Genoese crossbowmen

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The Genoese crossbowmen (Italian: Balestrieri genovesi) were a famous military corps of the Middle Ages, which acted both in defence of the Italian city of Genoa, and both as mercenaries for other Italian or European powers.

Armed with crossbows made in Genoa by the Balistai corporation, they fought both on land and in naval battles; notable cases of the latter are the battles of Meloria and Curzola. They came also from other parts of Liguria, but were trained and organized in Genoa.

Apart the crossbow, they were equipped with a dagger, a light metal helmet, a gorget, a hauberk and a big shield, called pavese (pavise), which was used while reloading the weapon. A groom often supported the shield during the reloading. Commanders of the several companies came usually from the noble families of the city.

The presence of the Genoese crossbowmen was highly feared, due to the efficiency of their weapons and their organization. Often, the simple presence of their banner was enough to lead the opponent to change his battle plans.

[edit] History

The Genoese crossbowmen came to prominence during the First Crusade, when the Genoese commander Guglielmo Embriaco used them in the course of the siege of Jerusalem, and remained one of the most respected military corps until the 16th century, well after the introduction of black powder weapons in Europe.

The heavy losses created by Genoese crossbows led medieval monarchs to extreme measures. Emperor Frederick II, after the defeat at the siege of Parma triggered by a Genoese sally, ordered that the crossbowmen taken prisoner had their finger cut off.

During the Battle of Crécy (1346), 6,000 Ligurian crossbowmen were deployed by the French in the first line. When they began to be under heavy fire of the English longbowmen, the Genoese commander, Ottone Doria, ordered his troops to retreat. This was seen as a desertion by King Philip VI of France, who ordered his cavalry to charge without care of the Genoese retrating in face of them. Most of the crossbowmen, their commander included, were killed, and the Englishmen profited of the chaos ensuing to win the battle.