Etat Major Français / French Napoleonic HQ Staff 1/72

The French army consisted of either of the heavy-armed soldiers or the light infantry. The first category was presented by the fully-armed horsemen. The second category mainly included longbowmen, crossbowmen and Sergeants. Through the whole XIVth century, the crossbowmen, among which the Genoese mercenaries were the best ones, had been remaining the advanced force of the infantry. The Genoese crossbowmen were embarked for neutralization of the English longbowmen. As a defense, the infantrymen usually used brigandine armor and various shields and, as head armor, bascinets or chapels de fer (Eng. kettle hats).