Great info.
It's a wonder anyone was killed on the battlefield at all with all the armor and chain mail they wore. Unless you had superhuman strength it is unlikely you could swing a sword hard enough to penetrate deep enough to inflict a mortal blow. Most likely battle axes, maces and spears were used.
Thanks for sharing.
Again you are 100% percent spot on
The technique of half swording proved to be very useful in combat situations :
A style of sword-fighting where your other hand holds the sword blade, and the sword is used like a short spear ( it allows to set a weak point - a gap - then drive through )
then again, a dagger is a must to finish off an incapacited opponent ; you would hold it like an ice pick and hammer the bitch down, with your palm hitting the pommel, onto a vulnerable part
Missile weapons were the #1 lethal weapons on the battlefield : crossbow bolts & arrows
Historical example : During the battle of Agincourt on 25 October 1415, Englishmen DECIMATED the French cavalry with missile weapons.
Seemingly invincible knights in
Plates armour ( not chainmail, not gambison ) had their armor pierced by those projectiles
( the famous English war bow with a draw weight of ~ 160lbs comes to mind )
The English preferred fighting on foot, btw
Pole arms ( bills, pole axes, spears etc ), were always primary infantry weapons. Think of them as rifles and swords as handguns.
When two armies clashed on foot, it looked like a compact melee with both parties pushing against eachother + pole arms strike attempts.
So yes, traditionnaly, the casualties were quite low, you are absolutely right
A medieval sword fight looked more or less like this :
( minus a shield or buckler - mini-shield- , depending on the time period and equipement )
