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English Longbow Corps System

Type Object Region England Time c. 1300–1600

From the 13th century England incorporated longbowmen into the kingdom's military system through statutes and levies, forming ranged infantry of yeom…

Timeline

  1. c. 1252–1327Westminster · LondonHenry III's Statute of Winchester and others required civilians to practice the longbow regularly, and Edward I's Statute of Winchester further stipulated standards for armed levy, laying the foundation for the kingdom's reserve of ranged infantry.
  2. c. 1337–1453Northern France battlefield · NorthEdward III contracted service and levied yeoman longbowmen to fight in France; dense volleys at Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt, coordinated with dismounted men-at-arms and pikemen, established the longbow corps' core position on European battlefields.
  3. c. 1455–1500England · EnglandAfter the Hundred Years' War ended, longbowmen still participated in the Wars of the Roses and border defense; archery statutes continued to be enforced, but the proportion of noble heavy cavalry and mercenary infantry in the formations rose.
  4. c. 1500–1600England · EnglandThe spread of matchlocks and cannon changed battlefield firepower structures; the longbow gradually lost its advantage in range and rate of loading, and Tudor armies progressively replaced the longbow with firearm infantry as their main ranged arm.

Sources