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§111

Turkish zardiyyat with piąte reinforcement, secured by brass hooks. This example dat es from the i4th century but is of the style worn in the 13U1 century by Mamluks and Syrian amirs. (Tiirkiye Askeri Miizesi)

by this datę lost its curved top, presumably to give better vision.

Bi Crossbowman c./i80—1300 The crossbow was used extensively in the ist Crusade, and during the 12th century the weapon’s popularity and importance grew as the value of infantry in the Holy Land came to be fully appreciated. The weapon was a particular favour-ite of the mercenaries, and the best crossbowmen of the crusades were in the mercenary bands hired from Genoa and the Low Countries.

Originally the plain wooden bow stave enabled the crossbow to be spanned (loaded) by hand but

by the end of the 12th century a stronger composite stave was being used and the weapon had to be spanned with the aid of a hook on the cross-bowman’s belt. This was looped over the bow string, one foot placed in a metal stirrup at the front of the crossbow’s stock, and the bow spanned either by pushing the leg out straight or by pressing the stirrup to the ground and leaning back.

B2 Sergeant c. 1220-1300

In the Holy Land sergeants were usually armoured soldiers, inferior in eąuipment and rank to knights, who rode in the second linę of cavalry and often formed the bulk of the mounted force. They were only called upon to serve in the field army in times of emergency and normally their duties were limited to serving in their city’s garrison, manning the citadel, or guarding their lord’s residence. It is not now possible to tell whether all sergeants were mounted, or all foot soldiers, or some of each, but certainly in the duties listed above, and at sieges, their duties were mainly dismounted ones.

Detail of the plates on the 14U1 century Turkish zardiyyał. (Tiirkiye Askeri Miizesi)