The Armour Archive

In my Warfare in Western Civilization class, we have been assigned to do class presentations. Crecy was an option, so I decided to take it. I got a very interesting idea for a video presentation- I'd like to take a camcorder down to Gulf, and actually get some footage of more than one person in armour of the period, and ideally, some reasonably well kitted archers. I'm not sure if equestrian is done at Gulf- if so, that would be cool too. Perhaps we could even stage some goofy reenactment type footage- very tongue in cheek, as numbers would be very small. I only need 6-8 minutes of footage, so the demands on your time would be miniscule, and maybe I could buy you all dinner afterwards- I'd say a beer or two but I'm underage.

I plan to take the route of viewing Crecy not as a decisive battle in the strategic sense but as an exposition of changing tactics and the rise of professional, disciplined, infantry based armies. I will do my best to dispell the myth of the nuclear longbow, at least as well as it can be done in the time I have.

The target date would be 1346, obviously, but anything that lands in the fourteenth century would be fine- this is not supposed to be that detailed, and most of the people in the class, including the professor, couldn't tell a 1340's harness from a 1390's one. If you could help, PM me or respond here and I will try to see if there's a time we could all get together down there.

C'mon, let's educate people on the one true century!

There really isn't any myth of the nuclear longbow that I'm aware of. I suggest you message Russ Mitchell and get his take on the whole archery thing - the "nuclear longbow" is basically strictly an SCA conceit that addresses the fact that in the SCA, one arrow kills one person. I don't know of anybody that truly believes that arrow fire was as devastating as that.

Regards,

Jonathan Blackbow

I was overexagerating- but a bunch of popular literature ascribes the English victories of the Hundred Years War to the power of the longbow and it's purported armour piercing effects instead of where it belongs, on basic tactical differences. I wasn't referring so much to the nuclear arrow concept so much as the basic idea that a peasant's weapon and not military discipline were responsible for the defeat of the French aristocracy. The idea is still seems very prevalent in popular culture, from classes at my university to historical conversations with the uninitiated. I've seen several documentaries on the History Channel, for instance, that still seem to think that arrows would have consistantly brought down men in armour... though talking to Russ is definitly a good idea. Will do.

Maybe not among those who've researched it, but the popular belief certainly does seem to be that the English won all the time because they had longbows (when we know they really won because they were fighting the French ). And Josh, don't worry about the beers. If they're necessary to get a turnout, I'll provide them. Is a bottle-opener bling?

well i'll do it obviously

See? The cool kids are in!

There is quite a bit of equestrian activity at Gulf Wars. On Thursday afternoon there will be an emprise (fancy jousting tournement) which will definately be something to capture. Swing by and have a chat - look for the blue and white (believe me, you will know it when you find Sir Alexis lol)

The equestian stuff at Gulf is a sight

esp when they charge up and down the field...really neat

I will be at GW with horses and most of a late 1300's harness - and will be happy to do some shooting with yah on the video if you will get me a copy of it at later date or something.