The Swiss Longbow: Crossbowmen Who Changed Medieval Warfare

Before the halberd became the iconic Swiss weapon, crossbowmen from the alpine cantons dominated European battlefields for centuries. This episode follows the rise of Swiss 'Armbrustschützen' from the 13th century through the Burgundian Wars, where their volley fire shattered Charles the Bold's knightly armies at Grandson and Morat. We explore how mountain villages produced such expert marksmen—from mandatory target practice on Sundays to the elaborate guild system that trained boys from age ten. The story of the longbow's Swiss cousin reveals a different side of Swiss military history: not just close-quarters shock troops but disciplined ranged specialists who could loose twelve bolts a minute. We also examine the technological arms race between crossbows and early firearms, and why Swiss cantons eventually phased out the crossbow in the 16th century. Along the way, we meet master bowyer Hans Rüss of Lucerne, whose workshop produced bows still functional today, and learn how crossbow culture survived in Swiss shooting festivals well into the 19th century. #SwissLongbow #Crossbowmen #Armbrustschützen #SwissMilitary #MedievalWarfare #BurgundianWars #CharlesTheBold #Grandson1476 #Morat1476 #HansRüss #Lucerne #Eidgenossenschaft #Reisläufer #MedievalEurope #WeaponHistory #MilitaryHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo