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Anarrowslit (often also referred to as anarrow loop,loophole orloop hole, and sometimes abalistraria[1]) is a narrow vertical aperture in afortification through which anarcher can launcharrows or acrossbowman can launchbolts.
The interior walls behind an arrow loop are often cut away at anoblique angle so that the archer has a widefield of view andfield of fire. Arrow slits come in a variety of forms. A common one is thecross, accommodating the use of both thelongbow and thecrossbow. The narrow vertical aperture permits the archer large degrees of freedom to vary theelevation and direction of their bowshot but makes it difficult for attackers to harm the archer since there is only a small target at which to aim.
Balistraria, pluralbalistrariae (from balister, crossbowman),[1][2] can often be found in thecurtain walls of medievalbattlements beneath thecrenellations.
The invention of the arrowslit is attributed toArchimedes during thesiege of Syracuse in 214–212 BC (although archaeological evidence supports their existence inEgyptian Middle Kingdomforts around 1860 BC).[3] Slits "of the height of a man and about a palm's width on the outside" allowed defenders to shoot bows andscorpions (an ancient siege engine) from within thecity walls.[4] Although used in late Greek and Roman defences, arrowslits were not present in early Normancastles. They are reintroduced to military architecture only towards the end of the 12th century, with the castles ofDover andFramlingham in England, andRichard the Lionheart'sChâteau Gaillard in France. In these early examples, arrowslits were positioned to protect sections of the castle wall, rather than all sides of the castle. In the 13th century, it became common for arrowslits to be placed all around a castle's defences.[4]
Elements of fortification such as arrowslits became associated with high social standing and authority.[5] As such, damaging them could be significant as an aspect ofslighting.[6]
The successor of arrowslits after the advent ofgunpowder was theloophole forfirearms.
In its simplest form, an arrowslit was a narrow vertical opening; however, the different weapons used by defenders sometimes dictated the form of arrowslits. For example, openings forlongbowmen were usually tall and high to allow the user to shoot standing up and make use of the 6 ft (1.8 m) bow, while those for crossbowmen were usually lower down as it was easier for the user to shoot whilst kneeling to support the weight of the weapon. It was common for arrowslits to widen to a triangle at the bottom, called a fishtail, to allow defenders a clearer view of the base of the wall.[7] Immediately behind the slit there was a recess called anembrasure; this allowed a defender to get close to the slit without being too cramped.[8] The width of the slit dictated the field of fire, but the field of vision could be enhanced by the addition of horizontal openings; they allowed defenders to view the target before it entered range.[7]
Usually, the horizontal slits were level, which created a cross shape, but less common was to have the slits off-set (called displaced traverse slots) as demonstrated in the remains ofWhite Castle in Wales. This has been characterised as an advance in design as it provided attackers with a smaller target;[9] however, it has also been suggested that it was to allow the defenders of White Castle to keep attackers in their sights for longer because of the steepmoat surrounding the castle.
When an embrasure linked to more than one arrowslit (in the case ofDover Castle, defenders from three embrasures can shoot through the same arrowslit) it is called a "multiple arrowslit".[10] Some arrowslits, such as those atCorfe Castle, had lockers nearby to store spare arrows and bolts; these were usually located on the right hand side of the slit for ease of access and to allow a rapid rate of fire.[7]
Balistraria, bal-is-trar'i-a, n. An aperture or loophole in the wall of a fortification through which crossbowmen might discharge their bolts. Balister (pbs.), name for an arbalester or crossbowman, also an arbalest or crossbow itself.
