Medieval warfare

Table of contents

1 Origins and reasons of medieval warfare 2 Battlefield tactics 2.1 Deployment of forces 2.2 Employment of forces 2.3 Retreat 3 Siege 3.4 Siege-weapons 3.5 Dynamics of a siege 3.6 Sally 3.7 Wall assault 4 Organization 4.8 Chain of command 4.9 Units 4.10 Training 4.11 Levying 5 Equipment 5.12 Personal equipment 6 Supplies 6.13 Plunder and foraging 6.14 Supply trains 6.15 Supplies during siege 6.16 To incorporate in the article:

Origins and reasons of medieval warfare

Battle of Adrianople (378)

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 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/Tannenberg

Medieval wars:

• The Wars of the Roses
• The Hundred Years' War