English longbow

A tall, narrow bow traditionally made from a single stave, especially yew, and drawn to the archer’s ear or face. It is associated with medieval Welsh and English armies.

Self bow: A bow made from a single piece of wood rather than laminated layers or joined limbs. The English longbow is a prominent historical example of this one-piece bow design.
Welsh longbow: A longbow associated with Welsh archery traditions and their adoption by English forces. Welsh use helped introduce English rulers to the weapon’s military potential.
Battle of Crécy: A 1346 battle in which Edward III’s English army defeated a larger French force. English longbowmen helped disrupt French attacks during this celebrated victory.
Crossbow: A bow mounted horizontally on a stock and drawn with a mechanical aid or by hand. Crossbows required less prolonged training than powerful longbows but generally fired more slowly.
Yew: A coniferous tree whose wood has contrasting dense heartwood and elastic sapwood. Its two kinds of wood helped make yew a favored material for longbow staves.
Edward I of England: King of England from 1272 to 1307, known for campaigns in Wales and Scotland. His Welsh campaigns exposed English forces to Welsh longbowmen and tactics.
Battle of Poitiers: A 1356 battle in which English forces captured King John II of France. Longbowmen supported the English defensive position against French cavalry and infantry.
Composite bow: A bow made from layers of materials such as wood, horn, and sinew. Composite construction produced compact bows, unlike the longbow’s tall, single-stave form.
Bow draw weight: The force required to pull a bowstring to a specified draw length. The longbow’s high draw weights demanded unusual strength from its trained users.
Statute of Winchester: A 1285 English law that organized local military obligations and required weapon training. It helped embed archery practice in the obligations of English communities.

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