We begin our “Great Moments” series with a look at the rise and fall of the crossbow from antiquity through modern times.

• 2000 to 600 BCE: Several scholars place the invention of the crossbow in China as early as 2000 BCE based on fragmented physical evidence corresponding to locking mechanisms, and a comparison of certain chinese characters. Although no locking mechanisms have ever been recovered dating to that period, it is clear that bronze casting technology in China was sufficently advanced to manufacture metal locks at least as early as 1300 BCE. The first clear archaeological evidence of crossbows dates to approximately 600 BCE, during the Warring States period. 1, 2
• 500 BCE: The first recorded historical reference to a crossbow is contained in “The Romance of Wu and Yue,” a chinese historical epic authored by Zhao Ye in about 500 BCE. 3
• 228 BCE: Historical records and several archaeological finds show that crossbows were mass produced on a large scale in China during the Warring States period. Many of the terra cotta soldiers discovered in Emporer Qin’s tombs are armed with crossbows. 4 5

• 100: Hero(n) of Alexander, mad scientist and so-called inventor of the first steam engine, describes a hand held ballista (the gastraphetes or “stomach bow”). This is the earliest surviving historical reference to a manual crossbow in the west.
• 385: Vegetius Renatus references crossbows in his millitary treatise De Re Militari
• 400: Evidence of roman crossbows recorded in roman bas-reliefs now in France. See Payne-Gallwey, p. 43.
• 1000: The crossbow is in general use throughout continental Europe by this time. Still primitive and constructed of solid wood, the device was probably equivalent to the common short bow in terms of range and power. The crossbow is favored for its accuracy and the ability to hold the bow drawn for indefinite periods. See Payne-Gallwey, p. 31.
• 1066: The Normans bring the crossbow to England. Although it is widely recorded that the crossbow made its English debut at Hastings, sadly, not one crossbow appears in the Bayeaux Tapestry. See Payne-Gallwey, p. 3, 31, 44.
• 1099: The Genoese earn a collective reputation as the finest crossbow craftsmen in Europe. The crossbow is used during the siege of Jerusalem.
• 1100: King William II suffers a fatal hunting “accident” by means of a crossbow.
• 1139: Crossbow prods (bows) are now manufactured from a composite of wood, horn and sinew. The increased power of the prods and other innovations, such as a groove in the stock to accomodate the bolt, increase the weapon’s accuracy and mechanical efficiency. The wounds caused by the crossbow are so grievous that its use, except against infidels, is banned by the Second Lateran Council on pain of anathema. See also Payne-Gallwey, p. 1.
• 1189-1199: In spite of the papal mandate prohibiting its use, Richard the Lionhearted reintroduces the crossbow throughout Europe. Richard is an absolute crossbow fanatic, and, though immobilized with fever, insists that his bed be positioned such that he may fire bolts at the Turks during the siege of Ascalon. Although he uses the weapon primarily against “infidels” during the Crusades, it is widely considered divine retribution when he is shot by a crossbow and succumbs to gangrene. See Payne-Gallwey, p.3.
• 1216-1272: King John and King Henry III, employ vast numbers of foreign mercenaries armed with crossbows. A clause banishing foreign crossbowman is included in the Magna Charta (pdf): “And immediately after the conclusion of the peace, we will remove out of the kingdom all foreign knights, crossbow men, and stipendiary soldiers, who have come with horses and arms to the molestation of the kingdom.”
• 1272: The longbow comes to prominance in England, almost entirely displacing the crossbow there. The longbow is basically a 6 foot tall solid plank used for archery. At this time it is faster and more powerful than any crossbow on the field. To this day scholars and medievalists argue over the relative merits of the two weapons. See The Beckoning (ollecting sources) C.f. Payne Gallwey, p. 20.
• 1290 – 1460: The height of the crossbow in continental Europe. Bizarrely, in spite of its obvious advantages over the crossbow at this stage in its development, the longbow is never adopted as a millitary weapon on the continent.
• 1314: The first instance of crossbow lathes (again, bows) manufactured from steel.
• 1340: The French employ 20,000 crossbowmen against the English in a naval engagement near Sluys, in Holland.
• 1346: The Battle of Crécy, where the English longbow was most famously pitted against 15,000 Genoese crossbows. The longbow ruled the day. There is some controversy surrounding the effects of the weather on the crossbows at Crécy, the latter being the odds-on favourites prior to the battle. The crossbows at issue were most likely of composite construction and, it has been shown, susceptible to dampness. Heavy rain the night before has been blamed for the failure of the Genoese crossbows. Gallwey, with characteristic English patriotism, insists that these arguments are misguided and that, rain or no rain, the English would have ruled the day. See Payne-Gallwey, p. 4-6.
• 1373: Earliest recorded illustration of a cranequin.
• 1400: The crossbow becomes so important that crossbowmen are now considered elite soldiers. In Spain, a crossbowman enjoys a status equivalent to knighthood, while throughout France and Italy, the position of Master Crossbowman is highly coveted and influential. See Payne-Gallwey, p. 48.
• 1440: Invention of the the goat’s-foot lever. Steel lathes are commonly in use by this time. Heavy crossbows, drawn by windlasses, offer superior fire power, range and accuracy at the expense of rapidity. The longbow fires 6 times to the heavy crossbow’s once. The crossbow is used primarily in positions of defense, and castle’s are designed to accomodate the crossbow’s dimensions.
• 1461: The town of Gubbio, Italy, conducts its first crossbow tournament, inviting challengers from nearby Umbria. The annual matches continue to this day. Contestants recently travelled to the U.S. and performed for audiences at the Yarmouth Clam Festival here in Maine!

• 1470: Handguns begin to gradually supersede the crossbow on the continent.
• 1503: The first in a series of statutes banning the crossbows in England, as a measure to prevent the yeoman from losing proficiency with the longbow. See Payne-Gallwey, p. 33-35.
• 1522-1525: Except in naval battles, crossbows are abandoned as millitary missive weapons in Europe. By the mid 1530s, the crossbow is abandoned entirely as a millitary weapon.
• 1650: The crossbow gains great favor as a sporting arm, particularly for taking deer. The first target crossbows are constructed. The stonebow—a double stringed crossbow used to fire pellets—becomes the weapon of choice for birding, and even makes an appearance in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, in which Toby cries, “O! for a stonebow! to hit him in the eye.”
• 1700: Invention of the so-called Chinese repeating crossbow (though this date is disputed), which is used as a police weapon into the Twentieth Century. (Reconstructing one of these will be our next project here at Balistarius Blog.)
• 1860: Chinese troops use crossbows, including repeating crossbows, against British invaders at Taku fort. A repeating crossbow discarded by one of the Chinese soldiers is on display in the Tower of London to this day.