m1367

		mg l pi
		CTry « ■ 7'( « %
Bfr 15 ™		^f

G: Venice and the North Gi: Sienese crossbowman, late iyth century Crossbowmen were now the most effective infantry in most European armies and those of the Italian city-states were justifiably famous. Lightly ar-moured and relying on heavy wooden pavise mantlets (shiclds propped up on stays) for pro-tection, tliese troops used increasingly powerful crossbows. They were still morę accurate than hand-guns but were also morę expensive. This man loads his steel-bowed weapon with a detach-able windlass. He also wears an Italian sallet and carries a Venetian sword from the close of the 15th century. (‘Siege of Perugia’, by Benedetto Bonfiglio, c. 1455-70, Galeria Nazionale, Perugia; Italian helmet from Rhodes, 1457-1500, Tower of London; Venetian sword, late 15th century, Met. Museum, New York.)

G2: Yenetian colonial archer, late iyth century Venice ruled an empire of islands and Coastal towns scattered across the eastern Mediterranean, so oriental influences were naturally seen in much Venetian military eąuipment. This archer wears a sallet which has one side hinged so that he does not snag his bowstring. His recurve bow is of a composite Turkish or Bałkan type. His quiver is also very Turkish, whereas his sword is a spada alla stradiotta. Such weapons in the Stradiot, or ‘colonial soldier’, fashion were popular among Venetian naval troops. (Italian archer’s sallet, c. 1470, Wallace Coli., London; ‘Life of St.

37