Los Ballesteros del Conto en Portugal en la Edad Media

Abstract

With this article, we will try to show the main features of one of the most well succeeded experiences of the Portuguese medieval military organization: the militia of the “Besteiros (crossbowmen) do Conto”. Created by D. Dinis in the end of the Thirteenth century, these warriors intervened in the main military operations throughout the Fourteenth century and reached, during the first decades of the Fifteenth century, nearly 5 000 crossbowmen mobilized in approximately 300 local recruitment units.