Knight in battle: How did knights fight on the battlefield?
Modern History TV・14 minutes read
Mounted knights wielded lances in a coordinated charge, training with a quintain to simulate battle scenarios and gradually build up to full impact charges, highlighting the importance of proper skill and unit coordination for battlefield effectiveness amidst threats like the English longbow.
Insights
- Armored cavalry had to cover a 300-yard distance to engage foot troops due to the effective range of the English longbow, highlighting the strategic challenges faced by mounted knights in battle.
- Training techniques such as using a quintain with adjustable weights were crucial for knights to gradually build up to full impact charges, emphasizing the importance of skill development and readiness in mounted combat.
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Recent questions
How far is the effective range of an English longbow?
The effective range of an English longbow is estimated to be about 300 yards, making it a formidable weapon on the battlefield.
What is a quintain used for in knight training?
A quintain is used in knight training to practice using a lance effectively, simulating impact resistance and shock absorption to prepare for battle.
How do knights train with the quintain to build up to full impact charges?
Knights train with the quintain by adjusting impact levels through moving the weight, allowing for gradual progression to full impact charges and ensuring readiness for battle.
What is the primary position for using a lance in battle?
The primary position for using a lance in battle is couched, where the sharp tip is aimed at the enemy before contact is made, evolving from the traditional spear.
Why is unit coordination crucial for mounted knights on the battlefield?
Unit coordination is crucial for mounted knights on the battlefield as they ride knee to knee to maximize the impact of their charge, emphasizing the cohesion and force behind a massed group of knights for battlefield effectiveness.
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Summary
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"Knightly Charges and English Longbows"
- The effective range of an English longbow is estimated at about 300 yards, requiring armored cavalry to cross this distance to reach foot troops.
- A mounted knight charging at a flat-out gallop covers the 300 yards in 15 to 18 seconds, but in a coherent mass of soldiers, it takes about 35 to 40 seconds.
- To practice using a lance effectively, a quintain is used, featuring a weight at the end to simulate impact resistance and shock absorption.
- The quintain allows for adjusting impact levels by moving the weight, aiding in gradually building up to full impact charges.
- Training a horse with gradual impacts is crucial to prevent fear and ensure readiness for battle, similar to how knights progress in using the quintain.
- The lance, evolving from a spear, is primarily used in the couched position to deliver a sharp tip to the enemy before contact is made.
- Proper lance usage demands skill and practice, likely involving wooden or blunted lances for training against the quintain.
- A mounted knight's unit coordination is vital for battlefield effectiveness, with knights riding knee to knee to maximize the impact of their charge.
- Illustrations from the crusade era depict the power of a structured knightly charge, emphasizing the cohesion and force behind a massed group of knights.
- Despite their prowess, mounted knights faced challenges like terrain, foot soldiers, and ranged weapons like the English longbow, which posed significant threats on the battlefield.
