12th-15th century
-
Eustace the Monk
Eustace the Monk (c. 1170–1217) was a nobleman from the county of Boulogne who abandoned a Benedictine monastery for a career as an outlaw and, by 1205, a mercenary sea captain based in the English Channel. He served King John of England for several years, raiding the Norman coast and holding fortified bases in the…
-
Medieval Naval Crossbow
A mechanically drawn bow mounted on a stock, used by sailors and marines of medieval Europe, including the Victual Brothers, a confederation of Baltic and North Sea pirates active in the late 14th century. Its slow reload was offset by greater penetrating power than a hand bow, useful against an approaching ship’s crew. It remained…