The medieval adoption of pikemen

[The Computer Illiterate]

Hi,

Why did pikemen become popular during the late medieval era? Was it really just to counter cavalry or were there other purposes?

[Andytheplatypus]

Pretty basic. Early guns took a long time to reload and shoot. Pikes kept enemies at a distance until guns could shoot. Also note that the other reason for longer weapons like halberds, etc was because of the increase in armor technology. With a long weapon you have the weight and leverage to get through thick steel armor.

[Melooo182]

Also pikes were relatively low tech with easier availability for low peasants and commoners

[Basileus of Byzantium]

In the later Medieval period you see a resurgence in infantry tactics (rise in professional standing armies) and as the gun became more popular, kingdoms began to arm infantrymen with them. The increase of gunpowder warfare reduced the importance of heavy cavalry (the end of the knightly warrior), but cavalry was still a threat to arquebusiers and musketeers who didn't have bayonets at the time. What better way to counter this threat than to arm your men with long pointy sticks. More effective than protecting your ranged infantry with close combat units like swordsmen. That was also another bonus to a phalanx as its spear wall was thick enough to keep infantry out most of the time if they decided to charge at the pikemen (unless said infantry were wielding zweihanders).