02-21-2013, 10:38 PM
@ Sean.
Of course some horses would act so. But in order to form a tactical doctrine, one has to know that the vast majority if not all horses would do so and in the process defeat the enemy (maybe they could but chose not to because the effect of that tactic on the cavalry was even more devastating). -This is my greatest objection. The very fact that as you say, the Norman "thought" that the Saxon would give way means that if he knew that he wouldn't he would not act so (I thought initially that you were giving some historical evidence, I then realized that you were talking about the reenactment incident, so this argument is not valid on my part, I only do not delete it to not also have to delete the example of the Parthians I gave)- . The Parthians had the same problem during Antony's retreat from Media. The Romans formed a square and the first ranks kneeled. This, the Parthians perceived as a sign that their enemy were exhausted and attacked them with their contoi instead of their bows (Plut. Life of Antonius). There is no mention of bodies flying around, but immediately, the Parthians were put to flight -maybe discouraged when they saw that the Romans were not really exhausted... Retreats of eastern horsemen are often called flights-.
Of course some horses would act so. But in order to form a tactical doctrine, one has to know that the vast majority if not all horses would do so and in the process defeat the enemy (maybe they could but chose not to because the effect of that tactic on the cavalry was even more devastating). -This is my greatest objection. The very fact that as you say, the Norman "thought" that the Saxon would give way means that if he knew that he wouldn't he would not act so (I thought initially that you were giving some historical evidence, I then realized that you were talking about the reenactment incident, so this argument is not valid on my part, I only do not delete it to not also have to delete the example of the Parthians I gave)- . The Parthians had the same problem during Antony's retreat from Media. The Romans formed a square and the first ranks kneeled. This, the Parthians perceived as a sign that their enemy were exhausted and attacked them with their contoi instead of their bows (Plut. Life of Antonius). There is no mention of bodies flying around, but immediately, the Parthians were put to flight -maybe discouraged when they saw that the Romans were not really exhausted... Retreats of eastern horsemen are often called flights-.
