Historical Notes

The city of Volterra was famous in the Middle Ages for its Crossbowmen who took part in many of the important battles in Tuscany at that time. They fought in the defence of Prato in 1107 alongside the Imperial troops against Matilde of Canossa who was besieging the city, at the battle of Campaldino in 1289, the siege of Lucca in 1328 and of course the many military skirmishes which took place on their borders with Pisa and Sangimignano
It is recorded that on 19th March 1218 the Podestà Ildebrandino di Romeo rewarded three Crossbowmen of Volterra, namely Fortone, Pasquale and Scudo, for their loyalty, skill and courage.
In 1320 the defence of Volterra was entrusted to no less than 114 Crossbow archers whose names are conserved in documents from that time. They were equipped and sponsered by the Contradas of the city according to the availability of funds.
It is recorded also that between 1330 and 1340 Ottaviano Belforti of Volterra was famed in all Tuscany for the skill of his Crossbowmen in the various military tournaments of that time.
Every year on 5th June a competition with the crossbow took place on the day celebrating the Patron Saint, S.Giusto on the meadow in front of the church which was swallowed up by the collapse of the Balze but subsequently rebuilt. Another competition in honour of Santa Maria Assunta took place in the Piazza dei Priori on the 16th August in front of the Duomo at the end of the procession of celebration.
The use of the crossbow was discontinued towards the end of the 15th Century with the occupation of the city by the Florentines. The city militias were reorganized and the crossbows replaced by firearms.

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