Page 47 - History of War - Issue 18-15

THE BOW THAT BUILT BRITAIN

n the hands of English and Welsh archers, effective in countless battles. The ‘English
the longbow became the stuff of legend. longbow’ dominated battle for more than 300
IFrom the blood-soaked fi elds of the years during the Scottish Wars, the Hundred
Hundred Years’ War to the mythical fi gure of Years’ WarandtheWarsoftheRoses.Capable
Robin Hood, the longbow came to represent the of blistering rates of fire and hitting enemies
common man during an age synonymous with hundredsofyardsaway,thelongbowwasa
the dashing chivalric knights of the nobility. terrifyingly effective weapon. The men who
Originally used as a hunting weapon, the wielded thebowswereseasonedprofessionals
use of the bow in war began during the Dark who had spent years honing their skills.
Ages by the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and later the Longbowmen formed a class of their own
Normans. Over time, the draw-weight and power – not as grand as the noble knights, but
of the bow increased, and clashes with Welsh still a cut above the lowly foot soldier. They
archers during the 13th century impressed the smashed charging French knights at Poitiers
English commanders – leading them to fi eld and Agincourt; cut down Scottish hordes at
large contingents of archers. Falkirk and Flodden; and outshot Genoese
The English use of archers en masse was crossbowmen at the Battle of Crecy. The
a tactical innovation that proved decisively longbowman, however, was not invincible.
He was susceptible to cavalry attack, and
at Verneuil in 1424 and Patay five years
“THE LONGBOW AND THE later, French knights smashed through the
unprepared English archers.
ARCHERS WHO USED THEM make up a vital part of the English armies of
Despite this, the archers continued to
BECAME THE SCOURGE the period. While many became professional
soldiers,mostweredrawnfromotherwalks
OF BATTLEFIELDS ACROSS of life. Surviving documents show butchers,
tailors, furriers, cooks, blacksmiths and even
BRITAIN AND EUROPE, physiciansenlistingasarchers–alldrawnto
the king’s banner by the generous daily pay
CREATING A LEGEND THAT offered to skilled bowmen. The longbow and the
archers who used them became the scourge of
ENDURES EVEN TODAY” battlefi elds across Britain and Europe, creating
a legend that endures even today.

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