Medieval warfare

Medieval warfare describes the fashion in which war was waged in Europe roughly from the fall of the Roman Empire to the renaissance, a period of several hundred years. During this time, the nature of warfare was influenced by a number of factors, both technological and cultural.

Origins and reasons of medieval warfare

Battle of Adrianople

Battlefield tactics

Deployment of forces

Employment of forces

Retreat

Siege

Siege weapons

Dynamics of a siege

Sally

Wall assault

Organization

Chain of command

Units

Training

Levying

Equipment

Personal equipment

• The nobleman and knight
• The the infantryman
• The engineer
• The archer
• The burger

Supplies

Plunder and foraging

Supply trains

Supplies during siege

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To incorporate in the article:

Prerequisites:

• Chivalry?
• Christianity

Cultural influences:

• The Huns
• The Avars?
• Islam
• The Vikings
• The Mongols
• The Crusades
• The Turks
• The Reconquista? of Spain
• The discovery of the Americas

Technological influences:

• Development of metallurgy: smelting and steel
• Development of smithing? and armour making
• The stirrup?
• Improved horse breeds leading to heavy cavalry
• Import of gunpowder and development of cannon

Organisational influences:

• Taxation?
• Development of knights
• Development of [knights hospitaller]? military orders
• Levying of commoners

Medieval weaponry:

• Medieval siege weaponry
• The longbow
• The crossbow
• The sword
• The lance?
• The pike?

Significant medieval battles:

• The Battle of Agincourt
• The [Battle of Crecy]?
• The [Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa]? (1212)
• The Battle of Poitiers
• The Battle of Bosworth Field
• The [Battle of Hastings]? (1066)
• The [Battle of Stamford Bridge]?
• The [Battle of Maldon]? (c. 991)
• The [Battle of Brunaburh]?
• The Battle of Grunwald (1410)

Medieval wars:

• The Wars of the Roses
• The [Hundred Years' War]?

/Talk