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What are your questions for Bow & Blade's next Q&A? (Patreon)

Published:
2022-06-04 03:35:26
Imported:
2022-12

Content

The latest episode of Bow and Blade is being edited and will be released in a couple of days. Then Michael and Kelly will be doing their 15th episode, which will be another chance to have your questions about medieval warfare answered. What would you like to ask them?

Comments

Anonymous

I would like to know the learned professors' take on the army of Charles the Bold of Burgundy. At least by appearances, the duke assembled a large, well-ordered, and well-financed standing army. But in the field, it met with spectacular defeat after spectacular defeat from forces that appear to be less modern or professional. Any thoughts on why this was?

Anonymous

When assessing and thinking about a 10th century shield wall, say for example at Brunanburh, I always think about how under such intense conditions of blocking and thrusting etc. that it mustn’t have taken long for a soldier on the front line to deplete their energy. I want to know if (at all) there is evidence to suggest that there was a system in place for rotating soldiers out of the front line to replace them with a fresh pair of hands? For battles that last for hours I just don’t think it’s possible to sustain fighting energy. I understand that adrenaline plays a big part but still, the human body can only handle so much. Do we just wait for person ‘A’ to lose their stamina and get killed before person ‘B’ stands in? Thanks

Anonymous

How many arrows could a trained archer fire, say, in a minute (any measurement is fine). And did the archers hold a handful of arrows in their grip (firing off each one in sequence without returning to the quiver)(I get the impression archers in fortified positions keot a stack nearby--did they really wedge them into the earth point down for easy retireval (I guess soft earth wouldn't stick to the arrowhead in a manner that impacted its effectiveness). EDIT: I'm disappointed with the laziness of film that show the archer pulling from the quiver for each draw--unless that was a realistic assumption. (I wonder if time and place and training made a difference? Were longbow arrows too large and the bow pull too difficult? (Longbow men had to be on firm footing, correct? Could not be on a horse or particularly active (beyond the archer company fleeing for their lives if knights or foot soldiers approached?)

Anonymous
>>85181459

I like this question too! During Roman times, the Romans took it as a matter of tactical policy that the Germans would wear themselves out with no system of reserves (other than an entirely different band of men arriving at the scene as a separate... "host." (???)

Anonymous
>>85170790

To add: I'd be curious to know whether armies like the above "really trained"--or whether these groups of men were hoped to intimidate the other groups of men that they'd run away (as the aspirations of the Chinese Imperial armies from the Ming (?) onward). We think of modern armies (and Roman armies) as being drilled and trained--but I wonder if most battles across the ages were fought by "bands of men looking as threatening as possible" then rushing at each other as mobs, fighting what we'd think of as giant brawls (instead of the ideal of tight, Napoleonic formations that (in our imaginations and our wargames) can pivot on a dime.

Anonymous
>>85170790

There is a beloved (for me) computer war game franchise called Total War, that I gradually grew less charmed by as I learned more. To make the game "fun", you for the most part have solid control of your formations as if William the Conqueror had radio headset links with all his captains. That said, I figure a deployment that you mostly loss complete control of as soon as you pressed "start" wouldn't be much fun (the game did offer "perspective cams" that locked you into the perspective of your commander--and I admit I rarely used it.............................

Anonymous
>>85170790

One more comment: I'd read that medieval armies 11th-13th centuries) actually dreaded confrontation (the armies were too expensive (and its rout could cost you your throne) and battle too random and chaotic)--instead these 11th-13th century English and French warlords sought to manuever and posture to gain what they wanted (ex: you with your small army see Frank with his huge army approaching. You decide, "No way can I win this." and retreat. Consequently, Frank wins whatever you were defending by "maneuver" rather than battle.

Anonymous

Related to both the Courtrai episode and to Fantastic Legions' question, what factors led to the resurgence of pike-armed infantry in the early 14th century? Were there societal, cultural, political, or economic changes that enabled organization and regular drilling of large militia bodies? What factors provided incentives to engage in training rather than other activities?

Anonymous

Are there examples of large-scale guerilla-style warfare in the medieval period, and how did traditional armies prepare for/counter it?

Anonymous

Are there any non-military innovations or inventions that you think created a noticeable impact on the medieval battlefield?

Anonymous

At the battle of Shrewsbury ...

Anonymous

(sigh) ... 1) loved Michael's image of Hal seeing the arrow coming ... I immediately pictured Coyote, with a little "help" sign. 2) Could the battle have been planned? The "strong" right, with the more experienced commander fell back (in order, like a feigned retreat), the enemy advanced, exposing their flank to the "weak" left ? Could Henry have disguised his disposition ... put banners on the right, but put the men on the left ?

Anonymous

In podcast 2 you said the battle of Brunanburh was critical but by the end it seemed you were saying that not much changed (and maybe wouldn't've changed if the other side won) ?

Anonymous

Not really a Q&A, more a topic suggestion ... how about doing a show (or two) on the Normans in the Mediterranean (in Sicily and in Italy). I found it astonishing that 1066 wasn't an "all-out" effort for the Normans.

Anonymous

In episode 14, Michael was quite disparaging about "greek fire". Was this ineffective ? Was this more effective as a ground defense (eg a fortress defending against a fleet) ?

Anonymous

Another shield wall question ... in the opening episode of TV's Rome, you see a centurion controlling the engagement with a whistle, rotating the soldiers in the front rank. Is this real (seems a good idea) ? Would the same have happened in a shield wall ?

Anonymous

and ... (sigh) ... in a shield wall ... what were the 2nd and 3rd ranks doing ? Holding their shields to obstruct the front rank ? I don't think so ... maybe holding their shields at their side, ready to "front" them ?

Anonymous (edited)

Comment edits

2023-01-16 19:54:36 finally, not really a Q&A ... I've been looking for the "reader" you mention. How to find ? do you have a link ??
2022-08-30 23:43:14 finally, not really a Q&A ... I've been looking for the "reader" you mention. How to find ? do you have a link ??

finally, not really a Q&A ... I've been looking for the "reader" you mention. How to find ? do you have a link ??