. Archers and archery were a traditional part of the French army during the Middle Ages. The bow was first used by the Franks in the 4th century but did not become a required arm of the Frankish infantry until the time of Charlemagne. These early archers generally were equipped with a short bow of simple wood construction. But in the following centuries bows were improved by the addition of horn, sinew, and glue in a composite construction complete with angled ears to give more pull to the bowstring. By the 11th century, archers had become a designated unit within the French army, differing in responsibility, status, arms, and armor from the regular infantry unit. Rarely were archers mounted, and then only for transportation to and from the battlefield.
With the influx of crossbows, the use of short bows died out in French armies, and by the 13th century they were not considered a weapon of war in most parts of Europe. However, they did persist as hunting weapons. During the late Middle Ages, the crossbow dominated the archery of the French army, although some French military leaders attempted to hire groups of short - and longbowmen from Scotland and mounted archers from Spain and Italy.
Archers were seen as unchivalric participants of battle and frequently were massacred by opposing forces if captured.
Kelly De Vries
[See also: ARMOR AND WEAPONS; CROSSBOW]
Bradbury, Jim. The Medieval Archer. New York: St. Martin, 1985.
Contamine, Philippe. War in the Middle Ages, trans. Michael Jones. London: Blackwell, 1984.
Lake, Frederick H., and Harold F. Wright. A Bibliography of Archery. Manchester: Simon Archery Foundation, 1974.
Nicolle, David C. Arms and Armour of the Crusading Period, 1050-1350. 2 vols. White Plains: Kraus, 1988.
Argentan (Orne), Saint-Germain. Photograph: Clarence Ward Collection. Courtesy of Oberlin College.
World History
