03-06-2004, 10:44 AM
Hi, Graham Sumner has asked me to post this:<br>
<br>
Anti Cavalry Drill:<br>
<br>
I have seen the manoeuvre described by Crispus many times and it does look visually very impressive and is being copied by a number of other Roman groups.<br>
<br>
However I can find no historical evidence for any two rank Roman formation with the front rank kneeling. If anyone out there does have a source for this I would be really pleased to see it. The formation would make a great subject for a painting.<br>
<br>
To add to the description mentioned by Arrian posted above I can add the following by Procopius written some years later.<br>
<br>
"For standing shoulder to shoulder they kept themselves constantly massed in a small space, and they formed with their shields a rigid, unyielding barricade......the Persians would advance against them determined to beak up and destroy the line but they always retired again from the assault unsuccessful. For their horses annoyed by the clashing of shields, reared up and made confusion for themselves and their riders..."<br>
<br>
( I must add my apologies as I no longer have the reference to where this translation came from, perhaps Sander can help with this. )<br>
<br>
One of the most common anti cavalry tactics was to lure them onto unfavourable terrain, either natural or man made with traps and obstacles.<br>
<br>
Admittedly these tactics and the formations mentioned above by Arrian and Procopius would be difficult to perform with only 20 or so re-enactors and a couple of riders, but they would appear to be the only accurate ones utilised by the Romans.<br>
<br>
For what it is worth, I faced many horses over ten years as part of the Guard display. The quality of the horses ranged from those who jumped over me as I knelt with a shield held above me to those who would be spooked if you moved a muscle, never mind adopting any kind of anti cavalry formation.<br>
<br>
Basically it depends on how well trained the horse is and often it can take a few days for a horse just to get used to being around people in armour. On the other hand when I took a Guard collegue in full armour and got them to ride a camel it was noticeable that the camel was completely unperturbed!<br>
<br>
Graham<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
Anti Cavalry Drill:<br>
<br>
I have seen the manoeuvre described by Crispus many times and it does look visually very impressive and is being copied by a number of other Roman groups.<br>
<br>
However I can find no historical evidence for any two rank Roman formation with the front rank kneeling. If anyone out there does have a source for this I would be really pleased to see it. The formation would make a great subject for a painting.<br>
<br>
To add to the description mentioned by Arrian posted above I can add the following by Procopius written some years later.<br>
<br>
"For standing shoulder to shoulder they kept themselves constantly massed in a small space, and they formed with their shields a rigid, unyielding barricade......the Persians would advance against them determined to beak up and destroy the line but they always retired again from the assault unsuccessful. For their horses annoyed by the clashing of shields, reared up and made confusion for themselves and their riders..."<br>
<br>
( I must add my apologies as I no longer have the reference to where this translation came from, perhaps Sander can help with this. )<br>
<br>
One of the most common anti cavalry tactics was to lure them onto unfavourable terrain, either natural or man made with traps and obstacles.<br>
<br>
Admittedly these tactics and the formations mentioned above by Arrian and Procopius would be difficult to perform with only 20 or so re-enactors and a couple of riders, but they would appear to be the only accurate ones utilised by the Romans.<br>
<br>
For what it is worth, I faced many horses over ten years as part of the Guard display. The quality of the horses ranged from those who jumped over me as I knelt with a shield held above me to those who would be spooked if you moved a muscle, never mind adopting any kind of anti cavalry formation.<br>
<br>
Basically it depends on how well trained the horse is and often it can take a few days for a horse just to get used to being around people in armour. On the other hand when I took a Guard collegue in full armour and got them to ride a camel it was noticeable that the camel was completely unperturbed!<br>
<br>
Graham<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
It\'s all an accident, an accident of hands. Mine, others, all without mind, from one extreme to another, but neither works nor will ever.
Rolf Steiner
Rolf Steiner
