this post was submitted on 08 Nov 2025
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Explanation: In the medieval period, a surprising amount of the Church's moral outrage was directed at the crossbow (and, to a lesser degree, the bow), to the point where one 12th century Pope, Innocent II, outright banned the crossbow and archery in wars between Christians! (he was ignored, naturally)
Rather than being purely a function of preserving the aristocracy's supremacy on the battlefield, especially as many nobles adored the newfangled crossbow, it probably reflects more the ease with which troops armed with such weapons could inflict massive casualties on an opposing force. Knights preferred to capture their enemies; hand-to-hand combat between commoners or professional soldiers often results in routs; but the projectile of a crossbow or bow seeks to kill regardless of the restraint (or lack thereof) of their user.
A real 'killing machine', if you will! How is a clergyman supposed to preach mercy to the bolt in flight?!
Probably need more crossbows because the Romans sorta forgot, according to Emperor Leo VI The Wise