ORIGINAL: Rebel Hog
An interesting historical footnote about the crossbow: in 1139 the Pope decreed crossbows to be too murderous for “Christian warfare” and directed an interdict against them. Naturally, he still encouraged their use against infidels. Richard the Lionhearted disobeyed the edict and continued to employ crossbowmen in his armies. To the amused sense of irony for many of the period (and us), he was later killed by a crossbow bolt.
LOL Reb, thats ironic and kinda funny. I wonder what his last words were? Awshucks? LOL.
I bet the Pope didn't like it because the bolts were heavy, designed to defeat armor (very heavy) and the guys wearing armor were generally higher class. What buisness did the Pope have in wars any how?