04-27-2007, 04:48 PM
Hi there,
Yes, the Macedonians made some use of it. At Granicus for instance the Agrianian (spelt wrong?) javelinmen came to the assistance of the cavalry that were fighting their way out of the river. From at least the first c. BC the Germans, followed by the Gauls and then by Caesar himself, made notable us of light infantry mixed with their cavalry.
Good point about the Medieval muslim cavalry dismounting to shoot, but the original question was about doing the same with javelins, which would give you less space/time to remount and get away if the enemy counterattacked.
I'm sure cavalry charged infantry. There is masses of evidence for it. It is not that hard to understand with what is demonstrable about horse behaviour. True, horses are generally not suicidal, charging a well-formed pike block frontally would be a huge ask, but all infantry were vulnerable on flanks and rear and even frontally if they wavered or allowed gaps to appear in the ranks. Horses can be trained to do all sorts of things that are 'unnatural', including jumping through hoops of fire or (harder) through hoops of opaque paper. Besides, the greatest part of the 'shock' in 'shock' action is not physical but psychological. Any of you volunteer to stand in front of the Grand National (or Kentucky Derby?), or in front of a mounted police charge and try to halt it with a pointy stick?
Phil Sidnell
Yes, the Macedonians made some use of it. At Granicus for instance the Agrianian (spelt wrong?) javelinmen came to the assistance of the cavalry that were fighting their way out of the river. From at least the first c. BC the Germans, followed by the Gauls and then by Caesar himself, made notable us of light infantry mixed with their cavalry.
Good point about the Medieval muslim cavalry dismounting to shoot, but the original question was about doing the same with javelins, which would give you less space/time to remount and get away if the enemy counterattacked.
I'm sure cavalry charged infantry. There is masses of evidence for it. It is not that hard to understand with what is demonstrable about horse behaviour. True, horses are generally not suicidal, charging a well-formed pike block frontally would be a huge ask, but all infantry were vulnerable on flanks and rear and even frontally if they wavered or allowed gaps to appear in the ranks. Horses can be trained to do all sorts of things that are 'unnatural', including jumping through hoops of fire or (harder) through hoops of opaque paper. Besides, the greatest part of the 'shock' in 'shock' action is not physical but psychological. Any of you volunteer to stand in front of the Grand National (or Kentucky Derby?), or in front of a mounted police charge and try to halt it with a pointy stick?
Phil Sidnell
