Longbow facts for kids

A longbow is a powerful type of bow. It was a very important weapon, especially during the Middle Ages. While it might not have been as strong as a crossbow, a skilled archer could shoot many more arrows per minute with a longbow.

One great thing about longbows was that they were quite cheap to make. They could also be easily mass produced, meaning many could be made quickly. Arrows with metal tips could even go through most types of armour, except for the very best plate armour. Longbow archers, also called longbowmen, often carried another weapon like a battle-axe for close-up fights.

Longbows were mostly used in Europe from the Middle Ages up until the time of Henry VIII. They were usually made from a single piece of strong, flexible wood, often yew. The wood was cut in winter when it had less sap. The part of the bow facing the target was flexible sapwood, and the part facing the archer was strong heartwood. Longbowmen could shoot arrows very quickly, sometimes six arrows per minute. This fast, powerful shooting often scared their enemies.

People have found longbows in Europe that date back to the Mesolithic period, which was a very long time ago!

History of the Longbow

In the British Isles, the Welsh were the first to be recorded using the longbow. In the year AD 633, Offrid, the son of King Edwin of Northumbria, was killed by a Welsh longbow arrow. This happened during a battle between the Welsh and the Mercians. This was over 500 years before the longbow was first recorded in England. Even so, the weapon is more often called the "English longbow" than the "Welsh longbow."

During the Middle Ages, the English and Welsh were famous for their strong longbows. They used them very effectively in the civil wars in England. They also used them against the French in the Hundred Years' War. Longbows helped them win famous battles like Crécy (1346), Poitiers (1356), and Agincourt (1415).

Many arrow shafts were found from the ship Mary Rose, which sank in 1545. These arrows were about 75 cm /30 in long.

Longbows Today

A longbow has some good points compared to modern bows like a recurve or compound bow. It is usually lighter and quicker to get ready for shooting. It also shoots more quietly. However, a modern bow will generally shoot an arrow faster and more accurately than a longbow.

Images for kids

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  Longbowman depicted on a sign commemorating the Battle of Crécy

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  Illustration of longbowmen from the 14th century

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  Top: Lemonwood, purpleheart and hickory laminated bow. Bottom: Yew selfbow.

See also

In Spanish: Arco largo para niños