How were arrows supplied for battles? | Part 1 | Medieval Logistics
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- čas přidán 26. 05. 2022
- In this Hundred Years War spin off series about medieval logistics, we’re taking a look at arrows, and how they were supplied for battle. Answering questions often asked by subscribers such as, “How were arrows supplied in medieval times?” “How many arrows did a medieval bowman carry?” Kevin Hicks shares his experience and thoughts on these questions and more as he explains how arrows were stored, transported and issued during medieval times.
#arrows #longbow #medievallongbow #longbowman #bowman #archer #battle #englishlongbow #MiddleAges
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I'm an archer. Not a good one, perhaps, but I have earned a gold and a bronze at the Danish National Championships. I'm also the trainer for the kids at my club. I love these detailed accounts of an industry that existed way back when. Please, don't stop giving us these fascinating facts. I use them when I train the youngsters....
Cheers Keith, I appreciate that 👍🏻
“Not a good one perhaps”
National bronze and gold. That may be a small country but still.
@@Wyi-the-rogue "I'm only better than a few million people nbd"
My man is humble bragging about being able to place an arrow in your eye socket if he pleased.
@@swoz_ more like "im better than a few billion people"
I absolutely love your channel. You go over details that most historians miss or just don’t know. You add that extra color to history.
Glad you enjoy it! 👍🏻
Thank you Kevin, these films are ever so interesting. I'll begin writing my masters thesis in history this autumn, and your videos have inspired me to write about English and Welsh archery during the Hundred Years' War. Thank you for being such an inspiration and motivation for history lovers everywhere. All the best.
A great topic for your thesis, good luck 👍🏻
Thank you for that. The logistics are astounding. The hours plus materials, plus treatment & preparation of materials. Amazing
.I guess that's how villages survived - cash from the sale of arrows, Sale to genersl public, employment for the village, spare parts.
This offset proteciom costs plus fletcher's turned to soldiers during battles.
Other people built houses, grew food & produced goods.
Sound's idealic - but didn't work, the nobles made & kept the money..
They then turned to a basic capitalistic system with more & more owning land - that's another story.
Some say the wars were over the vinyards. England's climate wasn't good for grapes and the wine trade was big business..
I am also writing my dissertation in history this autumn. I will be writing mine on Weaklings and Cowards of the Early 15th Century.. In order to be effective, it will have to be translated into French, and I expect this effort will consume a lot of time. So here is my conundrum, I fear the translation of the document could exceed my time constraints, however to be effective and reach its intended audience it must be offered to a French audience. What to do....what to do?
@@jimmyarbutus2555 find a willing translator? Someone who's a natural in both languages
Thank yew Kevin great details. This is not English history but watching your show again reminded me of this, going back aways there was a great battle between the Romans and Parthians. the Romans on foot the Parthians on horses. The Parthian king brought camels with large baskets on there sides full of thousands of arrows. The horse men rode up shot all there arrows at the Romans then rode to the camels and loaded up with more arrows. Over and over again. The Romans lost about ten thousand in two days.Thumbs up Kevin. Captivating shows.
Very welcome
This has to be one of the most underrated channels ive come across. Insane quality.
Wow, thank you very much!!
I suspect it won't remain underrated for long
@@Shift8YawnsShift8 It is rapidly gaining subscribers....
Definitely.
@@TheEvertw He should have a million subscibers, a brilliant channel, makes history enjoyable to learn,
Good video and thank you. But there is one small correction.
The Byzantines throughout most of the Medieval period, held *millions* of arrows within several towers within Constantinople. Although they were not long bows as the English knew them, they did maintain a standing army and supported an arms industry including an active arrow manufacture infrastructure.
Again - thank you for your videos. Very informative.
Love some logistics talks! Battles are fought with tactics and strategy, but wats are fought with logistics
As an American and a military man(U.S.Marine Corps) with many English and Welsh friends, I always have enjoyed learning about England's military history. Thank you very much Kevin.I will be looking for more of your videos. Jim Wilson Jr
Cheers Jim, there are plenty to catch up with and lots more to come. I appreciate your visit 👍🏻
Respect
Hi Jim I'm a Welshman and ex squady (now of a certain age) pleased to 'meet' you old chap.
I never considered the sheer logistics of the arrows themselves. Nor did I know they were collected after battle.
Only if you won. Otherwise your arrows would be collected by the other guys. 😁
Thanks Kevin, it's an astonishing piece of planning, manufacture and logistics. We've all seen the films with storms of arrows but never give it a second thought as to how the arrows got there, quite astonishing.
I never actively thought about this, except when I saw hundreds being shot all at once. But this has been a life long question. Thank you.
I’m making a medieval cartoon, and I started watching to get a better understanding of the period to make the cartoon more grounded- and now I’m obsessed with this channel!
This video is so jammed pack with knowledge. Thank you sir for these videos
As I get older, history becomes more and more interesting. Great bits of info on this channel, really enjoying it!
Thanks Richard. Glad you enjoy it!
Interesting video, thank you. When I was still bow hunting and shooting competition, I would build my own arrows. That way I was able to control the quality and consistency, so they were all as close to exact copies as possible. I used sights, so just a slight difference in arrowhead weight or spine could mean the difference between a win and 2nd place. I started fletching my arrows after I got so consistent in practice, that I was shooting the fletching off of the arrows I had previously shot into the target. One thing led to another until I was buying blank shafts by the gross and weighing practice tips/broadheads on a jewelry scale.
It's in the records of Kidwelly church (West Wales) that a number of barrels of arrows were sent off to be used on the campaign that culminated in the battle of Agincourt. It's also fascinating to hear where now common surnames of people probably came from i.e. Fletcher, Stringfellow, Cooper (a barrel maker) etc. A lot of surnames also came from your job in those days, especially farming trades.
Not just 'your' job, but consequently the 'job' your (male) progeny could/would learn FROM you, and thereby be educated by on-the-job-training. That would be why those kind of names became FAMILY names. A person became known as 'John (the) Miller' because he became a miller because his dad was a miller and that's where he learned the trade from. Maybe before guilds in which a young man could apprentice to in order to learn a different trade than his dad.
Great information, thank you Kevin, even today 24 arrows in the quiver is about the perfect amount for each shoot. I look forward to each of your videos.
As a modern day Fletcher, it’s so interesting to see what our ancestors used to do.
I love these! Yes, how were arrows supplied during battle? Yes, that makes sense. Thank you.
You always give me new realistic details to add to my ‘Adventures in Middle Earth’ tabletop role playing campaign. Thanks Kevin!
Glad to hear it! Have fun 👍🏻
I have heard the surname "stringfellow" before, but never realized that the name came from a person making bowstrings for the longbows of the middle ages. another thing off my bucket list!😉
Funny. I worked for years with a fellow named Bowman and never gave his name a thought. Until now...ah-ha!
I have a friend with the surname Fletcher. He is a very skilled luthier so perhaps there is a dexterity gene.
@@antoniodelrio1292p😊
Me neither but Bowyer, (Bauer) and Fletcher are very common in the USA
That was way cool. Typically we don't ponder such details yet there were obviously major logistics at play just as there are now.
Technology evolves through human effort and accumulated knowledge, but in our busy everyday lives we forget about the cumulative efforts that brought us to this point where such interesting tidbits can be seen in routinely random ways.
And this gentleman has a particularly interesting presentation! I enjoyed that.
I've got a small 14th century display I'm setting up for our 1388 village at the fair next week. These shows are a fantastic source!
Ah, glad they're helpful. Thanks for watching 👍🏻
I love channels like this. You can learn so much about things you might never even have imagined could be this interesting.. I have keen interest in history. But it never even crossed my mind that making arrows was a whole industry! Fascinating stuff! Thank you for making these videos and sharing some of your knowledge and enthusiasm, sir!
My pleasure 👍🏻
It amazes me how prolific and industrious this arrow system was. The man hours required to sustain the empire's consumption of something that is so simple at face value is unimaginable. They actually repaired and reused the arrows. Makes perfect sense but it's something that never occurred to me or that i had heard of. I have watched all your videos in the few weeks I have known your channel and always look forward to more. I'm 32 years old and have always loved trivia/history and you are my favorite channel on CZcams. My congratulations and sincere thanks on yet another wonderful journey to a time far gone. Your hard work and research is well appreciated and admired. Sincerely, Nick Ritter
P.S. I do have one question. I have read that the royal family lays claim to all waterfowl in England. Do you think or know if this is a holdover from the need for feather fletching?
Hi Nick, thanks for your comment.
Your question stirs a memory and I believe it could be a throwback to those times. Today the swan is still owned and protected by the Queen.
@@thehistorysquad Supposedly elm was used for heavy warbows.. We don't see too much anymore I'm guessing from Dutch elm disease.
The longbow was first recorded as being used by the Welsh in 633 C.E., when Offrid, the son of Edwin, king of Northumbria, was killed by an arrow
Swans used to be a very luxurious meat in the old days, kings & queens loved it. To be sure it was available at all times, the brittish royals simply confiscated all Swans.
Well done. Really enjoyed these insights into medieval warfare. Thanks!
This is quality content. It's those little details about how things worked back in those days that are so interesting to know.
Never remotely thought of logistics back then. Thx!
Good stuff! Appreciate real quantities - helps you understand what really went on. I think most archers liked arrows in the belt - most likely for the reasons you mention. I remember reading somewhere about an English archer saying something about "24 Frenchmen in my belt." Nothing like ability & confidence.
Very interesting Kevin, thanks. I'll have to look up the Assize of Arms.
Regarding the arrows stuck in the ground, I was told (and, indeed, tell people myself) that it was partially a speed thing - you nock as you go down, so you're at full draw by the time the arrow is up and aimed.
One thing regarding the delivery of arrows to the actual archery line I heard a while ago was that the cart used to carry them was then used to remove dead bodies. It was called a hearse...
I always look forward to these videos - historical material you really can't hear anywhere else, especially not as well as this!
Cheers Edward, glad you like them 👍🏻
Great piece, again Kevin. Supplies were something I didn’t think a lot about in medieval times. Yet they were planned very efficiently. The Bowman’s requirements reminded me of American minutemen who had to have a rifle, ammunition, food, down to good shoe soles. Thank you.
You're welcome, thanks for watching Ian 👍🏻
This makes me want to practice with a proper longbow. I now have an even greater appreciation for how traditional archery equipment is created from watching this.
Love this channel. Questions I never thought of are being answered. Wonderful tidbits of history.
Glad you enjoy it!
I love the "every day" details you go into. Always fascinating to put yourself in the position of a peasant or a similar in those days.
I very much enjoyed your account of actual archery during this period. Thank you!
Thank you Kevin! You never disappoint. I look forward to every video you post, like a letter from an old friend. Always eager to hear what you'll say, and afterwards, the satisfaction of having learned something new. Well done!
Cheers, I'm glad to help & there's lot's more still to come 👍🏻
Very interesting! I have wondered about the arrows a number of times.
Well, thank YOU very much! There are so many things to learn from your films!
I simply adore these films! Such a delight to watch a passionate bowman speak of real history!
Very interesting. Certainly not " throw away items". Quite a bit of time to make each arrow component from raw materials.
Very interesting and informative. It's always good to see people dedicated enough to keep history alive. I did always wonder about collecting arrows from the battlefield after a battle. It looks to me you would want to collect as many arrows, as well as other weapons, and armor from the battlefield to be recycled and reused.
That's for sure 👍🏻
Thank you so much for these videos. I love learning all the small bits of history that made big history unfold.
Another historical gem uncovered by Kevin, brilliant content thank you..
HI, yet another great video :-) Yet another video where I have learned something. I had been aware of where the surnames "Fletcher" and Bowyer" came from but I had no idea about "stringfellow" :-)
Great video, personally I never stand my bows on end, a bow needs to rest between shoots and standing on end prevents that rest
All good much thanks for the info I found it fascinating
Interesting and informative. Thank you for posting this series!
Thanks Kevin, you really make history informative and interesting.
The amount of work to supply an army in times before the industrial revolution is insane. The amount of sweat that was poured into every item is incredible
As always, logistics is an extremely important factor in warfare.
Mr. Hicks keeps us plugged into history like it all happened yesterday. Because it DID!
Your enthusiasm for this is inspiring.
Great series of videos, I really like the detail that most history programmes lack. When the archers received their arrows did they put their cresting on then and how was it done . Did each archer carry coloured threads in their possible pouch?
Thanks, glad you're enjoying them. As far as I can tell, only the wealthy household bowmen would have any form of marking on the arrows. Remember that for the most part the arrows are simply ammunition 👍🏻
I am not an archer, but have an interest and a little knowledge in any case. I fervently thank your efforts to keep the art and appreciation of archery alive. One hears that the end of archers in the English Army was because the arrows couldn't penetrate armor. Not so, because enemy archers had little if any armor. Even if they'd been armored, the storm of arrows would have quickly ruined even armored knights. This is illustrated by the comments of a group of visitors who visited the impact area of one battle. So many arrows, fletched by Goose feathers, had been fired into the area that it looked like it had snowed. Care to withstand that? And as to why bows went out of fashion, the English yeoman gradually quit visiting the butts on Sundays, per his sovereign's command. He became gradually unfit. The measure taken by one veteran bowman in teaching his young son how to step into the bow to overcome the massive draw of the longbow. was not carried out by enough others to maintain the forces.
These videos never fail to bring a smile to my face, thanks for the great work Kevin and the team!
Our pleasure!
I love these films. Kevin has a wealth of knowledge on his subject and always makes interesting videos. The kind of thing I wish I'd have had access to back when I was in school before the internet.
Thanks James, I'm glad you're liking the videos 👍🏻
A couple of obvious questions: What (if any) were straightness requirements on the arrows. How were the shafts straightened to meet the measurements? Another was there any weight tolerance or variations allowed? A discussion of the manufacturing techniques would be appreciated. Excellent video! Cheers.
It's coming, I have the makings for 2 sheaves of arrows and will cover your many questions then 😉
All your questions were good questions . I can see standards being a factor in accuracy.
What kind of bird feathers did they use? Were some birds' feathers better for arrows than others?
@@wizardofahhhs759 Goose feathers were the best for war arrows, swan and peacock feathers were used for posh hunting arrows.
@@thehistorysquad I had a feeling goose feathers but I didn't know about the peacock feathers, thanks for the reply.
That was really interesting, I always wondered where all those arrows came from, I knew they all had to be made by hand & to a high standard but didn't know they were used to pay taxes, makes sense if you don't have any money.
This is what the history channel should have been
Invaluable living history! All your observations tend to explain the 16th-century shift from bows to gunpowder weapons. Aside from the fact that it took years to train an archer, but only weeks to train an arquebusier, the missiles alone account for a lot. Every arrow took so much work, and a lot must have been lost in action. Leaden balls, on the other hand... well they only had to be cast and not forged, and if they could not be recovered it was not a big deal.
It shows you how quality control and organisation is actually there if those in charge want it to be. Even in the dark ages! Even though we are told that it is a modern thing.
Very cool. Thank you! I suspect that China probably used a similar system centuries earlier (they had assembly lines, repeating crossbows, and complex bureaucracies over two centuries before Christ), but medieval England was probably the first EUROPEAN nation to do so.
Completely fascinating. Thank you for posting this!
Mr. Hicks, your history videos are wonderful. Thank you.
Loved it. Would they not risk the bodkin coming off the arrow if they stick the arrows in the ground? Thank you.
Yes, that's also a good point 😉
Q: Could you elaborate on the price/cost of one arrow? I'm really curious how much it cost to purchase over 3 millions arrows.
And Q: You mentioned that bowmen were expected to turn up equipped, but I wonder how they were resupplied during campaigns (after battle, for example). Were they given arrows they spent from the baggage train and were they 'charged' for the cost (assuming they were paid)?
Hi there, great questions.
We're talking of a period of over a hundred years here, but records from the Tower Armouries suggest that the price of standard military arrows were 10 pence for a sheaf of 24 in 1353.
Once you'd turned up as an archer, you were kept supplied at the army's expense. One of the best books I've found on this topic is the Medieval Archer by Jim Bradbury.
@@thehistorysquad what’s that with inflation If that is possible to answerv
@@TrueFilter In today's money, that would be roughly 25 GBP.
@@TrueFilter I'm afraid I don't know, maybe someone else on here can help work it out 👍🏻
@@thehistorysquad Thank you very much for the answers, I'll acquire the book you mentioned ASAP.
I'm really interested in military logistics in pre-modern era, it's a fascinating subject. Your videos are very informative, I can't wait for the next episode(s).
Great great great stuff! Thank you for capturing all of this rich history and sharing it.
My pleasure!
Kevin I watch your films every night and day, I appreciate the knowledge and how you present it is original and ever so interesting thank you a million as well!
Wow, cheers Gabriel, I appreciate that, thanks 👍🏻
Hi Kev, really informative keep it up!
If my Maths is correct:
7,700 bows (1 bow per man).
24 arrows to a sheaf.
130,000 sheafs each containing 24 arrows = 3,120,000 arrows.
3,120,000 arrows ÷ amongst 7,700 men = 405 arrows each.
405 arrows is approx 16 sheafs.
How heavy is one full sheaf? 😀
Not so heavy to be hanging on your waist or back I'd say, I shoot a bow sometimes.
I heard in another of his videos that in battle formation archers would stick the arrows on the ground preferably and were supported by assistants bringing in more arrows as needed.
LOL. I've just weighed mine for you, just the arrows with the spacer (no cover) 928grams 😉
@@thehistorysquad if you went on a campaign with 7,700 bowmen and was told you have 16 sheafs for the duration… would you be happy with that amount? (With a view of there being no resupplies in a foreign land and you intended to make it home back to Brum!)
I assume with fallen comrades you could use their stock? 🤔Interesting!
@@Matibeos There were regular supplies coming from England, and bowyers and fletchers went on campaign with the armies, but even without the bow & arrows, I would still have my other weapons to fall back on. 👍🏻
Was there a standard that all the arrows made had to adhere too?
Spine, length, weight, shaft material, Fletching length etc?
Thanks for the great series, stunning stuff.
Yes there was 👍🏻
@@thehistorysquad How would that work? Even if bow weight was standardized(as much as possible, when working with wood), there would still be variations in draw length, from individual to individual
The (modern) industry standard draw length is 28 inches. MY draw length is 30 inches. If I used the standard length, I'd either be overdrawing the arrow, or UNDER drawing the BOW
@@mikegrossberg8624 When you're dealing with millions of arrows, it would have been impossible to matched to a particular bow. This was ammunition for war, not competition arrows.
Had a quick dig round the net, it would seem that there were 2 standard battle arrows, the 'standard' which was 3/8" thick, minimum 31.5" long and weighed 800 grains, then a 'bearing' arrow for heavy draw weights, 1/2" thick and 1200 grains.
Not sure how correct this is as most of the websites look like cut and paste of the same text, but seems to rely on the Mary Rose finds.
I like your straightforward presentation style... very informative, down to earth, not trying too hard.... subscribed!
Well thank you very much & welcome aboard 👍🏻
Thank you. You bring the subjects that you cover to life. I can't remember dates and that put me off history at school, but by God I hunger after your every word. Who'd have thought it.
How lovely, that’s good to hear, thanks 👍
Its similar to the Boer Kommandos , when turning up for muster bring their horse,saddle and 7mm Mauser . If not he could afford a rifle, State gave him one,but he had to pay for it out of monthly pay. Ammo was given by the state since it was standard fodder for all the troops and farmers of the nation.
Can I pay my tax in feathers this year?
😜
To make an arrow straight must have been a big part of making them. Great video,thanks Kevin.
Kevin, what I love most about your videos is how you bring things into context that today's people can relate to. This is fascinating stuff. Many thanks for all you do, sir!
You're welcome, thanks
You make history and learning fun, I can think of no higher complement to an educator or teacher, and you're a good one. Whether a backyard shooter, or a bowyer, or a 3D competitor, traditional or modern, it's a great hobby or sport. Thank you.
It is indeed 👍🏻
Single handedly you have ignited my love of history again! Thank you
I'm so glad, it makes all the work worthwhile. Thank you!
I have 4 boys here at home, 5 to 15 yrs of age... being a history buff myself, I try to get them to watch less CZcams garbage and more educational videos. We/They love your videos. The story telling is marvelous. Keep up the great work !
That's so nice to hear, I'm glad they're enjoying the channel with you. Thanks guys 👍🏻
Very informative, thorough, and just cringy enough at times to keep their attention. Cheers !
Thank you for your series. I love your insights and knowledge. I represented a 15c Archer at a living history just this past weekend at Fort Niagara. I've been watching and learning from your videos all the way back to your Warwick days. Warmest regards.
Well done & thank you very much 👍🏻
Great coverage of an obscure subject. You answered questions I'd never thought to ask.
Glad it was helpful! 👍🏻
Great video thanks! Super informative and gorgeous props with great closeup views.
I always look forward to your videos. Keep up the good work Kevin.
Another triumph. Thank you Kevin!
Fascinating. Thanks for posting.
Just epic kev!! Love all the info and the passion you show
Thank you Sir. You have answered my questions of 50 years.
Haha, excellent. Stand by for another.....this video threw up loads more questions that I've answered in another I shot just yesterday. I'll put it up soon 👍🏻
Those are absolutely mind-boggling, staggeringly huge figures!
Also interesting where common surnames come from...Fletcher, Bowyer...even Stringfellow!
Don't forget Tiller, Miller, Cooper, Wright, Bodger, Thatcher, Croft and Smith!
PS: Skinner and Tanner.
many thanks for answers to queries I have always wondered about cheer !
By far my favorite show on CZcams!!! Great job Kev!!!
Cheers 👍🏻
God bless you, Kevin. Your channel is a beautiful gemstone, and is among the most interesting channels I've ever watched. Greetings from Argentina!
Awesome, thank you!
Very insightful video. Thank you!
Fascinating! Thank you for putting together this video. Your props are top notch!
My pleasure!
Im not sure how I came about these videos but I'm bingeing through all of them!
I love the content. Well presented and full of character
Thanks very much, I appreciate that 👍🏻
This was an awesome video. I thoroughly enjoyed watching and learning. Thanx for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I love this channel so much it reignited my love for history !
Excellent, good to hear 👍🏻
Thanks - that is a quick exposition of a complex industry.
This is a very nice video. I haven’t seen the others, but it was very interesting. I’ve admittedly got limited interest in medieval combat, but I do have an interest in reenactment/living history. And by the looks of things, you certainly know when you’re talking about. You’ve earned a subscriber.
Thanks very much, welcome to the channel 👍🏻
First time I’ve watched one of your videos. Well done, precise and to the point without waffle. I’ve subscribed and wish you well, some facts me even find their way into one of my books. Time travel saga ‘The Emerald Eye’, as I like to use actual fact and not here say possibilities. Keep up the good work!
These videos are awesome looking forward to the next one.