Pavise

A (large ) Pavese ( Italian: according to the town of Pavia; Boffese, Setztartsche, professional setting plate) was a large rectangular wooden sign, which is usually the crossbowmen and archers served in the Middle Ages in sieges as cover.

Construction

The large Pavese was about 2 m high and 1 m wide. It consisted of laminated lightweight wooden slats, which were often covered with leather or fabric and made ​​waterproof with varnish or paint. At the upper end of the Pavese there were sometimes loopholes through which the well-protected shooter could fire on the enemy. With attached to the bottom of the iron spikes you could anchor it in the ground. The Pavese, despite their fragility excellent protection against enemy arrows as they still gave way in a crash and was so difficult to penetrate. The Pavese was often used during sieges.