In the 15th century, firearms were beginning to be introduced for armies fighting in Europe, most famously by the Hussites and Ottoman Janissaries.
I am writing about battles with these early firearms now in my novel Vampire Impaler: the Immortal Knight Chronicles 6, which takes place between 1444 and 1470.
But crossbows continued to be utilised and indeed innovation continued to make these weapons more powerful and more effective through the 15th century.
A key development was the introduction of iron bow arms, replacing wood and composite arms.
Drawing powerful crossbows back to span had for a long time, even before iron bow arms, required additional mechanical support and there were a number of methods employed to provide that assistance.
A stirrup at the front of the stock enabled the weapon to be held against the ground by a foot, allowing the strength of the whole body to be utilised to pull it back. A belt hook was often used to assist this process so grip strength was not a limiting factor.
Mechanical devices such as the goat’s leg lever were also employed.
Additional mechanical assistance was provided by two other devices. One was called a cranequin, which was cranked around, pulling the bow string back along a toothed rack. These were used from about 1400 hundred onward.
And finally there was the windlass, again employed from about 1400, which was rotated by handles, winding the strings of the device around a spindle and so drawing back the bow string.
These were serious, deadly pieces of military technology that continued to out-compete early firearms for a century.
One of the UK’s best places for buying reproductions of historical weapons is Tod’s Workshop. He is most famous for his incredible crossbows.
(This is not a paid endorsement! His stuff is just really good.)
Check out the really cool stuff on website: https://todsworkshop.com/
He also has an informative YouTube channel where he demonstrates his historically authentic gear.
In this video he shows a late medieval crossbow with windlass which is the sort of weapon being used in Vampire Impaler alongside early hand-gunners on the battlefields of the 15th century Balkans.
While you’re waiting for Vampire Impaler, don’t forget to get your copy of Vampire Heretic: the Immortal Knight Chronicles Book 5!
That was interesting, thank you.