Harsh Realities About Medieval Warfare That The Movies Left Out

Hollywood makes it seem like medieval skirmishes were full of exciting, action-packed sequences where soldiers dodged swords and stabbed through chainmail like butter. Unfortunately, those big-time directors got it very, very wrong. Medieval battlefields were wrought with blood and brutality — which isn't much different than the battlefields of today. But modern technology protects our soldiers from the harsh, gruesome realities that medieval armies faced. Have you been fooled by any of these Hollywood misconceptions?

Real sword fighting was way more brutal

Hollywood movies hire a choreographer to make sure every action scene looks and feels "exciting." But when it came to real sword fighting, all bets were off. There was no beautiful choreography or rules of engagement; only dirty, cheap tricks and an abundance of wounds, often leading to infection. In fact, sword fighting was even rarer than you might think.

Swords weren't really used in battle

Think about it — would you rather run into a battle with thousands of armed men using a flimsy sword or a giant battle axe? If your answer is the battle axe, then you're just like every fighter from medieval times. Swords were typically collected by the rich. Real armies used maces, morning stars, war hammers, and other bludgeoning weapons. That's not to say other weapons didn't come in handy...

Arrows weren't rained down upon enemies

Did you really think armies would waste this many arrows? Not a chance. That's not to say armies didn't utilize "arrow volleys," which is the name of these falling arrows. But the move was always a strategic one inflicted on smaller, confined groups of soldiers. Ever notice how arrows in movies sound like falling bullets? Sorry — it's all just for dramatic effect.

Arrows should stay put

We don't care if you've got big, bulging muscles and a tough facade — ripping an arrow out of your body is not only difficult, but dangerous. Arrows are designed to get stuck deep into the body. Even medical professionals have trouble removing them. Plus, removing a barbed arrow could lead to bleeding out or a severe infection. Try handling that without pain killers.