Editing Medieval warfare (section)

==Relics==
The practice of carrying [[relic]]s into battle is a feature that distinguishes medieval warfare from its predecessors or early modern warfare and possibly inspired by biblical references.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=1+Samuel+4:3%E2%80%9311:3&version=nrsv|title = Oremus Bible Browser}}</ref> The presence of relics was believed to be an important source of supernatural power that served both as a spiritual weapon and a form of defence; the relics of martyrs were considered by Saint [[John Chrysostom]] much more powerful than "walls, trenches, weapons and hosts of soldiers"<ref>John Chrysostom, ''Laudatio martyrum Aegyptiorum'', 1 ''PG'' '''50''' col. 694f.</ref>

In Italy, the ''[[carroccio]]'' or ''carro della guerra'', the "war wagon", was an elaboration of this practice that developed during the 13th century. The ''carro della guerra'' of Milan was described in detail in 1288 by [[Bonvesin de la Riva]] in his book on the "Marvels of Milan". Wrapped in scarlet cloth and drawn by three yoke of oxen that were [[caparison]]ed in white with the red cross of [[Saint Ambrose]], the city's patron, it carried a crucifix so massive it took four men to step it in place, like a ship's mast.<ref>Bovesin de la Riva, ''De Magnalibus Mediolani: Meraviglie di Milano'' (Milan, 1998), as reported in John Dickie, ''Delizia! The Epic History of Italians and Their Food'' (New York, 2008), p. 33.</ref>