Archery & Canons

As far as battle in the open field is concerned, firearms were often used before the actual fighting took place. Each weapon of that sort was fired as soon as the enemy got within range – which could be everything in between 20 and 400 yards. Once the opponents came too close, though, or the own troops had charged into melee combat already, firearms lost a great deal of their value.

A bow's or crossbow's range was considerably shorter compared to modern firearms of course. Yet, the wounds caused by arrows or bolts were terrible, even regarding it from our nowaday’s point of view, so a regiment of archers was a feared sight and could discourage the opponent even before battle.

Alas, the value of these weapons has always been underestimated in literature up to this very day.