Medieval Warfare c.1250 to c.1500

Question 1

How did swords change?

Answer 1

Went from flat and broad to deal crushing blows to knights in chainmail to thin, sharp and light to be thrust between joints in plate armour.

Question 2

How did staff weapons change?

Answer 2

Did not change- common and cheapest. Wooden pole with sharpened end or metal blade attached. Form impenetrable walls or schiltrons.

Question 3

How did longbows change?

Answer 3

No change- used more. 350m plus range. Volley firing when group of archers fire at once. Could pierce plate armour, needed skill. (Edward III 1363 Law led to more skilled longbow men)

Question 4

How did crossbows change?

Answer 4

Could pierce both chainmail and plate armour by end. Fired sharp, metal bolts at tremendous force. Cranequin used to load- 2 bolts/minute.

Question 5

How did cannons change?

Answer 5

1320s introduced. Fired cast iron cannon balls not stone shots, more reliable gunpowder used burned more slowly.

Question 6

How did the size of armies change?

Answer 6

The size of armies fluctuated throughout the period. People died from Black Death, causing army sizes to decrease but then as population grew, army sizes grew.

Question 7

How did infantry change?

Answer 7

75-90% throughout. Untrained farmers armed with basic spears, staff weapons to skilled longbow men and pikemen (Edward III 1363 Law). Placed on flanks and fired volleys of arrows to weaken knights before battle.

Question 8

How did cavalry in battle change?

Answer 8

Around 15% throughout. Wearing chainmail to plate armour (invulnerable to swords and pike thrusts). Cavalry charges- fighting on horseback to fighting dismounted in centre of battlefield as plate armour was too heavy if horse shot underneath.

Question 9

How were knights on horseback used?

Answer 9

Knights on horseback used throughout for raiding (grande chevauchée- 1355). Raiders burn farmland, loot/destroy villages in enemy territory, denying enemy resources and weakening enemy morale.

Question 10

How did artillery change?

Answer 10

Introduced in 1320s. Used very little in battle due to limitations: slow reload, inaccurate, heavy, not manoeuvrable, ineffective in wet weather, etc.

Question 11

How did recruitment of knights change?

Answer 11

Feudal summons and general summons to indentures.

Question 12

What were feudal summons?

Answer 12

King called all noblemen who had received land from crown to fight for 40 days/year (much less than many wars). Feudal obligation- expected to bring their retinue, men who owed them service so fought for them.

Question 13

What were general summons?

Answer 13

King appealed to knights to volunteer to fight. No direct payment but could make money through ransoms and plunder (spoils of war).

Question 14

What were indentures?

Answer 14

Contract made between the King and each knight in which knights would fight for fixed period of time in return for payment from the king. More reliable method, could know how many knights would come to fight, lots of government bureaucracy required to keep records.

Question 15

How was infantry recruited?

Answer 15

Local sheriffs mustered men to fight, but often took bribes from those avoiding military service (wealthier middle class). 1277- Commissioners of Array introduced to limit bribery. Most men recruited were unskilled, inexperienced farmers.

Question 16

Who were Commissioners of Array?

Answer 16

Introduced in 1277- Members of the Royal Household who would supervise the local sheriffs in mustering men to fight, limiting the amount of bribery so recruitment was more efficient.

Question 17

Where did recruitment take place?

Answer 17

Not uniformly across country, mainly in regions closest to fighting.

Question 18

What was most of the infantry by the 1400s?

Answer 18

Skilled archers from middling ranks of society. Joined because of respect, wages and potential money from war. More skilled longbowmen.

Question 19

How were civilians affected?

Answer 19

Military recruitment, destruction of homes and livelihoods, providing assistance to the military, financially (taxes)

Question 20

How did military recruitment affect civilians?

Answer 20

Early: noblemen fought under feudal and general summons. Unskilled labourers also recruited. 1363 onwards: able-bodied men from 16-60 had to practice longbow shooting on Sundays. Later: most infantrymen from middling ranks in society.

Question 21

How did destruction of homes and livelihoods affect civilians?

Answer 21

Raids- knights on horseback raided villages and burned farmland. Destroyed livestock, looted villages. Terrorised civilians, damaged enemy morale, encouraged revolt and plundered to make fighting worthwhile for troops.

Question 22

How did providing assistance to the military affect civilians?

Answer 22

Armies took food from civilians as they couldn’t carry all. Civilians expected to provide food and shelter to military. Purveyance- King could buy food from civilians for low rates. Only civilians near wars were affected. Purveyance led to inflation.

Question 23

How were civilians affected financially?

Answer 23

Late 1200s- poll tax introduced. Flat tax paid by all, despite differences in wealth. Unpopularity led to peasants revolt in 1381. Large impact on all.