03-21-2005, 08:14 AM
I'm interested in the battle of Carrhae, and the use of horse archers and heavy cavalry (often referred to as "cataphracts", although I don't think the Parthian heavy horse were actually called this) to keep Crassus' Roman army at bay. The received wisdom on the 'net seems to be that Crassus behaved like an idiot, and that a competent commander could have won. However, no-one ever says how they would have won it if they were in Crassus' shoes! Personally, I'm doubtful that the army Carrus fielded could have overcome the Parthians.<br>
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Of course, Crassus erred when he got into the situation in the first place. But - given that he got into that situation - how could he have won?<br>
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The Parthians used heavy cavalry to force the Romans into tight formation. Their vast ranks of horse archers then pummeled the easy targets presented by the massed ranks of legionnaries. To the Romans' surprise, the powerful Parthian bows penetrated their shields and armour.<br>
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When Crassus sent his Gaulish cavalry against the horse archers, the Parthians withdrew, then sent in the heavy cavalry. The Gauls couldn't penetrate the heavy cataphract armour, and were slaughtered. Then the horse archers moved in again...<br>
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Crassus resigned himself to waiting for the bows to run out of ammunition. But the Parthians had a supply train on hand, so while one wave was firing, another wave could be restocking.<br>
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The result was a nearly wiped out Roman army (20,000 dead and 10,000 captured).<br>
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I can't see how Crassus could have handled this, except for doing the most orderly withdraw possible (and even this may have been a disaster). Even if we assume he hadn't foolishly quick-marched the Roman army in the intense heat, I can't see a happy outcome for the Romans.<br>
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What - if anything - am I missing? <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=ahen>A Hen</A> at: 3/21/05 10:17 am<br></i>
<br>
Of course, Crassus erred when he got into the situation in the first place. But - given that he got into that situation - how could he have won?<br>
<br>
The Parthians used heavy cavalry to force the Romans into tight formation. Their vast ranks of horse archers then pummeled the easy targets presented by the massed ranks of legionnaries. To the Romans' surprise, the powerful Parthian bows penetrated their shields and armour.<br>
<br>
When Crassus sent his Gaulish cavalry against the horse archers, the Parthians withdrew, then sent in the heavy cavalry. The Gauls couldn't penetrate the heavy cataphract armour, and were slaughtered. Then the horse archers moved in again...<br>
<br>
Crassus resigned himself to waiting for the bows to run out of ammunition. But the Parthians had a supply train on hand, so while one wave was firing, another wave could be restocking.<br>
<br>
The result was a nearly wiped out Roman army (20,000 dead and 10,000 captured).<br>
<br>
I can't see how Crassus could have handled this, except for doing the most orderly withdraw possible (and even this may have been a disaster). Even if we assume he hadn't foolishly quick-marched the Roman army in the intense heat, I can't see a happy outcome for the Romans.<br>
<br>
What - if anything - am I missing? <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=ahen>A Hen</A> at: 3/21/05 10:17 am<br></i>
Rob Grainger
