Hi, Michael
Indeed it would be informative to find something, anything, on Iazyge cavalry tactics. That's what Holly, Childeric, and Rodger, are also looking for.
To finish up on the proposed close interaction between the Iaz and Roxolani at the time of the Marcomannic Wars, we should remember the Roxolani were not in Pannonia. A number of Germanic tribes appear to be between them. As we both mentioned, one of the last official acts of Marcus Aurelius was giving the Iazyges permission to trade with the Roxolani, who obviously were still down in Walachia.
The c. AD 125 map (shown above) places the Roxolani on the Walachian Plain and the Iaz in Pannonia. Between them we find an entire mountain range-- the Carpathians... plus the Very Scary heights of Transylvania.
The illustration below shows the position of the Iazyges at the culmination of Marcomannic Wars, and we see Germanic tribes between them and the Roxolani to the southeast. (the latter not shown because they were on vacation).
Trading doesn't necessarily mean both tribes held the same culture or customs. The Altai group traded with the Persians and Chinese yet didn't become "Chinese-ized"... or whatever.
We see other differences in the two tribes under discussion. Perhaps the best indicators of differing cavalry tactics would be their swords. The Iayage sword was short, perhaps around 70 to 80 cm. The blade was broad, and the grip was also short. The ring pommel was made by forging an extra-long tang then bending it in a circle. This sword was primarily used for stabbing, much like the Scythian version and also the Roman gladius. On the other hand, the Roxolani Type 1 sword was designed expressly for slashing, actually for slashing at a mounted opponent who might be as much as five feet to one side, perhaps as each warrior passed each other. The sword had a long grip, used one-handed or with both hands, since the weight of the sword was twice that of an Iaz example. The Type 1 sword was a minimum of 100 cm, and some also reached 1.5 meters in length. They were huge!-- but they had excellent balance. I see no point in illustrating the Iazyage sword again, and the Type 1 Sarmatian Sword has been shown on other threads.
I'm sure there were other differences. The Iazages were recorded as excellent cavalrymen, but they were never mentioned as wearing heavy armor. They did use a contus, because I've recently seen an illustrated Iaz grave with the short sword and what seems likely to be a contus-head.
When I read the Roxolani were like the Whomever (perhaps the Historiae Augustae's famous list of 16 tribes inserted here), I am exceedingly leery. To Roman and Greek authors, all the steppe tribes were almost the same-- ie: they lived in yurts or wagons (they were too lazy to build a house); they never ate grain but ate meat and drank milk (they were just like carnivorous animals); and they attacked you from the back of a horse (they were too cowardly to jump down and fight you on the ground). Scythians and Sarmatians were the worst plundering, inhuman, and barbaric people on earth... until they had something you wanted.
Indeed it would be informative to find something, anything, on Iazyge cavalry tactics. That's what Holly, Childeric, and Rodger, are also looking for.
To finish up on the proposed close interaction between the Iaz and Roxolani at the time of the Marcomannic Wars, we should remember the Roxolani were not in Pannonia. A number of Germanic tribes appear to be between them. As we both mentioned, one of the last official acts of Marcus Aurelius was giving the Iazyges permission to trade with the Roxolani, who obviously were still down in Walachia.
The c. AD 125 map (shown above) places the Roxolani on the Walachian Plain and the Iaz in Pannonia. Between them we find an entire mountain range-- the Carpathians... plus the Very Scary heights of Transylvania.
The illustration below shows the position of the Iazyges at the culmination of Marcomannic Wars, and we see Germanic tribes between them and the Roxolani to the southeast. (the latter not shown because they were on vacation).
Trading doesn't necessarily mean both tribes held the same culture or customs. The Altai group traded with the Persians and Chinese yet didn't become "Chinese-ized"... or whatever.
We see other differences in the two tribes under discussion. Perhaps the best indicators of differing cavalry tactics would be their swords. The Iayage sword was short, perhaps around 70 to 80 cm. The blade was broad, and the grip was also short. The ring pommel was made by forging an extra-long tang then bending it in a circle. This sword was primarily used for stabbing, much like the Scythian version and also the Roman gladius. On the other hand, the Roxolani Type 1 sword was designed expressly for slashing, actually for slashing at a mounted opponent who might be as much as five feet to one side, perhaps as each warrior passed each other. The sword had a long grip, used one-handed or with both hands, since the weight of the sword was twice that of an Iaz example. The Type 1 sword was a minimum of 100 cm, and some also reached 1.5 meters in length. They were huge!-- but they had excellent balance. I see no point in illustrating the Iazyage sword again, and the Type 1 Sarmatian Sword has been shown on other threads.I'm sure there were other differences. The Iazages were recorded as excellent cavalrymen, but they were never mentioned as wearing heavy armor. They did use a contus, because I've recently seen an illustrated Iaz grave with the short sword and what seems likely to be a contus-head.
When I read the Roxolani were like the Whomever (perhaps the Historiae Augustae's famous list of 16 tribes inserted here), I am exceedingly leery. To Roman and Greek authors, all the steppe tribes were almost the same-- ie: they lived in yurts or wagons (they were too lazy to build a house); they never ate grain but ate meat and drank milk (they were just like carnivorous animals); and they attacked you from the back of a horse (they were too cowardly to jump down and fight you on the ground). Scythians and Sarmatians were the worst plundering, inhuman, and barbaric people on earth... until they had something you wanted.
Alan J. Campbell
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
