How would a Roman army deal with a crossbow?

[Taizong]

This question has wondered around my head for a long time. Anyone could please answer such a question? I have known, however, that Roman army seemed to rely on shock impact rather than using powerful missile troops as their mainstay, is this assessment true?

[Kosmo]

They would have confiscated the crossbow and throw the owner to the lions

Crossbow would have not been very useful against the heavy armored and compact formations of roman infantry. Giving the slow reload it would be even lees useful then archery and archers could not stop roman or greek heavy infantry. Only horse archers that could keep their distance had an impact.

Romans had siege weapons that were like huge crossbows.

[Flavius Claudius Iulianus]

The Romans did use the handheld manuballista later on though, didn't they? How often were they used and what were they used for?

[Northern Neil]

I believe there is a stone carving showing a Pictish warrior using a crossbow. Also, the Osprey book 'Late Roman Infantryman' shows a a germanic infantryman carrying one (my books are still in boxes following recent house move, otherwise I would include pictures). In both instances these crossbows appear to be lighter weight ones than the high - medieval arbalests.

[ASCLEPIADES]

They would have confiscated the crossbow and throw the owner to the lions

Crossbow would have not been very useful against the heavy armored and compact formations of roman infantry. Giving the slow reload it would be even lees useful then archery and archers could not stop roman or greek heavy infantry. Only horse archers that could keep their distance had an impact.

Romans had siege weapons that were like huge crossbows.

Edited December 1, 2008 by ASCLEPIADES

[Taizong]

But isn't it true that Romans did not encounter any kind of armies who had powerful bows like the Huns (known also Xiongnu in the East)? Is this the reason why Early Roman Army did not fight in loose formation? Also, I thought that cataphracts in those days did not have massive effects as seen in later period since the lack of stirrup?

 

I believe there is a stone carving showing a Pictish warrior using a crossbow. Also, the Osprey book 'Late Roman Infantryman' shows a a germanic infantryman carrying one (my books are still in boxes following recent house move, otherwise I would include pictures). In both instances these crossbows appear to be lighter weight ones than the high - medieval arbalests.

I think the Osprey makes a mistake, since crossbow should appear in Europe no lesser than 9th-10th century. The only powerful hand-held crossbows with magnificent trigger mechanism is of Qin-Han Empire, who possessed an entire different style of warfare to the Romans.

Edited November 9, 2008 by Taizong

[caldrail]

I remember seeing a mention of crossbow-armed troops in roman times, either the late empire or byzantine era's. Not a common weapon.

 

Although its true the crossbow is a slow loading weapon, and therefore suffers in utility against the ordinary bow, the potential power of a bolt impact is not to be underestimated. That is after all why crossbows were adopted in preference to the bow anyway, except perhaps for a more natural aiming method.

[Lanista]

That is after all why crossbows were adopted in preference to the bow anyway, except perhaps for a more natural aiming method.

 

Well that and that fact that it didn't take a life time of training to learn how to use a crossbow.

[M. Porcius Cato]

Wasn't the Greek cross-bow (the gastrophetes, 'belly-shooter') used in siege defense in Syracusae? From a protected and fixed position of short range like that, the cross-bow seems awfully useful.

[ASCLEPIADES]

The only powerful hand-held crossbows with magnificent trigger mechanism is of Qin-Han Empire, who possessed an entire different style of warfare to the Romans.

Edited December 1, 2008 by ASCLEPIADES

[Taizong]

I think the Osprey makes a mistake, since crossbow should appear in Europe no lesser than 9th-10th century. The only powerful hand-held crossbows with magnificent trigger mechanism is of Qin-Han Empire, who possessed an entire different style of warfare to the Romans.

Nope; Osprey is right.

 

The gastrophetes ("belly-shooter') quoted by MPC were presumably the first crossbows in the Meditherranean area and they appeared circa 400 BC.

 

Hero of Alexandria left the best detailed description in his work Belopoeica (Βελοποιικά), among other war machines like catapults.

Oh! Isee what does he mean! THanks

But is it a siege weapons? By hand-held crossbow, I mean something like this one:

http://www.weblo.com/asset_image/456349/62...estofchina.com/

 

Also how strong such a crossbow is (gastrophetes)?

[ASCLEPIADES]

Wasn't the Greek cross-bow (the gastrophetes, 'belly-shooter') used in siege defense in Syracusae? From a protected and fixed position of short range like that, the cross-bow seems awfully useful.

It seems quite likely.

Edited December 1, 2008 by ASCLEPIADES

[ASCLEPIADES]

Also how strong such a crossbow is (gastrophetes)?

Edited December 1, 2008 by ASCLEPIADES

[Bryaxis Hecatee]

The earlier mention of a crossbow in military context of which I know in the Roman World is from the time of Julian the Apostate ( in his gallic campaign around 360 AD ) : i don't have the exact passage but it comes in his early carreer when, going to Gaul, he his escorted by "balistarii" and cavalery. Those balistarii are usually thought to be crossbows operators instead of siege engineers.

 

Other than that I know of no mention of military crossbow in the roman period. On the other hand the use of crossbows for hunting is better knows and more informations about those is known ( I suppose the Daremberg and Saglio could be of use here )

[ASCLEPIADES]

The earlier mention of a crossbow in military context of which I know in the Roman World is from the time of Julian the Apostate ( in his gallic campaign around 360 AD ) : i don't have the exact passage but it comes in his early carreer when, going to Gaul, he his escorted by "balistarii" and cavalery. Those balistarii are usually thought to be crossbows operators instead of siege engineers.

 

Other than that I know of no mention of military crossbow in the roman period. On the other hand the use of crossbows for hunting is better knows and more informations about those is known ( I suppose the Daremberg and Saglio could be of use here )

Edited December 1, 2008 by ASCLEPIADES