Crossbowman

Crossbowmen, or arbalists,^[1] were soldiers armed with crossbows. They patrolled and defended the rooftops in a fashion similar to archers and were thus able to catch sight of Assassins from a distance. However, unlike archers who drew their swords if an Assassin came too close, they used their crossbows for defensive melee combat and would still fire at the enemy, even at close range.^[2]^[3]

Crossbowmen were a hindrance when encountered in groups, as crossbow bolts moved faster than normal arrows and could cause an Assassin to stumble and fall off a rooftop. Crossbowmen were skilled marksmen and were capable of damaging armor with their shots. They were also more likely to follow an Assassin if they spotted them, making stealth tactics or ranged weapons recommendable to avoid a fight and diminish the chances of being discovered.^[2]

History[edit | edit source]

Tang dynasty[edit | edit source]

At the time of the Tang dynasty, the Chinese military employed soldiers who specialized in the use of the crossbow. Zhang Huaigu led the 15th Squad, an elite crossbowmen unit in the 7th Army of the Anxi Protectorate, which also included Li E, Shi Xiangnu, An Xiaolang, Zhang Manzi, Zhang Shunguang, Tang Zhuzi, Wang Wenjin, Wang Chou, Li Ruyi, and Li Xiaogou. In 751, the squad participated in the Battle of Talas against the Abbasid Caliphate, where the Tang forces suffered a crushing defeat and Li E was rescued by a group of Hidden Ones,^[4] who subsequently brought him into their fold.^[5]

Viking expansion[edit | edit source]

By the 9th century, arbalists formed part of many European militaries, including those of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy and Francia. However, the crossbow's reduced accuracy and range compared to the standard bow made it a less popular choice of ranged weaponry. As a result, most arbalists were not deployed on the battlefield and were instead stationed inside cities and fortresses, where they would rain crossbow bolts upon any invaders.^[6]

Crusades[edit | edit source]

During the Third Crusade, crossbowmen such as Nazim were regularly deployed as city guards.^[7] The Knights Templar also made use of crossbowmen during the Assault on Masyaf in 1189.^[8]

Renaissance[edit | edit source]

Utilization of crossbowmen among European militaries rose dramatically in the 14th century. In Rome, during the reign of the House of Borgia under Pope Alexander VI, crossbowmen and arquebusiers patrolled the city's rooftops, shooting any Assassin on sight.^[2]^[9]

Ming dynasty[edit | edit source]

The Ming dynasty similarly employed crossbowmen to guard palaces and forts. In addition to regular crossbowmen, the Ming also utilized "Heavy Crossbowmen", who wore heavy armor and were posted on high vantage points, searching for anyone suspicious and unleashing a flurry of bolts upon them.^[10]