Genoese crossbowmen

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The Genoese crossbowmen (Italian: Balestrieri genovesi) were a famous military corps of the Middle Ages, which acted both in defense of the Republic of Genoa and as a mercenary force for other Italian or European powers.

Armed with crossbows, they fought both on land and in naval battles; notable cases of the latter are the battles of Meloria and Curzola.