Learn about medieval weapons


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What is a Cross Bow?

A crossbow is an ancient weapon, composed ofEuropeans used. And the materials used by the
a bow mounted on a stock that launchesSaracen composite bows were widely adopted
projectiles, known as bolts. A mechanism inand utilized by the Europeans. Later, as
the stock allows the bow to be in itssteel became more widespread, the Europeans
fully-drawn position at all times. Thestarted creating spring steel prods. Because
crossbow is fully-drawn until it is shot byof the crossbow's short draw length, they are
releasing a trigger. These dangerous weaponsless efficient at releasing a powerful
are known for their role in Asian andprojectile and to compensate for this,
European warfare. Today however, crossbowscrossbows  must  have  heavy  draw  weights.
are mainly used for target shooting and sport
hunting. It is likely that the crossbow wasWhile many crossbows are drawn using the arm
first used by tribes of South-Eastern Asia,strength of an archer, crossbows that release
where today it is still used by themuch more powerful projectiles require some
hunter-gatherer and nomad tribes, both forsort of mechanical device to draw the string.
hunting,  warfare,  and  "toys".These mechanisms were created out of a range
of devices, some utilizing levers, ratchets
Gastraphetes, the Greek version of theand pulleys in complicated ways. These
crossbow, was used in various Greek wars andmechanisms allowed soldiers to use and shoot
seiges, and was used extensively by the armyweapons with a draw force far greater than
of Dionysius during the siege of the citywhat could have been handled with a normal
Motya, (a fundamental stronghold in Sicily),bow. Later on, the crossbow had enough draw
in 397 BC. Sun Tzu consistently comments onforce to penetrate any chainmail and nearly
the use of the crossbow, and less than fiftyall plate armor: some crossbows had a draw
years from the siege of Motya, in 341 BC,force of nearly 350 lbf, compared to the
there are records of crossbows being employed60-180  lbf  draw  force  of  a  longbow.
in the Battle of Ma-Ling. By 200 BC, the
crossbow was a popular weapon in China, andThe prod was often lashed to the stock with
have been found with soldiers of therope, whipcord, or other strong cording. This
Terracotta Army in the tomb of the Chinesecording is called the "bridle" of the
emperor  Qin  Shi  Huang  (260-210  BC).crossbow. Similar to a horse's bridle, it
tends to loosen over time, and must be
In the Finnish national epic, Kalevala,carefully  re-bound.
Joukahainen is shown ambushing the hero
Väinämöinen with a crossbow. TheThe strings for a crossbow are typically made
legendary hero of Switzerland, William Tell,of strong fibers that cannot fray. According
shot an apple from the top of his own son'sto W. F. Patternson, whipcord was very common
head using a crossbow. Later on, William Tellwhile linen, hemp, and sinew were also used.
began the war of liberation by ambushing theSometimes, in wet conditions, the strings
Vogt  Gessler.were  even made out of twisted mulberry root.
The bow part (refered to as a prod or lath)The mechanism that holds the drawn bowstring
of early crossbows were made only of oneis called a nut, and was usually crafted out
piece of wood, mainly crafted of ash or yew.of bone, ivory or metal. The trigger,
Later on Europeans were exposed to "Saracenoriginally refered to as the "tricker", was
composite bows" which were crafted fromcrafted of metal. Bronze triggers with safety
layers of various materials, like wood, hornnotches are known to have been used as early
and sinew. These layers were then gluedas 200 BC. There are more complicated iron
together and bound with animal tendon. Thetriggers designed in Europe by the 1400s. The
Saracen composite bows were considered muchfamous Leonardo da Vinci designed many
more powerful than the wooden bows thetrigger mechanisms.



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