Derivated from the bow, the crossbow appears as early as the 10th century. It's a very powerful weapon, but also a heavy one. In the 14th century, a good soldier can't shoot more than two arrows per minute. To draw the crossbow, the fighter put his foot in a stirrup, while the string is hooked at his belt. Due to the difficulty to use it, this weapon was employed essentially to defend a place.

Drawing: Encyclopédie du Moyen-Age de Viollet-le-Duc.