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Is medieval Warfare brutal?

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For the lords leading the armies, losing could mean a lifetime of hardship (if they survived the loss in the first place). Medieval combat could be extremely brutal even on its best days, even for the victors. For the losers, lords and peasants alike, it could be horrifying.

What was it like to fight in medieval times?

When called to battle during the Middle Ages in Europe, soldiers expected to be surrounded by unpleasant, if not downright unspeakable, sights. Much like medieval executioners, medieval soldiers witnessed blood, carnage, and death on an up-close-and-personal level.

How brutal were medieval battles Quora?

On the one hand medieval battles were extremely brutal. They featured men with spears, swords, axes, and clubs who basically tried to hack, stab, and club each other to death. On the other hand the very nature of the fighting also meant they were shorter than during the gunpowder era, and often less bloody.

What were the chances of dying in a medieval battle?

The average mortality rate for legions in combat was around 5.6 percent (124). And defeats were around 4 times as costly as victories: victories saw mortality rates of around 4.2 percent of participants, while defeats saw mortality rates around 16 percent (118).

What was it like to fight in medieval times?

When called to battle during the Middle Ages in Europe, soldiers expected to be surrounded by unpleasant, if not downright unspeakable, sights. Much like medieval executioners, medieval soldiers witnessed blood, carnage, and death on an up-close-and-personal level.

How violent were medieval battles?

For the lords leading the armies, losing could mean a lifetime of hardship (if they survived the loss in the first place). Medieval combat could be extremely brutal even on its best days, even for the victors. For the losers, lords and peasants alike, it could be horrifying.

How big was the average medieval army?

When looking at the Early Middle Ages (ca. 500 – 1050) we find much smaller numbers documented. Larger battles had a size of 30,000 to 40,000 men and it often occurred that a battle was fought by a few hundred men on each side. The reason for that was quite simple.

How long would a medieval battle last?

How fast would a medieval army travel?

Why were ancient armies so brutal?

The preferred method to kill large numbers of people in ancient times was the use of sharp objects. Swords, knives, javelins, arrows, spears, and pikes were all extremely popular and lethal.

Why was war so common in ancient times?

Ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks and Romans, waged war against their neighbors in an effort to gain access to resources, territory, power, and glory. These conflicts were often spearheaded by some of the fiercest leaders in history, like Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Genghis Kahn.

What were medieval battles really like Reddit?

By contrast, medieval battles were not fought by neatly organized legions, maniples, and cohorts, but rather by bands of mercenaries and/or noblemen and their retainers. They were fought with polearms, crossbows, long swords, and maces. Heavy cavalry was a much more powerful presence on medieval battlefields.

Could a peasant defeat a knight in battle?

I was recently asked how movies about the Middle Ages often show that it was fairly easy for a peasant to fight and kill a knight in battle. That a heavily armoured knight could be dragged off his horse and just struck dead with a dagger.

Can a small army beat a large army?

Throughout history, in various wars and conflicts, there have been a number of historic victories won by a smaller force, against a larger foe. Conditions and situations for these sorts of military victories against the odds have been numerous.

How good were fighting knights?

They were highly trained, and became known as fierce fighters. They acted as the advance force in a number of battles of the Crusades, including the Battle of Montgisard, when they helped greatly outnumbered Christian forces defeat an army led by the great Muslim commander Saladin.

How brutal was Middle Ages?

Violence was considered a necessary part of life in the Middle Ages (about 500–1500 A.D.). People were surrounded by violence in many forms, including wars, brutal tournaments, and deadly rivalries for power and land. Graphic depictions of violent religious events, such as Christ’s Crucifixion, were also common.

What were some medieval punishments?

Fines, shaming (being placed in stocks), mutilation (cutting off a part of the body), or death were the most common forms of medieval punishment. There was no police force in the medieval period so law-enforcement was in the hands of the community.

What were medieval battles really like Reddit?

By contrast, medieval battles were not fought by neatly organized legions, maniples, and cohorts, but rather by bands of mercenaries and/or noblemen and their retainers. They were fought with polearms, crossbows, long swords, and maces. Heavy cavalry was a much more powerful presence on medieval battlefields.

What was it like to fight in medieval times?

When called to battle during the Middle Ages in Europe, soldiers expected to be surrounded by unpleasant, if not downright unspeakable, sights. Much like medieval executioners, medieval soldiers witnessed blood, carnage, and death on an up-close-and-personal level.

How did ancient armies actually fight?

Ancient weapons included the spear, the atlatl with light javelin or similar projectile, the bow and arrow, the sling; polearms such as the spear, falx and javelin; hand-to-hand weapons such as swords, spears, clubs, maces, axes, and knives. Catapults, siege towers, and battering rams were used during sieges.

How were medieval armies fed?

While medieval soldiers were said to have subsisted on salt fish, bread, pottage (a thick stew), and beer or wine. In the United States, the rations used to feed troops have come a long way since the salted beef and hardtack forced down by soldiers during the Revolutionary War.

How did medieval soldiers fight?

The most bitter hand-to-hand fighting was done by ‘men-at-arms’. These were nobles and gentry, often wearing suits of elaborate plate armour, and their retainers, who wore quilted ‘jacks’ and helmets. English armies rode to battle but nearly always fought on foot.

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