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Pavise

Large standing shield for crossbowmen

The pavise was a large rectangular shield standing 120-150cm tall, used primarily by crossbowmen (arbalestiers) in 14th-15th century Europe. Since crossbows required significant time to reload, the pavise provided full-body cover during the vulnerable loading process, either propped up on the ground or carried by a dedicated shield-bearer (paviser). Named after the Italian city of Pavia, these shields were elaborately decorated with city coats of arms and religious imagery, serving as symbols of civic identity. Italian city-state crossbow units used them most extensively.

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