Weapons of the 15th Century England
English Bill.
This was developed from a standard agricultural bill hook mounted on to a long ash shaft.
By far the most common polearm in England in the 15th century, this very efficient weapon was easy to produce by local blacksmiths and with a bare minimum of training it could be used to cause great damage to the opposing side.
The opening move in a battle was a hack, the bill would be swung over the shoulder straight through the man in front's skull. Example's found at the mass graves at Towton show how effective this type of attack was. After that point if you have survived the hack you would find yourself fighting the 3 men in front of you who are trying to the same as you. hooking you or your weapon to pull you out of line so you can be killed. pinning you bill to the ground so you can attack or just generally trying to skewer you with the pointy bit.
This was developed from a standard agricultural bill hook mounted on to a long ash shaft.
By far the most common polearm in England in the 15th century, this very efficient weapon was easy to produce by local blacksmiths and with a bare minimum of training it could be used to cause great damage to the opposing side.
The opening move in a battle was a hack, the bill would be swung over the shoulder straight through the man in front's skull. Example's found at the mass graves at Towton show how effective this type of attack was. After that point if you have survived the hack you would find yourself fighting the 3 men in front of you who are trying to the same as you. hooking you or your weapon to pull you out of line so you can be killed. pinning you bill to the ground so you can attack or just generally trying to skewer you with the pointy bit.
Halberd.
Designed by the Swiss, it is actually the halberd that the English bill was based on.
It was because the Swiss fighters used this type of weapon with such skill that were charge with the duty to guard the Vatican and Papacy, even today the Swiss guard still protect the Pope!
Designed by the Swiss, it is actually the halberd that the English bill was based on.
It was because the Swiss fighters used this type of weapon with such skill that were charge with the duty to guard the Vatican and Papacy, even today the Swiss guard still protect the Pope!
Glaive.
This is a simple pole arm, consisting of a blade mounted on a pole. In essence its a sword on a stick!
But even though it is a simple weapon it is also highly effective. Its slender blade makes it very hard to trap and hook.
This is a simple pole arm, consisting of a blade mounted on a pole. In essence its a sword on a stick!
But even though it is a simple weapon it is also highly effective. Its slender blade makes it very hard to trap and hook.
Spear
The spear is a weapon that has been in use for thousands of years... the material may have changed but the basic principal of the weapon hasn't: stick them with the pointy end.
The problem with the spear over all of the other weapons is that it does not quite have a cutting edge for hacking or raking down on an opponent nor does it have much weight on the end to punch its way through plate armour which is now more common in the fifteenth century.
That having said, it certainly beats using a wooden club, a lucky conscript with a spear may find themselves fighting someone in just a padded jacket! This is a weapon of a poor militiaman.
The spear is a weapon that has been in use for thousands of years... the material may have changed but the basic principal of the weapon hasn't: stick them with the pointy end.
The problem with the spear over all of the other weapons is that it does not quite have a cutting edge for hacking or raking down on an opponent nor does it have much weight on the end to punch its way through plate armour which is now more common in the fifteenth century.
That having said, it certainly beats using a wooden club, a lucky conscript with a spear may find themselves fighting someone in just a padded jacket! This is a weapon of a poor militiaman.
Buckler
A smaller version of the earlier 'teardrop' shields of the norman period and the heater shields of the 13th-14th century. Generally used by combatants who are not fully armoured (EG: civilians, archers) in conjunction with a single handed sword.
A smaller version of the earlier 'teardrop' shields of the norman period and the heater shields of the 13th-14th century. Generally used by combatants who are not fully armoured (EG: civilians, archers) in conjunction with a single handed sword.
One handed Sword
Long Bow
The traditional English longbow is usually made from a single piece of wood (Yew in the medieval period) cut with sapwood and heartwood that naturally expand and compress.
Long bows were frequently deployed en-masse prior to the melee in 15th century warfare as a means to whittle down enemy numbers in preparation for the melee.
They are however also use for hunting be it for sustenance or sport.
The traditional English longbow is usually made from a single piece of wood (Yew in the medieval period) cut with sapwood and heartwood that naturally expand and compress.
Long bows were frequently deployed en-masse prior to the melee in 15th century warfare as a means to whittle down enemy numbers in preparation for the melee.
They are however also use for hunting be it for sustenance or sport.
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Crossbow
Also called an 'arbalest' (an 'arbalester' being the one shooting it!) the crossbow is another ranged weapon in use in the fifteenth century. Although they are lethal killing weapons that can be used by untrained peasants without the lifetime of training employed by bowmen, they are not without their own faults. Multiple complex / expensive components, limited range compared to the longbow, significantly lower rate of fire and difficulty with adding / removing the bow string make it a weapon that must be deployed carefully in specific circumstances. It's role as a 'sniping' weapon which can be sat with fully loaded to shoot at a moment's notice make this a perfect weapon for defence in sieges. |
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Different types of Arrow Heads.
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