Last-modified: 24 November 2004
Literary and physical evidence suggest that the crossbow originated in China during the 4th century BC, though a type of crossbow called the gastraphetes may have been independently invented in Greece at about the same period. It wasn't until the 10th or 11th centuries AD that the crossbow became a significant military weapon in Europe. It passed from general military service in the 16th century, but its use for hunting and target shooting has continued to the present day. The majority of the following chronology is abridged from GUIDE TO THE CROSSBOW by Paterson:
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341 BC |
Earliest reliable record of crossbow use at battle of Ma-Ling in China. |
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228 BC |
Earliest crossbow artifact, a bronze lock mechanism from the tomb of Yu Wang. |
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0-100 AD |
Heron of Alexandria describes gastraphetes. |
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300-700 |
Roman carvings of crossbows. |
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385 |
Vegetius mentions crossbows in DE RE MILITARIA. |
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1066 |
Crossbows introduced to England by Normans. |
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1096 |
Anna Comnena describes Norman crossbows. |
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1100-1200 |
Composite crossbow lath appears. |
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1139 |
2nd Lateran Council interdict forbids use of crossbow among Christians. |
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1192 |
Crusader victory at Jaffa aided by crossbows. |
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1314 |
Earliest reliable record of steel lath. |
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1346 |
Genoese crossbowmen defeated at Crecy by English longbowmen. |
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1373 |
Earliest illustration of cranequin. |
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1503 |
First of many English laws restricting possession and use of crossbows. |
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1550-1600 |
Firearms replace crossbows in most Western armies. |
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1860 |
Photographic evidence from Chinese shows repeating crossbows still used there as military weapons. |
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1939-45 |
"Arrowspeed" crossbow used by Australian commandos in Pacific Theatre. |
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1945-1975 |
Crossbows employed by Montagnard peoples and US special forces during Vietnam conflict. |
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1960?-present |
Crossbows used to shoot anesthetic darts for capturing and treating wildlife; also used to obtain tissue samples from marine animals for obtaining genetic information. |
Written by: Dave DeLaurant (ddelaurant@yahoo.com)
Credits:
Yogi (Y.) Shan (yshan@bnr.ca) (Book), Lyn Clark (Lyn@ausbow.com.au), Roy Nielsen (roy@arctic.nmt.edu), Howard Thelemann (hthelem@wctc.net), Matthew J. Rapaport (mjr@crl.com), Carl & Kathy White (kwhite@nbn.net), Chris Smith (chriss@rand.nidlink.com), David R. Watson (iolo@crossbows.net), Barbara Stephen (barbaras@rom.on.ca)
FAQ - Crossbows