Abstract

Weaponry and Armor proved extremely useful to the combat field.  Included in this paper will be the common army’s make-up:  Knights and foot soldiers as well as the siege weapons; and how they had been used. Blacksmiths constructed heavy and extremely blunt weapons during this time, which caused tremendous damage to enemies. Foot soldiers moved siege weapons in place to destroy castles. In addition, wealth played an extreme role in the equipment a soldier uses. The most important aspect of Middle Ages warfare would definitely be the brutality that weapons inflicted upon soldiers.  Those who developed these weapons knew how to protect not only themselves, but their homes and castles, and in a sense, their livelihood.

Brutal Combat of 15th Century.

The Middle Ages, the 15th century, emerged as a time filled with hand to hand combat and overthrowing of empires. As a result to all the fighting, an empire could either gain land and wealth, or fall and lose everything under the command of other attackers. During the Middle Ages, many people died due to their brutal fighting style. With the use of armor, most of the time the chain mail and plate mail didn’t provide sufficient protection. During the Middle Ages, Weaponry and Armor Proved extremely important to Knights, Foot Soldiers, and to the numerous battles in general.

Knights

To begin, Knights and foot soldiers both carried great weapons. These weapons varied from spiked poles to broad headed spiked balls to even short daggers as long as a hand. According to Linda Alchin in her article, Middle Ages Weapons, men-at-arms held weapons according to their status with their empire, as well as their wealth. Not every soldier could be equipped with the same equipment which meant every combat varied.  However, Knights as the wealthiest, could afford what they wanted. It is said that a single knight had the killing power of up to 10 other ordinary foot soldiers (Alchin, 2008). Knights used multiple weapons while fighting and these include:

Broadswords

Great swords

Long swords

Lance

Flail

Pole arms

In addition, Knights based their weapons on length and weight due to the fact they fought from horseback.  According to Linda Alchin, the lance is the most used weapon by the Knight. Most fighters choose the lance strictly because of the length it had and the weight. The average lance measured in at nine to fourteen feet and weighed only a mere five to seven pounds. Lances made of wood and equipped with a metal spike on the end which would pierce armor, proved a favorite for a Knight. During combat, the lance would be rested upon the horse’s side to pierce the enemy as he charged forward. Another popular weapon of choice for a Knight is the Long sword. Long swords served as a backup weapon in case the knight’s horse got brought down. This is due to the fact that hand-to-hand combat with a fourteen foot weapon would be very difficult. The average long sword weighed in only at five pounds and had a mere length of roughly four to five feet (Alchin, 2008). A knight could grasp the weapon with both hands for a solid brutal blow because Long swords contained an extended handle.