English longbow: Difference between revisions

{{pp-semi|expiry=September 18, 2010|small=yes}}

[[Image:Englishlongbow.jpg|thumb|350px|Self-yew English longbow, 6 ft 6 [[inch|in]] (2 m) long, 470 [[Newton (unit)|N]] (105 [[pound-force|lbf]]) draw force.]]

 

The '''English longbow''', also called the '''Welsh longbow''', was a powerful type of [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[longbow]] (a tall [[bow (weapon)|bow]] for [[archery]]) about 6 ft (1.83 m) long used by the [[English (people)|English]] and [[Wales|Welsh]], both for [[hunting]] and as a [[weapon]] in [[medieval warfare]]. English use of longbows was effective against the French during the [[Hundred Years' War]], particularly at the start of the war in the battles of [[Battle of Crecy|Crecy]] (1346) and [[Battle of Poitiers (1356)|Poitiers]] (1356), and most famously at the [[Battle of Agincourt]] (1415). They were less successful after this, with longbowmen taking casualties at the [[Battle of Verneuil]] (1424), and being completely routed at the [[Battle of Patay]] (1429) when charged before they had set up their defensive position.