Warfare in Medieval Times
Warfare was enormously important during the Middle Ages. During the Early Medieval Times, war was
fought on the field with horses and soldiers. As castles appeared, besieging a castle was much more
common. During the Late Middle Ages siege was, according to historians.
The Crusades - The crusades were the church's attempt to recover the Holy Land, however, the church
had other interests to launch a crusade against Jerusalem. There were many crusades and only a few of
them were successful. Most ended in a much longer conflict between the Middle East and Europe,
however, there were many benefits to the Crusades.
Weapons: The mounted knights or heavy cavalry were the most formidable force in the Medieval
Warfare. Weapons like the lance, the sword, the mace, and towards the middle of the 12th
Century. The axe, were part of the standard equipment of the Medieval Knights, while others, like
the spear, were considered weapons of the inferior troops.
From the Norman Conquest to the end of the 12th Century, the knightly weapon, the sword, was
of the old form: straight, broad, two-edged and pointed. The cross-piece was generally straight, in
other cases curved towards the blade.
The shaft of the lance was usually made of ash or pine. The heads were commonly of the leaf form,
lozenge or, more rarely, barbed. The javelin was widely used at the close of the 11th Century, as shown
in the Bayeux tapestry. In the 12th Century it have fallen into discredit among the English and French,
though probably employed to a much later period by the Spaniards, with whom it was always a favorite
weapon.
Holy Water
Sprinkler And
Mace
Guisarme And
Halberd
Housecarls were well-trained, full-time Anglo-Saxon soldiers who were paid for their services. They
wore a short mail-coat called a byrnie. The sleeves were left short to enable freedom of movement in
battle. They wore a pointed helmet to help deflect blows from sword attacks. Their main weapon was the
battle-axe. The heavy curved blade and long handle meant that the weapon had to be held with both
hands. Housecarls also used a long double-edged sword with a shallow grove running along the blade on
both sides to make it lighter.
A knight was a mounted soldier who performed military service for a nobleman. A man was
created a knight by being dubbed (struck on both shoulders with a sword). This was a ceremony
that was usually performed in church. In return for a grant of land or money, the knight did
military service for his lord on a set number of days.
To go into battle a knight needed a horse, a shield, a lance, a sword and a hauberk. The knight
also wore a conical helmet that had a nose guard for further protection against blows to the face.
Norman knights also used spurs and stirrups. Spurs were used to drive the horse forward in
battle. Stirrups enabled the knight to keep his legs straight during battle. This held him securely
in place while delivering or receiving blows.
The of knights and military service was established in England by William the Conqueror.
During the reign of Henry II had 6,000 knights. These men served in his army without pay, for
40 days a year.
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/MEDTwarfare.htm
http://www.medievality.com/warfare.html
http://www.medieval-spell.com/Medieval-Warfare-Weapons.html
By wade