“A Terrible Worm in an Iron Cocoon”: War in Medieval & Renaissance Europe

Prof. Christopher CarlsmithWestern Civilization

12 May 2008

Comparing Past and Present

• For each of the military conflicts listed, discuss in pairs:– Did offensive or defensive

forces hold the advantage?– What new military

technology (if any) changed the balance of power?

• Iraq War / Gulf War (2003-present, 1991-92)

• WW I (1914-18) / WWII (1941-1945)

• Amer. Rev. (1776-83)

• Medieval/Renaiss. wars (14th-16th c.)

Agenda

• Preface• Comparing warfare, past and present

• Introduction• Areas of change• Offense vs. Defense

• Medieval Warfare• Equipment: Castles, cavalry, crossbow, trebuchet• Strategy

• Renaissance Warfare• Revisiting the Classical World• Gunpowder: The Big Bang• Cannon, musket, mortar• Fortifications

Art of War: a “revolution”?

• “Renaissance war”• Leonardo• Michelangelo• Machiavelli

• Areas of change

• Offense vs. Defense?• 14th c. = D.• 15th c. = O.• 16th c. = D.

Leonardo’s study of catapults

Leonardo’s sketch of tanks

Medieval Warfare

• Castles– Defense > residence

– Ex: Castle Coucy (FR)

Castle (Donjon) of Coucy

Medieval Warfare

• Cavalry– Dominates until 1370s– Equiv. to modern tank– “terrible worm in an

iron cocoon”– Chivalry & nobility

rules– Multiple attendants

(how many “lances”?)– Ex: Knights Templar

Medieval Warfare

• Trebuchet– Classic siege engine

• Catapult

Medieval Warfare

• Crossbow– Slow, awkward, but

devastating force– Banned by RCC in 1139– Imp’t till 14th c.

• Longbow– Introduced in 100 Yrs. War

by English– 12 arrows/min, 300 yd.

range

Medieval Warfare

xenophongroup.com/montjoie/ ngp_arty.htm

Medieval Warfare

• Strategy– Joint use of forces

(archers, cavalry, etc)– Limited by weather &

distance– Divided leadership is

common– Pillage is common,

both during & after

Medieval Warfare

Who will win this battle, and why?

Renaissance Warfare:When & Where & Who?

Renaissance Warfare: Looking to the Classical World

Roman soldiers battering a door, from Roberto Valturio (ca. 1550)

Renaissance Warfare: Looking to the Classical World

Guido delle Colonne, History, Siege, and Destruction of Troy (1513)

Renaissance Warfare: Looking to the Classical World

Tactics of Aelian, trans. John Bingham (1616)

Renaissance Warfare: Gunpowder

Gunpowder

• Origins• From Asia• Carbon, saltpeter,

sulphur

• Criticism• 1467, 1497

• Praise• See next

Praising Gunpowder

F. Malthus, Treatise of Fireworks (1629) J. Babington, Pyrotechnia

Mortar

• = mechanized trebuchet

Cannon

Cannon

Musket & Arquebus

Musketeer

Musket-Loading

Infantry

Pikeman

Evolving Strategy

Fortifications

• Better artillery better fortifications

• Medieval towers cut down, transformed into “bastions” and gun platforms

• “The most significant architectural form during the Renaiss. was the angle bastion; it revolutionized patterns of warfare.” (John Hale)

Angle Bastions

Renaissance Fortifications in the New World

Renaissance Warfare: ?!?

Renaissance Warfare: Some Conclusions