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THE MACIEJOWSKI BOW
The year 1337 witnessed the first battle of the Hundred Years War on the island of Cadzand. This was also the first time that the full power of English war bows (they wouldn’t be called longbows till much later) was unleashed on continental Europe, and for the next 78 years, until the famous encounter at Agincourt, the war bow was ruler of the battlefields. Although war bows are magnificent bows, and it really is a great experience to learn how to wield one, we have to conclude that those 78 years have left a considerable mark on contemporary impressions of Medieval archery. This is unfortunate because the Middle Ages lasted much longer than 78 years. Sure, it all seems a long time ago and sometimes it is hard to tell the difference, but try to imagine for a moment that future historians will conclude that there isn’t really all that much significant difference between 1911 and 2011, that puts such generalization into a different light, doesn’t it?
In other words, there are other archery traditions in Medieval Europe, and a rather significant one, according to the Oxford Companion to Military History, is that of the composite bow, like, for example, the Maciejowski bow. It is sometimes said that such bows were only usable in the south and east, as the climate in the cold north would wreak havoc with the glue of the composite bows. But a few things are overlooked in that argumentation. First of all, to judge by the building instructions and shopping lists of bowyers, many crossbows of the early Middle Ages, were also of composite nature, i.e. consisting of various parts that were glued together. And we continued to import and use those crossbows in the cold northern climes, even though they were just as vulnerable. It is that very vulnerability that causes our contemporary view.
When we buy a bow these days, we see it as an investment. It’s partially a statement, to indicate that we appreciate a genuine handmade product in a world which seems to be filled with increasing amounts of soulless plastic. It’s also a chance to experience what it is like to participate in a very ancient tradition, and perhaps even became an ace when we start to master the skills of instinctive shooting properly. As a matter of course, then, we take good care of our new bow, it’s given a protective bag to keep it dry and warm, a horizontal and dry storage place, new coats of wax, and more often than not a name to boot. For the Medieval archer, however, the bow was an item meant to be used, and it was considered normal that your bow would wear down, glues would gradually break up, or it would be necessary, during the course of battle, to use the bow, once devoid of arrows, to counter blows and bash your opponent with in hand-to-hand combat. In which case you would replace your bow for another, something the logistics of the time were geared to do.
For example, the Romans, had stationed the First Cohort of Hamian Archers (Cohors I Hamiorum Sagittariorum) at Hadrian’s Wall, a location which certainly lives up to the wet and windy reputation of the northern climate. To replace the composite bows which didn’t survive those conditions, the Romans had built an arms “fabricae” near Pavia, where replacements were crafted by Eastern bowyers. By the by, the Romans were well aware of averse climatic circumstances, and waterproofed the bows with bark and lacquer.
The Mongolian light cavalry, which had spread fear and terror from Japan to Vienna, were expected to bring to a campaign their horse, sixty arrows and no less than 3 to 4 bows. Because there empire was so vast, campaigns, like the attempt to overrun Europe, could last for years, and the light cavalryman was thus geared to deal with wear and tear. The Moors in Spain, no inconsiderable archers, were also resupplied by means of mass production. The famous factories in Cordoba in Andalusia produced up to 1,000 bows and 20,000 arrows on a monthly basis.
And so we see composite bows appear in a lot of different places in Medieval Europe. None other than Richard Lionheart, King of England, who was actually following his father Henry II’s example, employed Saracen mercenaries from the Holy Land. Richard had a 120 of these mounted archers at his disposal and used them during his campaign to re-conquer Normandy (1195-1199). This might also well be the origin of Peter the Saracen, bowyer in the service of King John a few years later.
The Maciejowski Bible, commissioned by King Louis IX of France, contains a lot of images of Medieval weapons and gear, including many pictures of composite bows, suggesting that these were a standard issue in France, for it’s true that the pictures are meant to depict biblical stories, but all the armaments and equipment depicted in the illustrations represent 13th century French materials. Is this possible? French archers with composite bows? Even mounted archers? Sure, for the younger brother of King Louis, Charles of Anjou, defeated the Holy Roman Empire in 1266, and took posession of the former Norman kingdom of Sicily and Naples. The Normans had conquered these possessions in the 11th century after defeating the Saracens who held sway there. This was followed by a truly remarkable period of cultural and military integration. This co-operation carried on into the 13th century. Take Lucera, for example, an Italian town with a population of 60,000 Muslims, thousands of whom served, respectively, the Norman, Holy Roman and French overlords in many a battle. There was also a weapons factory in Lucera, where, amongst other things, bows were built, bows requiring horn, tendons and glue. When Charles of Anjou took possession of Lucera, specific mention was made of the treasury in Lucera Castle, which was filled with weaponry, including hundreds if not thousands of composite bows.
Unfortunately, for France, Charles’ son, Charles II of Naples, became rather uncomfortable with the presence of so many Muslims on the European mainland, and ordered all Muslim parts of the town to be razed, and the Muslim inhabitants imprisoned, killed or exiled. This ended a unique period of French history during which they had access to thousands of bows and archers who would have, several decades later, given the famed English yeomen with war bows a run for their money.
Want more background information?
Go to the counter and ask if we can send you some research documentation (with sources for the information above) by e-mail.
Fairbow hopes you enjoy your day.
May your arrows shoot straight and true!
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