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Warfare During The Crusades Essay Medieval warfare is the combat of the middle Ages. In Europe several changes like technological, cultural, and social developments had brought about a dramatic alteration in the nature of warfare from ancient times, altering military procedures and the function of cavalry and artillery. Analogous transformations in patterns of warfare as well were introduced in other parts of the world. The Crusades were a succession of military conflicts of a religious nature which took place in the years 1095–1291, more often than not authorized by the Pope in the name of Christendom. The Crusades in the beginning had the purpose of recapturing Jerusalem and the consecrated Holy Land from Muslim canon and were instigated in rejoinder to a call from the Eastern Orthodox Byzantine realm for help in opposition to the spreading out of the Muslim Seljuq dynasty into Anatolia. The European and the Muslim styles of warfare during the time of the First and Second Crusade had developed several distinct characteristics which decided the success of the crusades. The warfare of middle ages demonstrated the superiority of mounted cavalry over traditional ground forces, which helped to set the nature that medieval warfare that would maintain for the next several centuries. According to The Second Crusade and the Cistercians by Gervers the perchance the most significant technological change in warfare in Europe was the introduction of the stirrup, which was introduced in Europe in the 8th century, but was previously in use in the Middle East. The stirrup, accompanied with horse breeding and more sophisticated iron and steel working, helped in development of far more powerful cavalry. In European warfare, the heavily-armored knight became central where as in Muslim warfare lightly armored horse archers did so. The book The Invention of the Crusades by Tyerman describes that it is almost certainly a mistake to have a discussion of medieval European armies during the middle ages, as Europe was culturally varied continent and each region in it had their characteristic style of warfare. Medieval Anglo-French armies could be divided into three segments termed as battles or battalions such as the vanguard or forward, the center or main-battle, and the rearguard or backward. The front line was often composed of archers and other elective long-range weapons, like slings and stones and the rare lightweight simple catapults, while the center was composed of infantry and armored cavalry (knights), and the rearguard was sometimes comprised of more nimble cavalry. The usual order of March was front line, center, and rearguard, and the three battles took their position on the battlefield with the vanguard on the right, the center in the center and the rearward on the left. On the other hand, as armies grew larger and more cumbersome they often positioned as they arrived on the field. Each section in European army were positioned in either linear or block formation Where as, in the countries of the Middle East following Muslim tactics of warfare, the main forces were positioned in the battle field somewhere in the between. The main determinant of the Muslim tactics during the crusades was the predominant position of the horse archer in their army. As a light cavalry, the horse archers that made up the bulk of the Islamic armies were highly mobile. This mobility was used in four ways which gave the Turks an advantage over the European armies which could be highly dangerous when they approached for close combat. Where as, the Eastern European armies were in general high in horse archers and noble cavalry. The nobles were light lance cavalry in armor, until the armies were westernized, like the Polish knights. The light cavalry were also effective against similar cavalry deployed by the Muslims and, afterward, the Golden Horde. The heavy cavalry wore brigandine, and later on, plate armor. The light cavalry were dressed in leather or brigandine if they could afford it. Eastern Europe as well produced decent foot archers, because of the horse archer custom, but they usually had poor weighty infantry, more often than not spear or axe-armed levies. In European army cavalries were made depending on the situation. While a group of horsemen was undoubtedly efficient, cavalry in tight formations wielding lances became devastating forces. The most ordinary formation was the line or linear form. The horsemen arranged themselves in a long line, commonly three or four ranks deep and then charge. On the other hand, in Muslim cavalry a well-trained infantry force capable of withstanding any attack employed forces in a wedge formation. The horses were arranged in a large triangle, with the most heavily armored cavalry at the front. When the wedge came into contact with the infantry line, customarily it used to cave in on itself, allowing an infantry charge to move in and scatter the remaining forces. According to Medieval Canon Law and the Crusader by Brundage, as a light cavalry, the horse archers that made up the bulk of the Islamic armies were highly mobile. This mobility was used in four ways which gave the Turks an advantage over the European armies which could be highly dangerous when they approached for close combat. As Muslim cavalry became the prevailing force on the battleground, it in addition became necessary for European forces to come up with ways to counteract them. One accepted method was the use of pikes, which were spears that sometimes reached lengths of twenty feet. As the cavalry charged, the pike men arranged themselves in a tight square or orb formation, which prevented the horses from penetrating too deeply into the infantry line. With a large block of pikes shielding the stern and flanks, armies could move into an effective position without being routed. The experience level and tactical choreography aptitude of medieval armies different widely, were depending on the period and region. For larger battles, both in European and Muslim warfare pre-battle planning characteristically consisted of a council of the war leaders, which could either be the common laying down a plan or a loud debate between the different leaders, depending on how much authority the general possessed. Battleground infrastructure previous to the advent of strict lines of announcement and were naturally very difficult. Interactions often took place with the help of standards, oriflammes, banners, flags, etc. The book Medieval Canon Law and the Crusader by Brundage provides that the infantry, including missile troops, were typically employed by the European army at the onset of the battle to break open infantry formations while the cavalry shot to defeat its opposing force. When one side acquired superiority in cavalry or had it at the onset of battle it attempted to make use of the loss of cohesion in the conflicting infantry lines caused by the infantry conflict to hit the opposing infantry and attempt to rout it. This was often difficult, and careful timing was essential for a direct cavalry assault, as an ordered infantry line may often be able to beat off the cavalry attacks. Where as Muslims used to fight with arrows. The mobility of the Muslims helped them in attacking the enemy and forcing him to fight on the march. Instead of the Europeans sitting in a circle and gradually being killed by arrows, they marched toward either safety or where they supposed the enemy to be. This allowed for even greater possibilities of the use of the Muslims mobility in battle to come into distance, attack with arrows and move back away from the distance in which the slower loading crossbow could be used against them. Cannons were introduced to the battleground by European cavalry in the later medieval period. The Invention of the Crusades by Tyerman describes that on the other hand, their very poor rate of fire, which over and over again meant that only one shot was fired in the course of an entire battle and their imprecision, made them more of psychological force multiplier than an effectual anti-personnel weapon. Later on in medieval warfare, the rate of fire improved only to some extent, but the cannons became far easier to aim, mainly since they were smaller and much closer to their wielder. Their users could be easily protected, because the cannons were lighter and could be moved far more quickly. Arab warriors respected archery as a valuable skill for war and even as a sport in times of peace. The great number of archers in the armies of Islam often gave them a decisive advantage and helped them win in the wars. According to The Second Crusade and the Cistercians by Gervers the flights of arrows were used mostly by the Muslims to obliterate any consistency that the Europeans possessed, and cause them to lose horses on top. This loss of horses was a major blow to the main weapon of the Crusaders especially to the heavy cavalry charge with lances in rest. The horse archers themselves could loose their arrows from the saddle without halting or dismounting, and even shoot backwards while in retreat. The complex bow was a light weapon which frequently did not penetrate the armor far enough to cause injury to the wearer. Because of thick pads of felt and the mail worn by knights, the arrows were often seen sticking out of warriors who just continued on their way. Breakdowns in federal states resulted in the rise of a number of Muslim groups that turned to large-scale pillage as a source of income. As these groups were by and large small and required to move quickly, building defenses was a good way to endow with refuge and defense for the people and the wealth in the region. In the Medieval period surrounding armies used a wide diversity of siege engines as well as scaling ladders, battering rams; siege towers and different types of catapults like the mangonel, onager, etc. Advances in the action of sieges gave rise to the development of an array of defensive counter-measures. According to Medieval Canon Law and the Crusader, by Brundage, in particular, medieval fortifications in Muslin warfare became increasingly stronger for instance, the arrival of the concentric castle from the period of the Crusades and more hazardous to attackers, witness the rising use of machicolations and murder-holes, also the preparation of boiling oil, molten lead or hot sand. Arrow slits, hidden doors for sallies, and deep water wells were also integral to oppose siege at this time. Constructors of castles paid meticulous attention to shielding entrances, protecting gates with drawbridges, portcullises, etc. Wet animal skins were frequently draped over gates to hold back fire. Moats and other water military protection, whether natural or increased, were also imperative to protectors. In the European Middle Ages, practically all large cities were encompassed within city walls. Dubrovnik in Dalmatia is a remarkable and well-preserved instance and more vital cities had citadels, forts or castles. Great endeavor was expended to make certain an excellent water supply inside the city in case of blockade. In some cities, long tunnels were built to carry water into the city. According to Anatomy of a Crusade by Powell, the main determinant of the Muslim strategy during the crusades was the prime position of the horse archer in their army. As a light cavalry, the horse archers that made up the bulk of the Islamic armies were highly mobile. This mobility gave the Muslims an advantage over the European armies which could be highly dangerous when they approached for close combat. High mobility allowed the Islamic army to maintain a distance from the enemy and choose the moment at which they would close with them. Use of this mobility was the feigned retreat which allowed them to lead the Europeans into ambushes or to cause a fake retreat to last for some days to tire the enemy. Good mobility allowed them to attack the weakest points in the enemys army. This caused chaos while traveling, and in a battle it allowed the Muslims to attack the crusaders without ever coming into a pitched battle with the main body of the Europeans until they were worn-down and had lost all support from the flanks of the attack in battle. Another positive side of Muslim warfare was well built fortification system. These factors facilitated the Muslims in the battle. The Crusaders Kingdom by Prawer defines that the infantry, including missile troops, were typically employed by the European army at the onset of the battle to break open infantry formations while the cavalry shot to defeat its opposing force. Another method utilized by the English was the use of massed archers. The English longbow was a particularly devastating weapon of warfare. With the invention of gunpowder, the traditional methods of defense of the Muslims became less and less effective against a determined siege. Cannons were introduced to the battleground by European cavalry in the later medieval period. These factors gave the European side an advantage in the battle. In conclusion it could be mentioned that history helps out us to identify ourselves, recognize who we are and be acquainted with the origin where we come from. We over and over again shrink back from hearing about our chronological times of yore for the reason that so much of it is excruciating. The European and the Muslim styles of warfare during the time of the First and Second Crusade had developed several distinct characteristics like modification in cavalry, invention of gun powder, canons, new methods of fortification, etc. Instead of all developments it could only be concluded that battles in all ages have brought only destruction. References: Brundage, C; Medieval Canon Law and the Crusader (HBT Publishers Pvt.Ltd. 2000) Prawer, H A; The Crusaders Kingdom (Allied Publishers 1998) Powell, M; Anatomy of a Crusade (ABP Ltd 2001) Gervers, V; Second Crusade and the Cistercians (HBT Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2000) Tyerman, J; Invention of the Crusades (Allied Publications 2001) Kar, P; History of Europe; Vol. III (Dasgupta Chatterjee 2005) King, H; Introduction to War; Vol. II (HBT Brooks Ltd. 2005) Lamb, Davis; Cult to Culture: The Development of Civilization on the Strategic Strata. (National Book Trust. 2004)