The Way of the Horse

[Lord Eamonn of Eohmark]

The Way of the Horse
"A detail collection of cavalry weapons and warfare."

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BY DEFINITION...
The cavalry is defined by the use of mounted horseback by soldiers and warriors in the use of warfare. Throughout history, the use of cavalry has increased the odds of victory by staggering numbers, and later became a necessary instrument in winning skirmishes upon open plains. By all means, there are few terrains that horses cannot tread, however, some are efficient than others. For example, horses charging upon an open plain have a greater advantage upon an enemy than upon hilly terrain or forests. The more obstacles that a horse must face, the greater risk there is to the number of horsemen left standing. A warrior fighting from horseback has the advantages of greater height and speed over infantry on foot. Under the category of cavalry comes two subcategories of the middle ages: light cavalry and heavy cavalry.
Light cavalry has many roles on and off the battlefield such as scouting, screening, skirmishing and raiding. The armour that the rider bears is general minimal protection, allowing the rider the greatest movement on the horse while at the some time giving the man some chance of withstanding various attacks. Light cavalry is by far the swiftest unit of horsemen,for the primary purpose of light cavalry is to carry out lightning strike offenses.
Heavy cavalry is mainly used for a 'shock role' in which the riders are meant to literally run over those in their path. This requires more armour not only for the rider, but the horse as well. Heavy cavalry riders require the greatest protection, and while they pose as heavy blow to any opponent, they are less swift than light cavalry, and prone to more hits and damage. Throughout history of European power, the ultimate heavy cavalry became known as the knight.
Knighthood as known in Europe is characterized by two elements, feudalism and service as a mounted combatant. Knights gave their service on mounted horseback as payment and compensation for landholding, rarely did it from currency.
Others who fall into service of the cavalry are not necessarily made up of simply knights. Ordinary civillians, herders, and farmers across the lands provided the extra numbers for a company of riders. These people form the basic unit of cavalry, falling under command of knights in a rather vague system of command, which will be explained. Sizes would depend upon the nature of the settlement these volunteer riders came from. For example: it it possessed more herders than farmers, it would be able to form only a smaller unit from it's widespread riders, unlike the more sedentary agricultural community.


CHAIN OF COMMAND...
- Marshal
- Second-in-Command/General
- Battalion Captain
- Battalion Lieutenant
- Battalion Sergeant
- Knights
- Volunteer Horsemen


ARMAMENT: THE WEAPONS...

THE SPEAR: a secondary weapon for the riders, but the primary charging weapon, as it projected and extended a sharp point beyond the horse and so could be used as a lance, to exploit any weakness in the defensive line, and as a short-range throwing weapon. The spear is crafted of ash and stands approximately nine feet high. Its long tip is made of cold, hard steel; half its three-foot length is the cutout tip, and the rest was the sheath, which is riveted onto the shaft. This is then bound in leather and swaged with two bronze rings to give a handgrip for pulling the spear out after a kill. The combination of the steel tip, the heavy weight of the two-inch-thick shaft, and the forward momentum when the spear is thrown from a moving horse meant that it would penetrate any defense, whether armoured or not, often times passing through into the next rank.


THE SWORD: the sword is a long-edged piece of metal (steel, bronze, or iron) that is preferred as a primary or secondary weapon for a mounted horseman. Swords typically used by horseman are only one-handed, meaning the hilt is long enough for one hand usage instead of two and the weight/balance of the sword is suitable for a single hand. The double edge weapon provides a quick, clean cut that delivers fast hits when charging by on the horse. Horsemen use the sword in a downward slashing motion: when they are mounted this is the only way it can be used, but it also suits the strong-armed and less sophisticated fighting style when on foot.


THE BATTLE AXE: battle axes are specialized versions of utility axes. Many are suitable for use in one hand, while others are larger and wielded two-handed. In addition to the sword, riders carried a light axe, which is used on foot and on horseback. It is about three feet long, with a relatively small head whose blade curved up toward the shaft. The axe is carried on a belt loop, ready to be drawn in close combat against dismounted opponents and used to hack down upon their heads. It can also be thrown, but the warrior would then run the risk of having it thrown back at him.


THE BOW: a weapon that projects missiles(arrows) powered by the elasticity of the bow. As the bow is drawn back, energy is stored in the limbs of the bow and transformed into rapid motion when the string is released, with the string transferring this force to the arrow and propelling it forward. Horse archers' primary weapons are the bow and it is not as sophisticated as a foot archer's long bow. Generally, they are short made from a single piece of wood with a range of about 125 yards. Typically, quivers are strapped to the saddle for quick access and draw or can be slung across the back.


ARMAMENT: THE ARMOUR...
H E A D
- coif: cap or hood that protects the head. Typically, it is padded and quilted, sometime made of leather and would often be worn under a mail hood, which would then be referred to as a mail coif. Men of lesser rank in the cavalry would have these if they cannot afford a plate or plate-and-leather helmet.
- helmet: riders typically wear open-face types. Some might have integral protection for the cheeks, face, and back of the neck or they might have separate pieces that served the same purpose such as plates protecting the eyes. A helmet that completely encloses the head is known as a helm.

T O R S O
- aketon: a quilted tunic worn under a hauberk or plate armour; quilted vertically, it’s padding will diffuse the impact from a weapon such as an axe or a hacking blow from a sword and minimize the discomfort of wearing metal next to skin.
- backplate: plate-armour protection for the back; the second principle element of the cuirass, which is strapped to a breastplate.
- breastplate: plate-armour protection for the chest and stomach; the principle piece of the cuirass, which is attached to a backplate using leather straps.
- cuirass: the entire defense protecting the torso composed of a breastplate, backplate, fauld, and culet. These would then be attached together using points or leather straps.
- culet: plate defense below the backplate.
- fauld: hooped skirt of interlinked strips of steel, that provide protection around the joints, which protect the lower abdomen and worn below the breastplate; a pair of tassets is sometimes attached to the lower half to give further protection.
- hauberk: a complete shirt comprised of scale or chain-mail worn beneath other armour—such as a cuirass—if it is available. They are variously sleeveless or sleeved to the wrist, elbow, or bicep. They are occasionally edged with leather, with holes punched into these hems to make it easier to put on and remove, and also allowing it to be firmly laced to the body using points or leather straps.

A R M
- glove: leather gloves both aid the rider’s grip on the weapon or reins and to protect themselves from cuts and bruises. Normally, the cloves have an extended cuff for extra protection.
- pauldron: curved plate or plates that protect the shoulder joint against attack from all directions. It can be a large, single plate or can be composed of a number of overlapping, articulate pieces of steel. The top would feature a raised piece of steel welded or a curved flange that would extend upward to protect the side of the neck.
- vambrace: curved or completely cylinder plate that covers the forearm.

L E G
- greaves: curved or cylindrical plates protecting the shins and calves.
- leggings: fabric worn under the armour to protect the legs and prevent chafing.
- skirt: fully enclosed curtain of armour made of mail or scale that protects the legs and are belted to the waist due to their weight.
- tall boots: often heavy, leather boots worn as a supplement to greaves. They serve a protective function for mounted warriors, by preventing the rider’s legs from chafing against the horse’s flank and also shielding against cuts and scrapes from hazards against riding.
- tassets: small piece of plate armour that hangs from the fauld, giving further protection to the hips, particularly in the case of mounted warriors who require extra hip protection. Tassets can be attached with leather straps or rivets, or even, when worn below a breast- or backplate, by a separate belt.

H O R S E
- chanfrons: protect the face of the horse; typically crafted from leather or plates of steel.
- crinets: protect the neck of the horse; also can be crafted from leather or steel plates.
- peytrel: plate of leather or steel used to protect the chest.
- flanchards: protection for the sides of the horse.