Crossbowmen, shooting

Crossbowmen, shooting. With armour (shields) and supports to match the shooters.
The crossbow, originally brought to Europe from China, was a very effective and popular weapon. The heavy bolt with a square tip easily pierced a knight's armour at close range. Shooting and aiming with this weapon could be learned quite quickly. Shooting did not require the physical strength and years of practice of a longbowman. The crossbow was cocked by placing both feet on the bow or in the stirrup at the end of the shaft, grasping the string with both hands and standing up. Later, small rotary winches appeared as an aid to cocking, which could be worn on the belt. As cover for the crossbowman, a shield (pavese) or a mantle could be rammed into the ground or set up with a support, as shown in our series.
The townspeople regularly practised the use of the crossbow and later with firearms - and since they knew each other, certainly not so seriously - in "marksmen's guilds", which also organised festive prize shootings. The tradition of today's marksmen's clubs and some folk festivals comes from this medieval time.

Series list for 100/30/101
No. 100-1047 (3x) Crossbowman, shooting
Item no. 100-1196 (1x) Shield, large
No. 100-1048 (3x) Crossbowman, bent over
Item no. 100-1197 (3x) Support for large crossbow mantle (shield)
No. 100-1049 (3x) Crossbowman, crossbow cocked
Nos. 100-1031 (1x) Knight captain on foot
No. 100-1116 (3x) Crossbowman with setting shield (Pavese)
No. 100-1032 (1x) Trumpeter, not playing, trumpet shouldered
Nos. 100-1191 (2x) Small military cloak (shield)
No. 100-1033 (1x) Pennant bearer, holding up pennant
No. 100-1192 (2x) Coat of mail (shield), small
No. 100-1044 (3x) Crossbowman, shooting
Nos. 100-1193 (2x) Defensive cloak (shield), small
No. 100-1045 (3x) Crossbowman, crossbow cocking
No. 100-1194 (1x) Defensive coat (shield), large
No. 100-1046 (3x) Crossbowman, in reserve
No. 100-1195 (1x) Crossbow mantle (shield), large