09-15-2013, 02:29 AM
I'm not sure whether or not Byzantine questions go in the Roman index, but oh well.
I am currently working on re-creating a Byzantine clibanarii or cataphract for a Renaissance Fair. Absolute historicity has already gone out the window; the fair is taking place in England during the reign of Bloody Mary but those hosting the fair have been more than happy to accept a Byzantine noble. However, I would like to make an attempt to make a fairly accurate Byzantine cataphract like those seen during the Komnenian Restoration.
Making all the scale and mail armor required for both myself and my horse is going to be hard enough, and any advice on that would be welcome. However, my question is regarding the armaments used; I have read that Byzantine cataphracts have both bows and lances, and when the lance was not in use it was blacked in the boot of the cavalryman. This seems rather ridiculous to me; a twelve-foot xyston would be rather hard to hold while using a bow, and would the sarouter not simply poke a hole on the boot? If anyone could clear this up for me, this would be greatly appreciated.
I am currently working on re-creating a Byzantine clibanarii or cataphract for a Renaissance Fair. Absolute historicity has already gone out the window; the fair is taking place in England during the reign of Bloody Mary but those hosting the fair have been more than happy to accept a Byzantine noble. However, I would like to make an attempt to make a fairly accurate Byzantine cataphract like those seen during the Komnenian Restoration.
Making all the scale and mail armor required for both myself and my horse is going to be hard enough, and any advice on that would be welcome. However, my question is regarding the armaments used; I have read that Byzantine cataphracts have both bows and lances, and when the lance was not in use it was blacked in the boot of the cavalryman. This seems rather ridiculous to me; a twelve-foot xyston would be rather hard to hold while using a bow, and would the sarouter not simply poke a hole on the boot? If anyone could clear this up for me, this would be greatly appreciated.
