w25c

PLATĘ E: CROSSBOW SPANNING SYSTEMS

E1: Spanning large 'two feet’ crossbow using hands.

E2: Spanning composite crossbow with stirrup and belt hook.

E3: Using a single cord pulley.

E4: Using a gaffle or ‘Goat’s Foot' lever.

E5: Spanning a Steel crossbow using a cranequin.

E6: Using a windlass.

E7: Single spanning hook attached to a leather belt.

E8-10: Alternative methods of attaching hook to belt.

E11: Double spanning hook.

E12: Single cord, single pulley, single hook system.

E13: Doubled pulley device.

E14: Linked iron pulleys for double cord device.

E15: Single pulley system attached to crossbow.

E16: Bronze ‘roller pulley’.

E17: Gaffle attached to crossbow.

E18: Iron gaffle.

E19: Iron windlass.

E20: Bronze cranequin with a thick ropę loop attached to box.

PLATĘ F: MILITIAMAN OF LUCCA SUMMONED FROM HIS SHOP, c. 1310

Most urban infantry militiamen were drawn from the ranks of skilled artisans and shopkeepers. Such men could be summoned at very short notice though a full-scale military expedition would entail morę warning. They would then be selected by ballot or in rotation, sińce the system was designed not to disrupt the commercial life of the city.

PLATĘ G: PROFESSIONAL PAVESARE AND HIS WEAPONRY, c. 1335

G1: Many of medieval ltaly’s best infantry came from moun-tainous regions. This figurę is largely based upon the wall-paintings in the Casa dei Soldati in Avio castle between Verona and Trento.

G2: Alternative blades for staff-weapons.

G3: Alternative heads for lanzelonge.

G4: Section through bacinetto showing the leather lining or calotta.

G5: Bacinetto with hat worn over the top.

G6: Long and short forms of quilted soft armour.

G7: Coat-of-plates with part of fabric removed.

G8: Padded leather gauntlet partially covered in mail with . drawstring to tighten the wrist.

G9: Interior of pavese with upper strap for the elbow, middle strap for the wrist, and lower strap for the fist.

G10: Pavese with the arms of the Castelbarco family.

G11: Basilarda with its sheath.

G12: Purse.

PLATĘ H: CARROCCIO AND TRANSPORT EOUIPMENT

H1: Sienese carroccio with a marinella beli. A: view of the right-hand horse attached to the carroccio; notę that it has a saddle for a man to ride ‘post’ so that the wagon needs no driver. B: the left-hand horse, showing the pole to which both horses are harnessed, and that runs between them.

H2: Flat-topped wagon pulled by oxen.

H3: Mule with the simplest form of pack-saddle and sacks, one with a merchanfs stencilled ownership mark.

H4: Baggage donkey with a wooden yoke beneath its taił to stop the pack-saddle slipping forwards when going downhill. H5: Open wagon pulled by a pair of oxen and one horse. H6: Wooden yoke for a pair of oxen.

PLATĘ I: URBAN WARFARE IN THE ADIGE VALLEY, c. 1 345

The militiamen defending this barricade are based upon Guelf soldiers in the wall-paintings at Avio castle: the knight leading their foes is from the Ghibelline faction. The spingarda pictured in the bottom right of the piąte was powered by twisted skeins of horsehair.

PLATĘ J: LIGHT INFANTRY SPADACCINO IN PAPAL SERVICE, c. 1375

J1: This foot soldier has the most up-to-date arms and armour available, though as a light infantryman he has no leg armour and relies upon his large oval shield.

J2: Rear of helmet and brigandine showing buckled strap from helmet.

J3: Interior of the brigandine, plus to the right a section

E: mid-14th-century Italian bacinetto from Naples. (British Museum, London)

F: 14th-century Italian bacinetto. (Askeri Muzesi, Istanbul; author’s photograph)

G: late-14th/early-15th-century Italian helmet from Khalkis. (Historical Museum, Athens; author’s photograph)