Quote:
Originally Posted by Anders
Did they use crossbows? It seems wrong for the era, but I don't know. Does anyone know?
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Bernard S. Bachrach,
Early Crolingian Warfare: Prelude to Empire, p. 112, suggests that crossbows were in continuous use, but doesn’t really give clear or helpful elaboration.
The Age of Charlemagne (an Osprey book) on page 31 seems to suggest there’s no evidence of crossbows used in war (but yes used in hunting?).
Weapons and warfare (.com – not providing the link because of pop-ups) suggests crossbows were replacing other weapons in the twelfth century, or at least were only becoming dominant then.
Wikipedia page on medieval hunting says the crossbow was introduced at the time of the First Crusade, although didn’t become a common hunting weapon until the 1400s (but note there is no footnote or source provided for that statement).
Ancient Worlds website mentions the Carolingians of your period using “an early form of the crossbow.” But does not elaborate.
Overall, I would allow, at most, hand-drawn crossbows. No levers, no winches, no other forms of mechanical assistance.