The aim of this paper is to examine an aspect of social life linked to one of the most important and original forms of military organization in the whole of Portuguese history—the besteiros do conto (crossbowmen).
Besteiros Do Conto (Crossbowmen): Organization, abuses of power and irregularities during the reign of Dom João I (1385-1433)
November 23, 2014 By
Cogs, Sails and Longbows: Implications of Naval Tactics and Technology in the Hundred Years War
June 24, 2012 By
There were several naval engagements during the Hundred Years War. The three that will be looked at in this work are the battle of Sluys in 1340, the battle of Les Espagnols-Sur- Mer in 1350, and the capture of a French fleet from La Rochelle. The battle of Sluys is the best known of these, but it can be argued that subsequent engagements are of equal or greater importance. Many historians have downplayed these events.
The Efficacy of the English Longbow: A Reply to Kelly DeVries
March 11, 2012 By
According to DeVries, historians (myself specifically included) who argue for the lethal efficacy of the longbow are committing the sin of technological determinism, and indeed ‘have done military history and the history of technology a disservice’…
English Longbow Testing against various armor circa 1400
December 19, 2011 By
The purpose of this research is to determine the effect various medieval arrows have on various medieval armour types. The time period that I tested is around 1400, the time of the English longbow.
The Efficacy of the English Longbow: A Reply to Kelly DeVries
September 25, 2011 By
The Efficacy of the English Longbow: A Reply to Kelly DeVries By Clifford Rogers War in History, Vol.5:2 (1998) Introduction:Every profession needs its gadflies: men and women who shake our complacency and force us to re-examine assumptions we have rarely if ever questioned before. Sometimes revisionists lead us, as the word itself suggests, to see […]
French Noble Archers from the lists of those appearing for royal musters from about 1420 to 1560
September 1, 2011 By
French Noble Archers from the lists of those appearing for royal musters from about 1420 to 1560 By James Prescott Published Online, 2011 Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether, and to what extent, French nobles had the bow as their primary military weapon. This is not about a noble using a […]
Saracen Archers in Southern Italy
February 28, 2011 By
The Normans, soon after the conquest of Sicily was complete, began using Sicilian Saracen mounted and foot archers as auxiliary troops: in 1076 they were included in the Guiscard army at the seizure of Salerno
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