Pictured is a stylized target dummy, made for both close quarters and archery.
Before what we know now as a standing professional army, Kings and Lords relied on an unprofessional, non-standing army that could be called upon at any time. These armies were known as levies and were usually conscripted on a very short notice from average farmers and peasants. Due to the fact that these levies were average people before conscription and were now expected to march in an army, they usually had lower morale and very basic equipment with very little training.
Training would often take place in the context of a lord's household or in a local village. Levies would be organized into units and taught basic formations and tactics. The training was often brief and intense, with a focus on drilling and repetition to build muscle memory and ensure that the levies could perform effectively in battle. The goal of the training was to prepare the levies to fight as part of a larger army, and to instill in them a sense of discipline and duty to their lord or king. Despite their lack of training, medieval levies played an important role in many battles and wars, and were often crucial to victory.
Target Dummy