03-25-2014, 01:13 PM
The development of the true couched lance technique required both the stirrup and the high cantled war saddle - this happened in the late 11th century. The trick for spotting true couched lance use in pictorial sources is not looking at the elbow but at the feet. When the legs are shown straight and the feet very forward with the heel lower than the toes in the stirrup - then a couched lance-based equestrian combat riding posture is being shown.
In earlier lance use the lance was held with the elbow somewhat bent if the lance was grasped in one hand or if held by both hands the rear arm was flexed in this way. This allowed the arm to absorb the reactive force of any thrust in a measured way - enough resistance to produce a wound, not so much as to unseat the lance-wielder. Look at the famous image of Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gugamela:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Battl...etail1.jpg
In earlier lance use the lance was held with the elbow somewhat bent if the lance was grasped in one hand or if held by both hands the rear arm was flexed in this way. This allowed the arm to absorb the reactive force of any thrust in a measured way - enough resistance to produce a wound, not so much as to unseat the lance-wielder. Look at the famous image of Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gugamela:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Battl...etail1.jpg
Martin
Fac me cocleario vomere!
Fac me cocleario vomere!
