Why Archers rarely Hold Shields

The scope is outside of siege

[RexorInvicta]

Very interesting! Funny how pavaise became common for crossbow usage but never caught on for archery.

[b.h.abbott-motley]

While the majority of archers may not have used shields, some high-quality ones did. In describing his 1432-1433 trip to Ottoman lands, Bertrandon de la Broquière wrote the following: "Many of them carry a little wooden shield with which they defend themselves quite successfully on horseback while shooting their bows." He also noted that well-equipped Ottoman cavalry who had armor still bore shields. Plenty of armored horse archers from West Asia (the Middle East) bear shields in period art.

[Bucellarius]

It would seem that Late Antique and Early Medieval archers had the right idea to "wear" the shield behind the shoulder with one strap around the arm and a guige around the neck for support to keep the shoulder from getting tired. When held up to cover the face (particularly when loading an arrow), the shield is naturally at an angle which would encourage incoming missiles to glance off rather than stick through it. Though, if the Strategikon has to say anything about it, not everyone preferred using this kind've shield as they thought it impeded properly drawing the bow.

[dustysaurus]

Fascinating that such a widespread weapon across all sorts of cultures has so many different specialized techniques and nuances to it. It’s also so interesting seeing how armor plays a role in that as well

[dimitrioskontsiotis]

Great video. I've often wondered this myself, why most Archers didn't have shields. The way you explained it makes a lot of sense, thank you.

[АнтонОрлов-яъ]

You can also wear a small shield on your left/bow arm (not holding it in your hand). As far as I understand, it was commonly done by Byzantines and Turks.
Another option is to carry a small shield on your belt or a larger shield on your back. This, of course, doesn't provide a lot of protection while you are shooting a bow, but may be useful in case of melee - you can drop your bow and ready your shield.
There is also interesting "winged shield" used by Chukchi in North-Eastern Siberia (and maybe also by Ancient Scythians). It is a large shield, covering your back, neck and (one or both) arms, but allowing you to shoot a bow without any problem.

[Itsjustavy]

My attendant shall carry the shield for me :P

[monokheros]

Tower Shields are great for archers....set the shield on the ground and stand behind it... great mobile protection

[sneezingidiot]

I figured they had specialized shields I spaced about the Draw positions

[Errtuabyss]

There where shields with a cut-out at the area it would otherwise hinder the arrow.
But those shields where at best as big as the stand-in in this video, since their weight would hinder the archer too much. They wouldn't really cover all that much against accurate counter fire and most cultures prevered either proper body armor, mobility or the help of other troops.

The cut-out shields where also useful in Close Combat, but that is not where you want your expensive trained archers to be.😅

[Verticom]

I would bet there were shields shaped for the task

[LKHChannel]

Which is why mmorpg game archers never use shields..

[keima]

I think they have shield for arror. like "擋箭牌＂。 Probably like a standing road sign we have now.

[Commander_Raveth]

So... Has anyone ever tried to fuse the shield into the bow? Like with those armor plates on turrets and cannons?

[strongroyp]

put a hole in the shield for the arrow to go through

[mrbombpop]

Didn’t Cretan archers wear small forearm shields?

[legntt]

Why you can't shoot the arrow if sandwiched between the shield and the b

[wyattw]

As I recall the Assyrians answered the problem with one of the first standing armies in the ancient world which were majority teams of archers and shield bearers (pavise like, very large), iirc not even really giving the shield bearer much for armor or weapons as his purpose was to just form a shield wall edge to edge.

[ΚωνσταντίνοςΝικολός]

For Mediterranean throws we had occasionally, shields strapped on our elbows, daaa.. 😁🤭👋🎉🫡

[ofekmizrahi]

I would solve this issue by making a Shoulder strapped shield that will be out of the way while shooting but with a small turn it protects you from forward coming projectiles and also blocks the side of your head always