An iconic medieval missile weapon, the deadly longbow made possible the English victories at Crecy and Poitiers at the height of the Hundred Years' War. The longbow was the weapon at the heart of the English military ascendancy in the century after 1340. Capable of subjecting the enemy to a hail of deadly projectiles, the longbow in the hands of massed archers made possible the extraordinary victories enjoyed by English forces over superior numbers at Crecy and Poitiers, and remained a key battlefield weapon throughout the Wars of the Roses and beyond. It also played a leading role in raiding, siege and naval warfare. Its influence and use spread to the armies of Burgundy, Scotland and other powers, and its reputation as a cost-effective and easily produced weapon led to calls for its widespread adoption among the nascent armies of the American Republic as late as the 1770s.

With its formidable rate of shooting and crushing impact, the longbow in the hands of massed archers made possible the extraordinary victories enjoyed by English forces over superior numbers at Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt, and remained a key battlefield weapon throughout the Wars of the Roses and beyond. Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork and written by a leading expert on medieval weapons and fighting practices, this engaging study casts new light on the development, battlefield use and lasting influence of the longbow.

About the Author
Mike Loades is a respected author, broadcaster, director and action arranger who has made numerous television appearances as a historical weapons expert and military historian. He is the author of The Composite Bow (2016) and Swords and Swordsmen (2010).


Book Information
ISBN 9781782000853
Author Mike Loades
Format Paperback
Page Count 80
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 263g
Dimensions(mm) 248mm * 184mm * 7mm