Gone Medieval How to win a Medieval Battle
Feb 3, 2026
They imagine being plunged into a medieval pitched battle and unpack what made commanders choose fight or avoid it. They compare siege logistics versus open-field tactics and why terrain, weather and planning decided outcomes. They trace shifting force mixes from heavy cavalry to archers and wagons, and how gunpowder and leaders like Saladin, Henry V and Jan Žižka reshaped victory.
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Army Composition Evolves With Time
- Army composition shifted across the medieval period from heavy cavalry to projectile-centric forces.
- Choose cavalry early on and archers later, tailoring forces to opponent and terrain.
Mounted Archers Were Game Changers
- Combining cavalry mobility with archery (mounted archers) created an almost unbeatable unit in many regions.
- Europe's class system limited that development compared with the Eurasian steppe.
Noble Death Stopped The Fighting At Lincoln
- At Lincoln (1217) a spear through a noble's visor shocked combatants into stopping the fight.
- William Marshall's attempt to aid the wounded count illustrates noble expectations and battlefield etiquette.
