Medieval English longbows had an effective range of over 200 yards, with skilled archers able to launch arrows more than 350 yards.
Medieval Longbows Could Strike Targets 200+ Yards Away
The English longbow wasn't just a weapon—it was a medieval superweapon that changed the course of European history. With an effective combat range of over 200 yards and maximum distances exceeding 350 yards, these six-foot bows gave English armies a devastating advantage that their enemies struggled to counter for centuries.
What Made the Longbow So Deadly?
Standing nearly as tall as the men who wielded them, longbows were typically crafted from yew wood, prized for its unique combination of flexibility and strength. The heartwood provided compression resistance while the sapwood handled tension—nature's own composite material.
Draw weights ranged from 80 to over 180 pounds, requiring incredible strength. Skeletons of medieval archers show overdeveloped arm and shoulder bones, permanent physical changes from years of training that began in childhood.
The Numbers Behind the Legend
A skilled archer could loose 10-12 arrows per minute at effective combat ranges. At the Battle of Crécy in 1346, an estimated 5,000 English longbowmen faced a French army of over 30,000—and won decisively.
The math was terrifying for anyone on the receiving end:
- 5,000 archers × 10 arrows per minute = 50,000 arrows per minute
- Volleys could be sustained for several minutes
- French cavalry charges were shattered before reaching English lines
Agincourt: The Longbow's Finest Hour
On October 25, 1415, Henry V's exhausted, disease-ridden army faced a French force that outnumbered them roughly four to one. The muddy field at Agincourt seemed destined to become an English grave.
Instead, it became a slaughter—of the French. English longbowmen, protected by sharpened stakes, unleashed a storm of arrows that turned the battlefield into chaos. French knights, many drowning in mud under the weight of their armor, fell by the thousands. The longbow had once again proven that technology and training could overcome raw numbers.
Why Did It Disappear?
Despite its effectiveness, the longbow's reign eventually ended. The problem wasn't the weapon—it was the decade of training required to use it effectively. Crossbows could be mastered in weeks. Early firearms, though less accurate, required even less training.
England actually passed laws requiring men to practice archery on Sundays, trying desperately to maintain their pool of skilled bowmen. But as firearms improved throughout the 16th century, the longbow gradually faded from European battlefields.
The last recorded military use of the longbow by English forces was in 1644, during the English Civil War. A weapon that had dominated medieval warfare for three centuries finally fell silent—replaced not by a superior weapon, but by one that was simply easier to learn.