Crossbow

The Crossbow

The crossbow was beginning to come into use in the later eleventh century, perhaps originating as a hunting item rather than a weapon of war. It proved popular in Frankish and Norman hands, perhaps as it was so easy to learn to use. There is some limited archaeological evidence for crossbow bolts in late Anglo-Saxon England (discussed below).

For shows in the eleventh century, Norman missile troops should consider crossbows as an alternative to ‘self’ bows. For shows in the twelfth century we would encourage missile weapons to be crossbows.

Crossbows should be wooden, with a wooden or composite wood/horn prod (see diagram below), should not have a stirrup, and may have either a rising-pin or rolling lock release mechanism. Crossbows with steel prods only became common in the 14th century, and so they may not be used within the period covered by the Society.

Accessories

• Bolts. Note that all bolts to be used in combat must be fitted with rubber 'speed blunts' over the flat end of the shaft.
• Quivers

Official Society Rules It is serious disciplinary offence to use any weapon in public, for which you have not passed the necessary qualifying test. You may use any weapon in training, with the permission of the training officer.

For the latest information and published rules on Missile combat, consult the The Missiles Officer's Training Handbook 1.3 or see the pages on Missile Combat

Rules on Sharp Arrows and Bolts Sharps and blunts may never be carried/stored or transported together. Keep sharps secure by tying them together. Sharps and blunts must be clearly fletched differently. Sharp arrows/bolts may ONLY EVER be taken onto the battlefield for sharps displays. At no other times should there be sharp arrows in the combat arena. Sharp arrows should be looked after in the same way as sharp knives in LH. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: Sharp arrows must NEVER be pointed, or loosed, at any person or animal, or in any direction where you cannot see where it will fly.

Technical Specifications - Crossbow The maximum draw weight of the crossbow is 35lbs The prod must be made of wood.

Restrictions and Notes on Use Display Crossbow or Combat Crossbow Assessment is required. May not be used against cavalry. Bolts must be regularly treated with raw linseed oil to prevent shattering on impact. Sharp and blunt bolts must never be put into the same quiver.

Crossbows in History

Crossbows in pre-Conquest England

The conventional wisdom is that the crossbow was introduced to England following the Norman Conquest. However, the evidence isn't quite so clear-cut.

Ryan Lavelle's "Alfred's Wars" (Boydell, 2010) discusses the evidence for crossbows in England (p. 111, n.324). He points to three crossbow bolt-heads from Winchester found in early ninth and mid/late-tenth-century contexts, and a catch from a crossbow mechanism from Burbage (Wilts) generally attributed to the Romano-British period, but found alongside bonework with Anglo-Saxon decorations. Lavelle does not go so far as to conclude that the crossbows were in use long before 1066, but he suggests the evidence is more ambiguous than generally assumed.

There is also evidence for crossbows in use in tenth-century Germany, including depictions in a gospel belonging to Otto III, commissioned 998x1001; crossbows appear in the hands of both attackers and defenders in a siege scene, alongside slingers. There are assorted literary references to 'ballistae' and other arrow-shooting engines from the later Carolingian world, not least in Abbo of Saint-Germain's epic poem on the late ninth-century sieges of Paris. David Bachrach's "Warfare in 10th century Germany" (Boydell 2012) has a section on 'artillery' (pp.160-4) gives a flavour of the evidence (mostly literary and surprisingly common) which he suggests points to torsion-powered anti-personnel stone-throwing engines. This might suggest a relatively large crossbow, not unlike the ones used in the Late Roman period to defend fortifications.

The evidence does not suggest that crossbows were at all common in Anglo-Saxon England, but they do seem to have been known in the Carolingian and Ottonian worlds - which, after all, stretched to the Mediterranean, where a considerable amount of late Roman military technology continued in use, not least in the Byzantine empire.

Crossbows in later medieval Europe

Can. 29 of the 1139 Second Lateran Council under Pope Innocent II banned the use of crossbows, as well as slings and bows, against Christians. This Papal prohibition seems to have had very little impact on twelfth-century warfare, as crossbows became the predominant missile weapon. Partly this reflects its effectiveness and ease of training (especially when compared to a 'self' bow), but also the importance of siege warfare in the twelfth century.

In the fourteenth century, the increasing availability of steel led to even more powerful crossbows with steel prods. These were much slower to load than a 'self' bow, requiring a stirrup and (often) a windlass to span.

Images of crossbows

A much later depiction of a crossbow being spanned using a stirrup, from the Luttrell Psalter, c.1325-35. The tonsure suggests the user is a cleric - who really shouldn't be off hunting!

An early crossbow with wooden prod and 'rising pin' mechanism

A 14th century steel crossbow with stirrup, 'rolling nut' mechanism and bolts in the later-style quiver.

Crossbows Act 1987 (c. 32)

Anyone who possesses a crossbow should be aware of the Crossbows Act 1987. Essentially this makes it an offence for any minor to possess or purchase a crossbow capable of discharging a missile (excepting those with a draw weight of less than 1.4 kilograms), unless supervised by an adult over the age of 21.