Although the longbow began to be used primarily in Wales around 1200, it was quickly adopted by the English war machine in the late 13th century, especially with the reforms of Edward I in 1285. Typically made from yew wood, though other woods like elm, ash, and wych elm were also used when yew was scarce. The best bows were made from yew due to its combination of strength and flexibility. Their length was around 1.8 meters long, though some were as long as 2 meters. The draw weight varied, but effective war bows had draw weights between 100 to 180 pounds. Modern replicas for enthusiasts often have draw weights between 60 and 100 pounds for practicality.¹

The effective range of an English longbow was about 140 to 190 meters, but skilled archers could reach distances of up to 270-300 meters in a high, arcing shot. The arrows, typically made of ash with steel tips, could penetrate armor at closer ranges. The bodkin point, a type of arrowhead, was specifically designed to penetrate chainmail and plate armor. The Royal Armouries in the UK have conducted tests where longbow arrows were shot at historically accurate replicas of chainmail and plate armor. Results showed that: At ranges of up to 20 meters, arrows with bodkin points could penetrate chainmail and padded gambeson underneath. Also, plate armor of high quality could resist penetration at longer ranges, but at close range (under 30 meters), arrows could cause significant damage, potentially piercing weaker points in the armor.²

Each archer was capable of unleashing volleys of 5-10 arrows per minute and was equipped with approximately 70 arrows. When these were exhausted or the enemy had come too close, he had a knife and a small axe, which proved very effective against the heavily armored French knights who had lost their horses and lay helpless in the mud of Agincourt. The numbers of longbowmen skyrocketed during the Wars of the Roses, reaching 30,000-40,000 and being used by both warring factions (as happened in the Battle of Towton) where 30,000 archers launched about 1,000,000 arrows.

At the beginning of the Hundred Years’ War, longbowmen were an integral part of every English army. They participated in every engagement, with 2,000 at Crecy (1346), 5,000 at Poitiers (1356), and 5,800 at Agincourt (1415), significantly contributing to English victories by decimating the French heavily armored knights. Their long (90 cm) arrows with deadly Bodkin points caused terrible losses to the French cavalry and even more so to the less armored French infantry.

At the Battle of Sluys (fought on June 24, 1340) which marked the first major victory for King Edward III of England, showcased the adaptability and effectiveness of English longbowmen in naval warfare. “The English had with them a great number of archers, who, as soon as they came near the enemy, began shooting with such great vigor, to the discomfiture of the French, that they were thrown into disorder”, explicitly mentions the French-speaking medieval author and court historian Jean Froissart. The modern historians Jonathan Sumption and Robert Hardy separately state that the English archers, with their longbows, had a rate of fire two or three times greater than the French crossbowmen and significantly outranged them.

Their fighting value was shown in the decisive battle of Crécy (26 August 1346). “..The English archers stept forth one pace and let fly their arrows so wholly [together] and so thick, that it seemed snow..³ (..) The Englishmen shot whereas they saw thickest press; the sharp arrows ran into the men of arms and into their horses, and many fell, horse and men, among the Genoways, and when they were down, they could not relieve again, the press was so thick that one overthrew another..”.

Another significant case is the battle of Poitiers (19 September 1356) where “..As soon as the men of arms entered, the archers began to shoot on both sides and did slay and hurt horses and knights, so that the horses when they felt the sharp arrows they would in no wise go forward, but drew aback and flang and took on so fiercely, that many of them fell on their masters, so that for press they could not rise again; insomuch that the marshals’ battle could never come at the prince. Certain knights and squires that were well horsed passed through the archers and thought to approach to the prince, but they could not..”⁴

Jean de Waurin (or Wavrin), c. 1400 – c. 1474, a medieval French chronicler and compiler, vividly describes the effects of the volley of arrows from the English archers at the fabled battle of Agincourt (25 October 1415): “..the French began to hold down their heads, especially those who had no bucklers, for the impetuosity of the English arrows, which fell so heavily that no one durst uncover or look up. Thus they went forward a little, then made a little retreat, but before they could come to close quarters, many of the French were disabled and wounded by the arrows..”⁵

However, the longbowmen’s effectiveness was not solely dependent on their archery skills. When their arrows failed to penetrate the French armor at the battle of Auray (29 September 1364), they demonstrated flexibility by engaging in close combat, using captured weapons to continue the fight. This adaptability contributed significantly to the outcome of the battle, underscoring their valor and versatility as soldiers.

“..True it is, that the English archers shot well at the commencement ; but their arrows hurt not, as the French wore too well armed and shielded from them. Upon this, they flung away their bows ; and, being light and able men, they mixed with the men at arms of their party, and attacked those of the French who had battle-axes. Being men of address and courage, they immediately seized several of these axes, with which they afterwards fought valiantly and successfull..”⁶

Another instance in which they acted undivided against the enemy is the battle of Falkirk (22 July 1298, First War of Scottish Independence). There, the English longbowmen played a decisive role in the defeat of the Scots. Positioned on the flanks of the English army, the longbowmen unleashed volleys of arrows that decimated the Scottish schiltrons (tight formations of pikemen). The rain of arrows created chaos and broke the defensive formations, allowing the English cavalry and infantry to charge and rout the Scottish forces.

In conclusion, the effectiveness of the longbowmen turned out to be a remarkable unit during the medieval period. Their success in these pivotal battles demonstrated the increasing importance of missile troops over traditional melee infantry. The longbow’s ability to disrupt formations before close combat reshaped battlefield tactics.

Moreover, the longbow’s impact extended beyond immediate battle outcomes, influencing the broader course of wars and the development of military technology. The historical significance of longbowmen is thus underscored by their contributions to key English victories and their lasting influence on medieval and early modern warfare.

They continued to be used in England until 1540, when firearms rendered them obsolete.

1. The discovery of the Mary Rose (11 October 1982), a Tudor warship that sank in 1545, provided a wealth of historical longbows and arrows. Tests on these weapons have shown that the draw weights were indeed around 150 pounds or more, and they confirmed the impressive range and power of these weapons. ↩︎
2. Archery experts such as Joe Gibbs have performed penetration tests using longbows with draw weights around 150 pounds:
   These tests often use ballistics gel and replica medieval armor. Results indicated that arrows could penetrate up to several inches into ballistics gel, simulating the damage to unarmored or lightly armored soldiers. In addition to, a series of videos by Todd’s Workshop tested longbows against various types of armor. These tests showed that longbows with 150-pound draw weights could punch through chainmail and padded garments underneath at close ranges. Also, when testing against plate armor, arrows were able to pierce thinner sections, especially at joints or visor openings, but struggled against the thickest parts. ↩︎
3. Description of the battle by Jean Froissart, from his Chronicles (1369-73). ↩︎
4. Same as above. ↩︎
5. Recueil des croniques et anchiennes istories de la Grant Bretaigne, (“Account of the chronicles and old histories of Great Britain”) ↩︎
6. Froissart, Jean. Chronicles. transl. G. Brereton, Penguin Classics, 1978. ↩︎