Roman crossbow

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Well I had no idea.


Arrian--or Arian-- has records of cavalry training where the crossbow, or a mechanical bow weapon was being used by soldiers from the backs of horses, while there are sculptures in Roman Gaul which show the use of the crossbow for hunting as well as fighting.

These Roman crossbows are nearly identical to the medieval crossbow so it must be assumed that they are by and large the same weapon.

romancrossbow.jpg


http://www.ancientromangoods.com/weapons/crossbows


The Roman commander Arrian (ca. 86 – after 146) records in his Tactica Roman cavalry training for firing some mechanical handheld weapon from horseback. Sculptural reliefs from Roman Gaul depict the use of crossbows in hunting scenes. The specimen are remarkably similar to the later medieval crossbow, including the typical nut lock (see image).[41]
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Roman_crossbow.jpg


Sculptural reliefs from Roman Gaul
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25.jpg


http://dagr.univ-tlse2.fr/sdx/dagr/feuilleter.xsp?tome=1&partie=1&numPage=400&filtre=arbal%C3%A8te%20&nomEntree=ARCUBALLISTA


rcrossbow.jpg




3878295578_f157c2d00c.jpg



http://www.flickr.com/photos/21711359@N08/sets/72157622081346915/


cwarc1.jpg


http://www.oocities.org/thebatavi/gallerycaerwent2008a.htm


Guess i'll be making use of the crossbow skill slot after all.
 
Crossbows have been around for a very long time 400 BC in fact in China. The belly bow of Greece was the crossbow of the west but not widely used or very popularbut dates to the end of the 5th C BCE. Crosbows were not used by the Romans in big numbers. The crossbow Vegetius mention was probably a manuballista, lit hand ballista. It seems to be an experimental weapon rather than incorperated into the army as actual contingents of the army. Would have been a very rare item on the battlefield. Became more popular in the 6th C AD. It will be cool to see them in battle though. Maybe put them as a merc unit maybe? I actually know the reenactor in the Squamata. He has an amazing knowledge of the late Roman armies and has practical knowledge of a variety of weapons.
 
Well I was aware of Chinese inventions and Greek gastraphetes, and many of the familiar Roman hand held ballisat, but wasn't so familiar with them having a device which was damn near a medieval replica, which is what suprised me.

As for the troop I put them as an option in the troop tree "Arcuballistatus", but I don't plan on making them numerous by any means in the AI parties, whose proportions and ratios will match that of historical numbers, so they won't be abundant with off-scene soldiers, i.e. half an army of 'crossbowmen'. Though should the player want to pursue that, it will be left to them.

Performance wise, I think I will make it equivelant to a light crossbow, or "crossbow" by M&B standards, and perhaps leave an upgrade option for some of the more familiar ballistics of Roman theme
 
That would be great!  Are u planning to make them a cavalry unit or infanrty? With your historical accuracy this mod will be beyond great. This is going to be a very refreshing mod (and game for that matter). The 3rd century crisis is not a popular topic. It is however a very interesting period where Rome managed to bounce back from a crisis which would crumble any other empire. It is however a difficult period to reconstruct as I am sure you know from all your research! :grin: Hats off to you for the mammoth task!
 
I was thinking infantry for sure.

Obviously there's some mention by Arrian of cavarly training with a handheld device, though I don't know how to feel about that one.
 
I agree. Cavalry belonged to the elite and crossbows thought history seems to be the weapon of the lower classes.
 
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