Sub-Roman Britain (Cavalry etc)

[Alanus]

Somewhere, I have a photo of the old Roman via through Wheeldale Moor, Yorks, a photo taken in the 1960's. It's cobbles have not been paved over, and the road runs perfectly straight. If this is an example of what a Roman road looks like NOW, then what condition were they in during the fifth to sixth centuries? Even with no maintainance these vias would have been handy to cavalry. We hear more than we really want about the famous (legendary) 12 battles of "Arthur," with details of the 8th moved into the 12th by the time a nefarious scribe penned the AC, but there appears to be chance of reality behind the old idea of a mobile force galloping through post-Roman Britain. (Sorry for not using the expression "sub-Roman." It just reminds me of "sub-human"-- Neanderthals on horse-back.) :roll:

"They run over very great distances... being mounted on swift and obedient horses and leading one, or sometimes even two, so that an exchange may keep up the strength of their mounts." (Ammianus)

Perhaps this notion is archaic, but a number of battles might have been fought in differing locations that could only have been reached by a fast-moving mobile force. Here again, I wonder about the feasability of some form of the "300," not a standing army but a contingent of horsemen who loved to fight and had good economic and political reasons for keeping the Saxons out of what is now Wales. :?:

Oh!-- and welcome back, Robert.