Warfare in practice — the Hundred Years' War
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Flip to reveal answersWhat was the longbow, and why was it so effective?
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Question
What was the longbow, and why was it so effective?
Answer
A tall (about 6 ft) wooden bow that shot 10–12 arrows a minute over 200 metres, creating an 'arrow storm' that broke cavalry charges.
Question
What were the 'combined tactics' behind English success?
Answer
Longbow archers on the flanks plus dismounted men-at-arms in the centre, fighting defensively on chosen ground.
Question
Define men-at-arms.
Answer
Heavily armoured knights and soldiers who, in the English system, fought on foot to give the line a steady core.
Question
What happened at the Battle of Crécy (1346)?
Answer
French cavalry charged uphill into massed longbow fire and were slaughtered — the first great proof of the English method.
Question
Why was Poitiers (1356) so damaging for France?
Answer
The English won again with defensive tactics and captured the French king, John II, who was ransomed for a huge sum.
Question
What made Agincourt (1415) a disaster for the French?
Answer
Henry V's outnumbered army fought on a narrow, muddy field where packed French knights got stuck and were killed by arrows.
Question
Define chevauchée.
Answer
A fast, destructive mounted raid deep into enemy land, burning crops and towns to wreck the economy and morale.
Question
Why did the feudal levy give way to paid soldiers?
Answer
The levy served only about 40 days a year; paid, contracted (indentured) armies could campaign overseas for whole seasons.
Question
Define indenture (in warfare).
Answer
A written contract by which a captain agreed to supply paid soldiers for a set time and wage.
Question
When did gunpowder cannon matter most in the Hundred Years' War?
Answer
Later in the war and mainly in sieges, where cannon could batter down stone walls; the longbow decided the big open battles.
Question
Why was the Battle of Sluys (1340) important?
Answer
England destroyed the French fleet, winning control of the Channel so it could move armies to France and avoid invasion.
Question
Compare feudal levy and paid contracted armies.
Answer
Levy: unpaid, land-based, about 40 days, hard to send far. Paid: waged contracts, professional, could serve a whole campaign anywhere.
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Full study notes for Warfare in practice — the Hundred Years' War
Topic 7.2 hub
The nature and practice of medieval warfare
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