Post by Lord General Maahes Asad-Aziem on Feb 9, 2010 18:55:43 GMT -6
The Foot Soldier
"While the mounted soldier was the most glamorous of the ear's fighting men, the infantry had an important part to play in the battles, sieges and raids that decided the fate of kingdoms." ~Martin J. Doughtery
A Brief History
The most basic of all types of soldiers, were often even unarmed. From bare boned knuckles to rocks on the battle field, these men are highly dependable. Infantry combat dates as far back as the stone age where men used clubs, spears, and thick hides. When technology improved better weapons came forward with higher divisions and supported ranks. Clubs were replaced by bronze or iron daggers, straighter spears, and eventually sophisticated weapons such as long sword, and axes. Protection against the modern weapon improved from buck skin to heavier material and specialized armor.
Common Attire of a Foot Soldier
Tactics developed over time, and were driven from the logistics of the enemy. What kind of weapons were at hand? What did the enemy like to face? What cultural difference and knowledge would best suit this battle?
Militia Equipment
The equipment used by the various soldier's were rather basic: A spear, a shield, or a sword. Fighting formations were often simple, or none at all. A standard defense formation was the shieldwall.
"The shieldwall formation was one of the basic military tactics. Simple to execute, it offered defensive capabilities at the expense of the mobility. It was formed by men overlapping their shields, with weapons sticking out between and over the shields. Subsequent ranks of troops added rigidly by bracing the men in the front and by thrusting their weapons over the shoulders of those in the front. As long as the shieldwall remained stay it was very resilient, but if an enemy broke the front the formation could fragment quickly." Martin J. Doughtery
Another type of shieldwall was called the 'Boar's Snout'. Mostly used by Viking troops, it originated by Roman tactics. With a good placement of coordination men would gather at an angle, enforced by those behind it was moved like a wedge to drive a hole through the enemy line.
Basic Combat
In the attack, a freed formation was more often necessary, when going against men with swords or as. Here was when leaders came forward the most. Men went into battle upon the edge of the sword, and should their appointed leader fall so too did the men at arms. As time went on rules and governing systems would shape the militia, but often the foot soldiers stayed the same. Often their actions were not unnoticed, and it was very common for a foot soldier to quickly become a sergeant, and then that sergeant..be knighted.
Sword Combat
Foot soldiers carried a variety of weapons, but most often would be a combination of a shield and sword. A sword however was often also paired with a dagger to keep cost down, but as metallurgy improved more became available to the common soldier.
Two Handed Sword
"The two-handed sword was a more flexible weapon than might be imagined. it could be swung with both hands in the obvious manner, delivering a blow capable of smashing through armor, and cutting the leg off a charging horse. Alternatively, the weapon could be' choked up' by placing one hand on the blunt area in front of the main hilt. This altered the balance of the weapon considerably, allowing it to be used as short steel spear or to make a slashing attack even at very close quarters. A swordsman armed with two-handed weapon was not at a disadvantaged if attacked at almost any distance." ~ M Doughtery
Axe Combat
Axes were powerful weapons, but a missed blow could be fatal. If one soldier would miss, he would have to recover his weapon leaving his shoulders and neck exposed for the downfall of another.
Pole Weapons
The spear was often one of the cheapest and most basic weapon. A spear or pike were made up of a metal point on the end of a wooden haft, and was a very suitable length. Longer spears were often referred to as pikes intended to kill enemy troops while keeping them at a safe distance. Many had a secondary point on the base to despatch a downed enemy, and sometimes sheath of metal around the haft to prevent an enemy from hacking through the weapons.
"The longer the pike was, the more difficult it became to use. the sheer weight of the weapon made it unwieldy and the end bounced around due to the flexibility of the shaft." ~M. Doughtery
During the medieval period a variety of staffs and pikes were designed.
The pike was primarily a stabbing weapon, the bill was essentially for cutting. The halberd was a good cross of the two, with a spear point and an axe head it was a key military weapon.
For Further Images.
medieval.ucdavis.edu/20C/Weapons.html
-----------------
Refrences and Quotes from: Weapons & Fighting Techniques of the Medieval Warrior 1000-1500ad, by Martin J. Dougherty
Most Images found on Google so fair game.
"While the mounted soldier was the most glamorous of the ear's fighting men, the infantry had an important part to play in the battles, sieges and raids that decided the fate of kingdoms." ~Martin J. Doughtery
A Brief History
The most basic of all types of soldiers, were often even unarmed. From bare boned knuckles to rocks on the battle field, these men are highly dependable. Infantry combat dates as far back as the stone age where men used clubs, spears, and thick hides. When technology improved better weapons came forward with higher divisions and supported ranks. Clubs were replaced by bronze or iron daggers, straighter spears, and eventually sophisticated weapons such as long sword, and axes. Protection against the modern weapon improved from buck skin to heavier material and specialized armor.
Common Attire of a Foot Soldier
Tactics developed over time, and were driven from the logistics of the enemy. What kind of weapons were at hand? What did the enemy like to face? What cultural difference and knowledge would best suit this battle?
Militia Equipment
The equipment used by the various soldier's were rather basic: A spear, a shield, or a sword. Fighting formations were often simple, or none at all. A standard defense formation was the shieldwall.
"The shieldwall formation was one of the basic military tactics. Simple to execute, it offered defensive capabilities at the expense of the mobility. It was formed by men overlapping their shields, with weapons sticking out between and over the shields. Subsequent ranks of troops added rigidly by bracing the men in the front and by thrusting their weapons over the shoulders of those in the front. As long as the shieldwall remained stay it was very resilient, but if an enemy broke the front the formation could fragment quickly." Martin J. Doughtery
Another type of shieldwall was called the 'Boar's Snout'. Mostly used by Viking troops, it originated by Roman tactics. With a good placement of coordination men would gather at an angle, enforced by those behind it was moved like a wedge to drive a hole through the enemy line.
Basic Combat
In the attack, a freed formation was more often necessary, when going against men with swords or as. Here was when leaders came forward the most. Men went into battle upon the edge of the sword, and should their appointed leader fall so too did the men at arms. As time went on rules and governing systems would shape the militia, but often the foot soldiers stayed the same. Often their actions were not unnoticed, and it was very common for a foot soldier to quickly become a sergeant, and then that sergeant..be knighted.
Sword Combat
Foot soldiers carried a variety of weapons, but most often would be a combination of a shield and sword. A sword however was often also paired with a dagger to keep cost down, but as metallurgy improved more became available to the common soldier.
Two Handed Sword
"The two-handed sword was a more flexible weapon than might be imagined. it could be swung with both hands in the obvious manner, delivering a blow capable of smashing through armor, and cutting the leg off a charging horse. Alternatively, the weapon could be' choked up' by placing one hand on the blunt area in front of the main hilt. This altered the balance of the weapon considerably, allowing it to be used as short steel spear or to make a slashing attack even at very close quarters. A swordsman armed with two-handed weapon was not at a disadvantaged if attacked at almost any distance." ~ M Doughtery
Axe Combat
Axes were powerful weapons, but a missed blow could be fatal. If one soldier would miss, he would have to recover his weapon leaving his shoulders and neck exposed for the downfall of another.
Pole Weapons
The spear was often one of the cheapest and most basic weapon. A spear or pike were made up of a metal point on the end of a wooden haft, and was a very suitable length. Longer spears were often referred to as pikes intended to kill enemy troops while keeping them at a safe distance. Many had a secondary point on the base to despatch a downed enemy, and sometimes sheath of metal around the haft to prevent an enemy from hacking through the weapons.
"The longer the pike was, the more difficult it became to use. the sheer weight of the weapon made it unwieldy and the end bounced around due to the flexibility of the shaft." ~M. Doughtery
During the medieval period a variety of staffs and pikes were designed.
The pike was primarily a stabbing weapon, the bill was essentially for cutting. The halberd was a good cross of the two, with a spear point and an axe head it was a key military weapon.
For Further Images.
medieval.ucdavis.edu/20C/Weapons.html
-----------------
Refrences and Quotes from: Weapons & Fighting Techniques of the Medieval Warrior 1000-1500ad, by Martin J. Dougherty
Most Images found on Google so fair game.
