Pike & Shotte - Mounted Crossbowmen

The rise of pike-armed infantry during the Italian Wars rendered the cavalry charge - traditionally the ultimate arbiter of the medieval battle - far less effective. To counter this, heavy cavalry units began incorporating men with small but powerful crossbows, who would screen the advance of their more traditionally armed fellows, and deliver a point-blank salvo to break the cohesion of a pike block in the instant before a charge. This would eventually evolve with technology, and continue to be a feature of cavalry throughout the Pike & Shotte period, and for the remainder of their military relevance.