WEAPONS AND FIGHTING DURING THE ELIZABETHAN ERA
Weapons of the Elizabethan Era
During the Elizabethan Era in England, weapons such as swords, bows, and arrows were commonly used for combat and leisure. For example, the musket was created in 1520 and was often used in wars. Muskets were an advantage to the soldiers in combat because they did not have to be as close to their enemies and thus might have saved many soldiers' lives. Cannons, which were previously used, were made of bronze or iron and used in heavy warfare. These cannons were modernized during the Elizabethan era to perform more efficiently. Other hand-held firearms of this time period were the matchlock and the flintlock. These weapons all led to the modernization of war in the Elizabethan Era. Many people preferred to fight one-on-one combat with weapons like swords and daggers. Other weapons used in small combat were rapiers, spears, and sometimes axes. Crossbows and bows and arrows were both used in war, but bows and arrows were used for hunting. Broadswords were used for combat with other armies, while daggers were used for combat against one person directly, such as a duel. Rapiers were most often used by noblemen and gentlemen during this time in duels, street fights, and other such combats. They were incredibly light, and were often carried around as an accessory. Often, in battle, soldiers wore heavy armor, which protected them from being injured, but armor was commonly used for decoration as well. In “Romeo and Juliet,” by William Shakespeare, Mercutio, (Romeo’s friend) battles Tybalt (Juliet’s cousin) in the streets of Verona. They begin to fence after Mercutio says, “Come sir, your passado,” which is a fencing term. Romeo urges Mercutio to fight, saying, “Gentle Mercutio put thy rapier up,” before remembering the Prince’s warning about fighting in the streets.
Fighting during the Elizabethan Era
The English had a strong military, and most men during this time period knew how to fight with weapons such as swords. At the beginning of the Queen's reign, medieval weapons were still used, but by the end of Queen Elizabeth's reign, weapons such as the musket were used in battle. The Elizabethan Era experienced many battles, and the English Navy and Army were strong. Some countries became enemies of England because they found some of their rulings and customs controversial, such as religion. Many countries, such as Spain, France and Ireland were against England because Queen Elizabeth was Protestant, while these countries were Catholic. Conquest, religion and power in the New World were the largest reasons for feuds between different countries in the Elizabethan Era.
There was an infamous conflict between England and the Spanish Armada. The Spanish Armada was the incredibly strong Spanish Navy that had yet to be defeated in combat. The British Navy fought the Spanish Armada and won the battle, which was quite a surprise. Fighting with ships on water became much more common in battle. The defeat of the Spanish also made the English a more powerful and feared country. The battle with the Spanish Armada was the beginning of a long conflict and war between Spain and England, lasting from 1585 to 1603. A main reason for this conflict was the battle for wealth and power in the New World between large, powerful nations. Religious differences was also a reason for conflicts between countries. The Spanish tried to conquer the English as a religious crusade because the Pope excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I, but they were unsuccessful. As a response to the attack, the English pirated Spanish ships, though the Queen made no effort to stop these illegal raids. The Queen died during the war with Spain, and James the First was named King. The war between England and Spain was an important war because both nations were very powerful and wealthy. Many battles from this war changed the face of Europe, and affected all countries because trade was decreased and many merchant ships were pirated. The war, which ended in 1603, was arguably the most important war during the Elizabethan Era.
Another war which was fought during the Elizabethan Era was the Desmond Rebellion. There were multiple wars within the Desmond Rebellion, all occurring over a 20 year time span (1560-1580). The Earl of Desmond led his Geraldine followers into rebellion, threatening to extend English rule into Ireland. The main cause of the rebellion was the issue of control over the province of Muster (Ireland) and religion. Another rebellion fought during the Elizabethan Era was the Tyrone Rebellion, also known as the Nine Years' war, which lasted from 1594 to 1603. The Tyrone Rebellion was one of the most stressful and difficult wars fought during the Elizabethan Era. Tyrone was in Ireland, and the rebellion was lead by the Earl of Tyrone, Hugh O'Neil. This rebellion occurred for many reasons, including the English expansion into Ireland, the Irish Catholics' harbored hate toward the English Protestants, and the Irish beliefs that the English were heretics. The English eventually won the war in 1603.
These wars are relevant to the play, "Romeo and Juliet," written by William Shakespeare, because they occurred during the time period in which the play was written. Since the play's setting is in Verona, Italy, the wars would have affected the Italian world because Italian trade ships had difficulty trading with other countries because many were at war. Also, their ships would have passed through conflict zones and could have been destroyed. This would have affected the society and people who lived in powerful nations such as Italy and England. People would not have had access to all of the goods which they previously did due to trade and would have had to ration their foods. This is how "Romeo and Juliet" is relative to the fighting and battles that occurred during the Elizabethan Era.
Citations:
Alchin, Linda. "Elizabethan War." Elizabethan Era. N.p., 16 May 2012. Web. 20 Dec. 2013.
Heyd, Lily. "Weaponry, Fighting, and the Military in Elizabethan Era." Prezi. N.p., 11 Jan. 2013. Web. 17 Dec. 2013.
Rainey, Jaelin. " Copy of Elizabethan Era Weapons." Prezi. N.p., 23 Sept. 2013. Web. 17 Dec. 2013
Tomecek, Jan. "Recreations and Sports." The Elizabethan Age. N.p., Aug. 2001. Web. 17 Dec. 2013.
Wilson, William E. "Elizabethan Fencing and the Art of Defence." Tattershall School of Defence, n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.
During the Elizabethan Era in England, weapons such as swords, bows, and arrows were commonly used for combat and leisure. For example, the musket was created in 1520 and was often used in wars. Muskets were an advantage to the soldiers in combat because they did not have to be as close to their enemies and thus might have saved many soldiers' lives. Cannons, which were previously used, were made of bronze or iron and used in heavy warfare. These cannons were modernized during the Elizabethan era to perform more efficiently. Other hand-held firearms of this time period were the matchlock and the flintlock. These weapons all led to the modernization of war in the Elizabethan Era. Many people preferred to fight one-on-one combat with weapons like swords and daggers. Other weapons used in small combat were rapiers, spears, and sometimes axes. Crossbows and bows and arrows were both used in war, but bows and arrows were used for hunting. Broadswords were used for combat with other armies, while daggers were used for combat against one person directly, such as a duel. Rapiers were most often used by noblemen and gentlemen during this time in duels, street fights, and other such combats. They were incredibly light, and were often carried around as an accessory. Often, in battle, soldiers wore heavy armor, which protected them from being injured, but armor was commonly used for decoration as well. In “Romeo and Juliet,” by William Shakespeare, Mercutio, (Romeo’s friend) battles Tybalt (Juliet’s cousin) in the streets of Verona. They begin to fence after Mercutio says, “Come sir, your passado,” which is a fencing term. Romeo urges Mercutio to fight, saying, “Gentle Mercutio put thy rapier up,” before remembering the Prince’s warning about fighting in the streets.
Fighting during the Elizabethan Era
The English had a strong military, and most men during this time period knew how to fight with weapons such as swords. At the beginning of the Queen's reign, medieval weapons were still used, but by the end of Queen Elizabeth's reign, weapons such as the musket were used in battle. The Elizabethan Era experienced many battles, and the English Navy and Army were strong. Some countries became enemies of England because they found some of their rulings and customs controversial, such as religion. Many countries, such as Spain, France and Ireland were against England because Queen Elizabeth was Protestant, while these countries were Catholic. Conquest, religion and power in the New World were the largest reasons for feuds between different countries in the Elizabethan Era.
There was an infamous conflict between England and the Spanish Armada. The Spanish Armada was the incredibly strong Spanish Navy that had yet to be defeated in combat. The British Navy fought the Spanish Armada and won the battle, which was quite a surprise. Fighting with ships on water became much more common in battle. The defeat of the Spanish also made the English a more powerful and feared country. The battle with the Spanish Armada was the beginning of a long conflict and war between Spain and England, lasting from 1585 to 1603. A main reason for this conflict was the battle for wealth and power in the New World between large, powerful nations. Religious differences was also a reason for conflicts between countries. The Spanish tried to conquer the English as a religious crusade because the Pope excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I, but they were unsuccessful. As a response to the attack, the English pirated Spanish ships, though the Queen made no effort to stop these illegal raids. The Queen died during the war with Spain, and James the First was named King. The war between England and Spain was an important war because both nations were very powerful and wealthy. Many battles from this war changed the face of Europe, and affected all countries because trade was decreased and many merchant ships were pirated. The war, which ended in 1603, was arguably the most important war during the Elizabethan Era.
Another war which was fought during the Elizabethan Era was the Desmond Rebellion. There were multiple wars within the Desmond Rebellion, all occurring over a 20 year time span (1560-1580). The Earl of Desmond led his Geraldine followers into rebellion, threatening to extend English rule into Ireland. The main cause of the rebellion was the issue of control over the province of Muster (Ireland) and religion. Another rebellion fought during the Elizabethan Era was the Tyrone Rebellion, also known as the Nine Years' war, which lasted from 1594 to 1603. The Tyrone Rebellion was one of the most stressful and difficult wars fought during the Elizabethan Era. Tyrone was in Ireland, and the rebellion was lead by the Earl of Tyrone, Hugh O'Neil. This rebellion occurred for many reasons, including the English expansion into Ireland, the Irish Catholics' harbored hate toward the English Protestants, and the Irish beliefs that the English were heretics. The English eventually won the war in 1603.
These wars are relevant to the play, "Romeo and Juliet," written by William Shakespeare, because they occurred during the time period in which the play was written. Since the play's setting is in Verona, Italy, the wars would have affected the Italian world because Italian trade ships had difficulty trading with other countries because many were at war. Also, their ships would have passed through conflict zones and could have been destroyed. This would have affected the society and people who lived in powerful nations such as Italy and England. People would not have had access to all of the goods which they previously did due to trade and would have had to ration their foods. This is how "Romeo and Juliet" is relative to the fighting and battles that occurred during the Elizabethan Era.
Citations:
Alchin, Linda. "Elizabethan War." Elizabethan Era. N.p., 16 May 2012. Web. 20 Dec. 2013.
Heyd, Lily. "Weaponry, Fighting, and the Military in Elizabethan Era." Prezi. N.p., 11 Jan. 2013. Web. 17 Dec. 2013.
Rainey, Jaelin. " Copy of Elizabethan Era Weapons." Prezi. N.p., 23 Sept. 2013. Web. 17 Dec. 2013
Tomecek, Jan. "Recreations and Sports." The Elizabethan Age. N.p., Aug. 2001. Web. 17 Dec. 2013.
Wilson, William E. "Elizabethan Fencing and the Art of Defence." Tattershall School of Defence, n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.