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[[Image:Longbows.jpg|thumb|left]][[Image:Longbow.jpg|thumb|right]]

[[Image:Longbows.jpg|thumb|left]][[Image:Longbow.jpg|thumb|right]]

A '''longbow''' is a long, hand-drawn [[bow]] designed to shoot arrows at a distance and which is at least as long as the archer is tall; modern longbows are typically 6' to 6'6" in length, and some recovered medieval examples are over 7' long.  It was made famous from its use in [[medieval]] [[England]].<ref>http://www.thefreedictionary.com/longbow</ref>  It is a common misconception that the longbow was a uniquely [[British]] weapon, as similar bows have been found in Scandanavian peat bogs and are used for elephant hunting by a number of African tribes. The English were first educated in the effects of archery by the [[Welsh]] during [[Edward I]]'s campaigns in Wales, and subsequently developed the Welsh self-bows into a longer, much more powerful weapon, typically made of [[yew]].  

A '''longbow''' is a long, hand-drawn [[bow]] designed to shoot arrows at a distance and which is at least as long as the archer is tall; modern longbows are typically 6' to 6'6" in length, and some recovered medieval examples are over 7' long.  It was made famous from its use in [[medieval]] [[England]].<ref>http://www.thefreedictionary.com/longbow</ref>  It is a common misconception that the longbow was a uniquely [[British]] weapon, as similar bows have been found in Scandinavian peat bogs and are used for elephant hunting by a number of African tribes. The English were first educated in the effects of archery by the [[Welsh]] during [[Edward I]]'s campaigns in Wales, and subsequently developed the Welsh self-bows into a longer, much more powerful weapon, typically made of [[yew]].  

What is unique is the way it was used ''en masse'' and with tactical brilliance by English commanders during the 14th and into the 15th centuries, and the discipline and training of the archers - an Anglo-Welsh yeoman archer of the time was trained to loose an arrow, generally 32" long, up to 250 yards, with a good deal of accuracy, at a rate of between 6 and 10 arrows a minute. This is a rate of fire not exceeded until the first repeating rifles of the 19th century.  

What is unique is the way it was used ''en masse'' and with tactical brilliance by English commanders during the 14th and into the 15th centuries, and the discipline and training of the archers - an Anglo-Welsh yeoman archer of the time was trained to loose an arrow, generally 32" long, up to 250 yards, with a good deal of accuracy, at a rate of between 6 and 10 arrows a minute. This is a rate of fire not exceeded until the first repeating rifles of the 19th century.