Why did medieval armies kill civilians?

Self-defense. As collatoral damage due to food supplies being cut off during a siege. Sacking a city that refused to surrender – although this wasn’t necessarily a standard practice and even then soldiers weren’t supposed to get too carried away.

How did soldiers die in medieval times?

From Wikipedia, but marked as “Citation Needed”: “In most medieval battles, more soldiers were killed during the retreat than in battle, since mounted knights could quickly and easily dispatch the archers and infantry who were no longer protected by a line of pikes as they had been during the previous fighting.”

Were there war crimes in medieval times?

Medieval scholars were familiar with the concept of just war from the writings of St. Augustine of Hippo and St. No court system then existed to prosecute atrocities in war, and no criminal code had yet been written to even define such acts as war crimes.

Did medieval times have war rules?

In the Middle Ages, chivalry was more than just a name for polite behavior. It was a set of rules meant to limit the actions of knights and noblemen, particularly in warfare. But in an age of brutal violence, these rules were riddled with exceptions. They were honored as much in the breaking as in the keeping.

What are the characteristics of medieval warfare?

Medieval warfare is the European warfare of the Middle Ages. Technological, cultural, and social developments had forced a dramatic transformation in the character of warfare from antiquity, changing military tactics and the role of cavalry and artillery (see military history).

How were daggers used in medieval warfare?

Medieval warriors often carried daggers designed not for cutting but for punching through the gaps in armor. These were used against incapacitated enemies, as happened to Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Based on Richard’s remains, DeVries believes that his helmet was cut off with daggers, exposing him to the attacks that killed him.

What was the importance of fortifications in medieval warfare?

Fortifications were a very important part of warfare because they provided safety to the lord, his family, and his servants. They provided refuge from armies too large to face in open battle. The ability of the heavy cavalry to dominate a battle on an open field was useless against fortifications.

Why was the sword so important in medieval warfare?

A fast-moving weapon that could stab as well as slice, the sword delivered the most damage for least effort. It allowed the development of a sophisticated form of martial art, granting fame to expert swordsmen and inspiring fighting manuals such as Fiore dei Liberi’s Flos Duellatorum (1410).