Medieval warfare
Medieval European armies were typically divided in three sections called 'battles' - the vanguard or vaward, the center or main-battle, and the rearward or rearguard. This was usually the order of march, and the three battles deployed on the battlefield with the vanguard on the right, the center in the center and the rearward on the left. However, as armies grew larger and more unwieldy they often deployed as they arrived on the field.
Each section deployed in either linear or block formation. A linear formation had the advantage that all soldiers could take part in battle almost at once (especially those with ranged weapons such as longbows or crossbows). However a linear formation was easily scattered by a cavalry charge. A block formation prevented this, but the soldiers in the rear ranks would be delayed from entering the fighting (or totally prevented in the case of the French at the Battle of Agincourt).
(more needed on deployment for combined arms armies, cavalry, ranged weapons etc., importance of terrain, and manouever possibilities)
The sally was when the army inside of the battlements left the castle or fortification to suddenly attack an attacking army. The surprise would, theoretically, allow the defending army to break the siege line, and allow for the importation of food and reinforcements.
A traveling army would often reap all edible resources from the land they passed through.
European Medieval warfare
Origins and reasons of medieval warfare
Battlefield tactics
Deployment of forces
Employment of forces
Retreat
Siege
Laying siege to a castle or the like would usually mean a long drawn-out battle which could take months or even years, with occasional charges towards the fortification being attacked. However, for the most part, siege-weapons were employed. While the siege was going on, life in the encampment was like any other town in Medieval times. There would be jesters, and sometimes whole businesses would spring up to serve the thriving camp. In a siege, the attacker had one ally: hunger. Since a lot of the peasants in the countryside would flee in the castle when the army arrived, and no new suplies could be delivered, the attackers were often waiting until the foodsupply in the castle was depleted. The defenders also had an ally: the weather. Winter could create havoc in an emcampment of soldiers with nothing but tents. This is also a reason many sieges started in the spring.Siege-weapons
Siege-weapons were typically long-range weapons used to assault fortifications, such as the trebuchet and mangonel. However, weapons like the battering ram did exist.Sally
A sally was a medievel way of defending against a siege. In Siege, the opposing army would attempt to surround, or block any way into a fortification. If they could succeed at this, the city would be unable to import food or reinforcements, and would starve, and eventually surrender.Wall assault
Organization
Chain of command
Units
Training
Levying
Equipment
Personal equipment
Supplies
Plunder and foraging
Supply trains
Supplies during siege
Naval Warfare
To incorporate in the article
Prerequisites:
Cultural influences:
Technological influences:
Organizational influences:
Medieval weaponry:
Significant medieval battles:
Medieval wars:
Asian Medieval warfare
Mongols
Chinese
Japanese
Korean