{"title":"Traditional crossbows","description":"\u003ch2 data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"517\"\u003eHistory of the crossbow\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"517\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"517\"\u003eThe crossbow has a long and well-documented history in Europe, with sources dating back to classical antiquity. The earliest mentions come from the Roman writer Vegetius (\u003cem data-start=\"196\" data-end=\"219\"\u003eEpitoma Rei Militaris\u003c\/em\u003e, 4th–5th century), who describes a weapon that he calls \u003cem data-start=\"267\" data-end=\"281\"\u003earcuballista\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem data-start=\"285\" data-end=\"299\"\u003emanuballista\u003c\/em\u003e: a portable bow on a wooden stock, tensioned with a lever mechanism. Although these Roman models were simpler than later medieval crossbows, they demonstrate that the principle was known early on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"519\" data-end=\"1186\"\u003eAfter the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the crossbow largely disappears from written sources for several centuries, but it makes a strong return in the 10th and 11th centuries. The \u003cem data-start=\"690\" data-end=\"707\"\u003eBayeux Tapestry\u003c\/em\u003e (ca. 1070) contains the earliest medieval depiction of a European crossbow in use, during the Battle of Hastings (1066). From the 12th century onwards, chroniclers such as Ordericus Vitalis and William of Malmesbury describe the crossbow as a weapon with great penetrating power. Pope Innocent II condemned its use against Christians at the Second Lateran Council in 1139, which reinforced the weapon's reputation as \"disrespectful but deadly effective.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1188\" data-end=\"1612\"\u003eIn the 13th and 14th centuries, the crossbow became standard equipment in many European armies. Cities like Genoa were known for their professional crossbowmen, described by Froissart in his chronicles of the Hundred Years' War. Mechanical improvements — such as the windlass, belt hook, and later the cranequin — allowed for higher draw weights, making heavy steel bow limbs common from the 14th century onwards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1614\" data-end=\"1855\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eUntil the 16th century, the crossbow remained important alongside early firearms. Only with the rise of the arquebus and musket did the crossbow gradually disappear from the European battlefield, although it continued to be used for hunting and sport for a long time.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"middelgrote-kruisboog","title":"Crossbow, 62 cm","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe length of this decorative crossbow is 62 cm. It is provided with iron limbs. The arrow is included.\u003cbr \/\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis item is designed for decorative purposes only!","brand":"Celtic WebMerchant","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50992755704136,"sku":"71230","price":62.8,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0891\/2892\/7560\/files\/DSC04304_27bcf127-03b3-4fbf-aed8-132b5b40ab9b.jpg?v=1765996691"},{"product_id":"franse-kruisboog","title":"Crossbow, 77 cm","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe length of this decorative crossbow is 77 cm. It is provided with iron limbs. \u003cbr \/\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis item is designed for decorative purposes.","brand":"Celtic WebMerchant","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50992756916552,"sku":"71231","price":115.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0891\/2892\/7560\/files\/DSC04319_42c34925-7d1a-473b-b30a-69ae56fef5a2.jpg?v=1766081114"},{"product_id":"kruisboog","title":"Crossbow, 88 cm","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe length of this decorative crossbow is 88 cm. It is provided with iron limbs. \u003cbr \/\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis item is designed for decorative purposes.","brand":"Celtic WebMerchant","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50992761241928,"sku":"71232","price":181.4,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0891\/2892\/7560\/files\/DSC04324_81603a74-569e-4283-9187-875600f2ac0d.jpg?v=1766983939"},{"product_id":"gedecoreerde-kruisboog","title":"Crossbow, 46 cm","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe crossbow was an important weapon for medieval European warfare. Crossbows were already used among the Greeks and the Romans. A Latin text, De Re Militari, by military historian Vegetius, mentions crossbows. From Roman Gaul the only images of crossbows from Roman times have been preserved, these are images of hunters. \u003cbr \/\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003eIn medieval Europe, crossbows were used in the war, especially from the twelfth century. The longbow was easier to work with, as the crossbow took a long time to reload because of the crannequin that reloaded heavy crossbows. The crossbow was seen as an evil weapon, and there was a time when Christians were not allowed to kill other Christians with a crossbow. After the Middle Ages, the crossbow was replaced by firearms. \u003cbr \/\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003eThis crossbow is intended for decorative use. It has beautiful wood carving decorations. The crossbow is delivered including a crossbow arrow. \u003cbr \/\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003e","brand":"Celtic WebMerchant","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51001491685704,"sku":"71222","price":65.25,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0891\/2892\/7560\/files\/DSC04247_599a5f0e-a403-4954-bed9-5ae721d16aea.jpg?v=1766080327"},{"product_id":"kruisboog-met-houtsnijwerk","title":"Crossbow, 32 cm","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe crossbow was an important weapon for medieval European warfare. Crossbows were already used among the Greeks and the Romans. A Latin text, De Re Militari, by military historian Vegetius, mentions crossbows. From Roman Gaul the only images of crossbows from Roman times have been preserved, these are images of hunters. \u003cbr \/\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003eIn medieval Europe, crossbows were used in the war, especially from the twelfth century. The longbow was easier to work with, as the crossbow took a long time to reload because of the crannequin that reloaded heavy crossbows. The crossbow was seen as an evil weapon, and there was a time when Christians were not allowed to kill other Christians with a crossbow. After the Middle Ages, the crossbow was replaced by firearms. \u003cbr \/\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003eThis crossbow is intended for decorative use. It has beautiful wood carving decorations. The crossbow is delivered including a crossbow arrow. \u003cbr \/\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003e","brand":"Celtic WebMerchant","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51001491816776,"sku":"71221","price":30.25,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0891\/2892\/7560\/files\/DSC04247_430fca2e-0008-43bc-bdf4-bc1abefdddb2.jpg?v=1766984360"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0891\/2892\/7560\/collections\/Kruisboog.jpg?v=1763910742","url":"https:\/\/www.celticwebmerchant.com\/en-no\/collections\/medieval-crossbow.oembed","provider":"Celtic WebMerchant","version":"1.0","type":"link"}