They are described as "Company markers", so presumably they were used to mark the different companies within the unit.
General History Questions thread
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Hey guys, so, this question is about all the various types of cavalry used by various nations during the Middle Ages(~10th-15th century).
So, I can think of these types:
-The obvious one, the knights(Western and Eastern) and cataphracts as heavy cavalry, from early knights with mail shirts and nasal helmets up to the fully plated knights and cavaliers of the 15th century.
-Horse archers, from as early as Huns and Scythians(and a whole bunch of other peoples mainly from the Eastern steppes) to the golden Horde and the Timurids. To my knowledge, horse archers can be late and heavy cavalry, dudes armed only with a bow and clad in clothes to plate, scale and mail armor.
Now, what about light cavalry? Could you help there? What was its role(in battles, not the scouting part, which is obvious to me). How were they armed to be classified as light cavalry, if they were so? Any examples of units? I am particularly interested in the period from 1200 to 1270, no particular focus on any army or place in the world. Thanks!
So, I can think of these types:
-The obvious one, the knights(Western and Eastern) and cataphracts as heavy cavalry, from early knights with mail shirts and nasal helmets up to the fully plated knights and cavaliers of the 15th century.
-Horse archers, from as early as Huns and Scythians(and a whole bunch of other peoples mainly from the Eastern steppes) to the golden Horde and the Timurids. To my knowledge, horse archers can be late and heavy cavalry, dudes armed only with a bow and clad in clothes to plate, scale and mail armor.
Now, what about light cavalry? Could you help there? What was its role(in battles, not the scouting part, which is obvious to me). How were they armed to be classified as light cavalry, if they were so? Any examples of units? I am particularly interested in the period from 1200 to 1270, no particular focus on any army or place in the world. Thanks!
In medieval western europe light cavalry was often situational and there are cases of knights performing light cavalry roles both on and off the battlefield rather than a specific light cavalry formation. In places where horses and pasture were more plentiful like Spain and Hungary there were dedicated light cavalry like jinetes and the magyars, but not so much elsewhere.
The thing with warrior classes is that they fulfil a bunch of roles and don't leave much for specialisation in the rest of the army, and on top of that the social link between horses and the nobility under feudalism meant that virtually all cavalry in western europe was noble and multi-role.
The thing with warrior classes is that they fulfil a bunch of roles and don't leave much for specialisation in the rest of the army, and on top of that the social link between horses and the nobility under feudalism meant that virtually all cavalry in western europe was noble and multi-role.
Wiki article about Spanish Jinetes answers question about why and how you'd field light cavalry in that time period pretty well.
The lightweight lancers were used in the Eastern Europe since late XIVth century as well and later became popular alternative for knights.
The lightweight lancers were used in the Eastern Europe since late XIVth century as well and later became popular alternative for knights.
The companions have given you good information; although the word "jinete" is very generical (rider) allow me to add something more referring to that period in Spain...
The troops of the Military Orders (Calatrava, Santiago, Montesa...etc) were composed of the "frailes caballeros "(friars knights) who integrated the heavy cavalry or spears, had three mounts and were the elite corps; then there were the "frailes soldados" (friars soldiers) who were the light cavalry and had only one mount; then there were the vassals of their jurisdiction, recruited in the different "encomiendas" of the order were "caballeros villanos" (villain knights). In any document, villain designates any inhabitant of a "villa" (small village), indistinctly of its type. They were armed with a not very long javelin spear that rushed from top to bottom and could also carry several "azagayas" or javelins. Therefore, the "villain knight" or "brown knight" was the inhabitant of a village that possesses horse and weapons, the villain knights gained privileges and became legally equivalent to the "infanzones", the low nobility, although of course without title. The "villain knights" of the border areas were in charge of organizing the militias of the "concejo" (council) when it was necessary to do so.
Light cavalry ("cavalls alforrats in Aragón Crown") was used in exploration missions, reconnaissance and on the formation flanks. The formations were "en tropel", which was a formation of little front and very deep, normally this type of formation was used in the flanks or wings.
The Muslim armies did not differ much from the Christians. The light riders carried several "azzagayas" or javelins, and bows that threw the enemy in successive charges. The heavy ones carried lance (rumh) of up to 5 meters. A woman's handkerchief could be tied as a banner, a typically romantic Arab idea, which later spread to medieval Europe. The Arab horsemen carried two swords, a short Arab sword and a longer blade inherited from the Sassanid cavalry, they could also carry a double-edged arzon axe ("tabarzin" of "tabar" which is an axe and "zin" which is a horse) and some a mace (dabbus).
In the battle the preferred tactic was that of "Karr wa-farr", which literally means charge and retreat, used attacks followed by sudden retreats in order to break down enemy formations, in order to settle the final blow when they had lost their cohesion. The Christians called it torna-fuye.
Another tactic used was that of envelopment, the forces of the "ayanahaim" or flanks, which were normally light cavalry, enveloped the large adversary and attacked him from the flanks and rear.
I leave you this link that makes reference to the Hispanic-Muslim weapons
at the end of the Reconquista, it's in Spanish...Google translator is your friend
. I hope it helps you. (pdf link)
The troops of the Military Orders (Calatrava, Santiago, Montesa...etc) were composed of the "frailes caballeros "(friars knights) who integrated the heavy cavalry or spears, had three mounts and were the elite corps; then there were the "frailes soldados" (friars soldiers) who were the light cavalry and had only one mount; then there were the vassals of their jurisdiction, recruited in the different "encomiendas" of the order were "caballeros villanos" (villain knights). In any document, villain designates any inhabitant of a "villa" (small village), indistinctly of its type. They were armed with a not very long javelin spear that rushed from top to bottom and could also carry several "azagayas" or javelins. Therefore, the "villain knight" or "brown knight" was the inhabitant of a village that possesses horse and weapons, the villain knights gained privileges and became legally equivalent to the "infanzones", the low nobility, although of course without title. The "villain knights" of the border areas were in charge of organizing the militias of the "concejo" (council) when it was necessary to do so.
Light cavalry ("cavalls alforrats in Aragón Crown") was used in exploration missions, reconnaissance and on the formation flanks. The formations were "en tropel", which was a formation of little front and very deep, normally this type of formation was used in the flanks or wings.
The Muslim armies did not differ much from the Christians. The light riders carried several "azzagayas" or javelins, and bows that threw the enemy in successive charges. The heavy ones carried lance (rumh) of up to 5 meters. A woman's handkerchief could be tied as a banner, a typically romantic Arab idea, which later spread to medieval Europe. The Arab horsemen carried two swords, a short Arab sword and a longer blade inherited from the Sassanid cavalry, they could also carry a double-edged arzon axe ("tabarzin" of "tabar" which is an axe and "zin" which is a horse) and some a mace (dabbus).
In the battle the preferred tactic was that of "Karr wa-farr", which literally means charge and retreat, used attacks followed by sudden retreats in order to break down enemy formations, in order to settle the final blow when they had lost their cohesion. The Christians called it torna-fuye.
Another tactic used was that of envelopment, the forces of the "ayanahaim" or flanks, which were normally light cavalry, enveloped the large adversary and attacked him from the flanks and rear.
I leave you this link that makes reference to the Hispanic-Muslim weapons
at the end of the Reconquista, it's in Spanish...Google translator is your friend
. I hope it helps you. (pdf link)
jinete and hobelar
[quote author=a Slovak competitive drinker and politician]Even one Frankish bishop visiting the Carpathian basin in 1248 said: "How could God give such a beautiful land to such an ugly people?" He meant the Old Magyars who were bow-legged Mongoloids riding ugly horses. Small and ugly horses. 800 years later those Mongoloids have been bred out. Something civilized them, it was probably Slavic blood, unfortunately.[/quote]
This is why 1938 happened
Viva la República Checa!, její ženy, likér Becherovka a obrazy Alfons Mucha
...But your beer isn't good; assume it.
...But your beer isn't good; assume it.
Urgrevling said:
In Spain we have no f*ck*ng idea how to make beer (cruzcampo = sh*t, estrella=meh...etc), it's a reality. Wine we are professionals...
Personally for beer I prefer something with more flavor, Belgian or German style.
Bromden said:
They would have liked better the wine moravians make in Valtice, Lednice or Mikulov; but of course...they liked the "excellent" beer there better. That's why you now have a mushroom growing on your shoulder.
Czech beers are empirically and objectively far and away the best within their style, i.e., you know, Pilsner lager. If you don't like lagers and prefer atrocities like ale, stout or weissbier, then suit yourself, but it's like comparing riesling to claret.
This message was brought to you by Radegast, a beer fit for a literal god.
This message was brought to you by Radegast, a beer fit for a literal god.
