes.
Training improved in Civil Wars with the New Model Army – was paid regularly, trained by successful soldiers.
New Model Army also continued to stand even after the war finished (1651-8) and played more of a role in politics than any
army beforehand
