Roman Cavalry Shields

[Caturix]

Hello!
I've always wondered if the roman cavalry shields were similar to the infantry ones.
Did they had the handle beneath the umbo? if so, how the rider hold the reins?

I know that they could sound stupid questions... please be mercyful ;-)

[Mark Hygate]

Not being any sort of riding expert - you might, however, want to re-type/phrase the question as it currently makes little sense......

Not only were there no stirrups - but I don't think they have ever been held at any point in history. Do you mean the reins?

As for the shield - I always thought the handle was more or less in the centre behind the boss? I also believe that shields had straps too, both for helping support the weight and to allow slinging across the back, but am not positive in that. It does make a lot of sense, mind you.

Auxilia Cavalry shields are often depicted as similar ovals to the Infantry ones, with the exception of the Germanic(?) hexagonal ones, which are otherwise similarly sized.

[Caturix]

Sorry... I was writing fast (I was at work).

Yeas, I meant reins, not stirrups (sorry).

With a shield in the left hand and a spear or sword in the right one, I can't figure properly how the rider could keep a good control of the horse.

[Mark Hygate]

Not to worry - but it makes far more sense that way.

Now we can wait for those with much more practical and re-enactment experience, but I believe the short answer is - knee control. In the main, as far as I am aware, and unlike for the infantry, the cavalry shield is much more 'static' in usage and is mainly there to cover the rider on the left hand side; and he would indeed still hold the reins in the same hand that is holding the shield.

[Vindex]

Stele from cavalrymen from evidence in the UK depict the rider holding his shield in the left hand, and one could argue that the shield shape is anything from oval to rectangular. This may be due to the artist's representation or availability of stone (or even money!) for the rendering of a true depiction of what was usual.

Longinus (Colchester) shows his reins across the horse's neck and plausibly held in the left hand with the shield (although long reins, he still has a contact with the horse's mouth).

Flavinus (Hexham) and Insus of the Treveri (my favourite UK stele and knoiwn as the Lancaster Rider) appears to show dropped reins but still a contact on the horse's mouth...which could be (once again) artist's impression or something as simple as a knot in the reins to stop them falling out of reach when the rider's hands are otherwise full of sword/spear and shield.

Bassus and Capito, stele found in Germany, seem to reflect the Longinus design and show the reins on the horse's neck, possibly held in the left hand.

So, you have a choice. Either loose contact with the horse's mouth and the reins in your fingers at the very end of their length (as demonstrated by Hyland in her book Equus) or you go for dropped reins and a horse trained to be responsive to the rider's knee and his seat in the saddle. Or a combination of the two depending on circumstances.

If you favour the use of the seat and leg aids, we are then in the realms of discussing the characteristics of the saddle - wooden tree or not wooden tree - because one will allow you to feel the horse's back through the saddle and one won't (wooden tree). This is also influenced by HOW the wooden tree saddle is made as there are lots of modern saddles with wooden tree which allow for the horse to feel the rider's signs (aids) through his back.

The difference is, from a horseman's perspective, that one can use the tensing of the back and the buttocks as a sign (or aid) to the horse to slow down and even stop without having to add pressure to the horse's mouth; but in order to do this, the saddle must allow the horse to feel this subtle change in the rider's position. If one's horse cannot feel this change it will carry on regardless and require the more unsubtle pull on the reins through the bit in the mouth (or through more poll/nose pressure via a bitless hackamore) which makes the horse react in a different way and requires at least one hand on the reins. A horse's reaction to pressure on the mouth, nose or poll is to resist, usually by throwing it's head up to "evade" the pressure and this is not so good if you are leaning forward trying to strike at an opponent. A painful smack on the your nose is the worst result of this (and that really makes your eyes water) and the horse, once it's head is in the air, is out of your control until it chooses to lower it again. A horse halted off the seat and the legs, however, learns to "sit" and hold the power in its hind legs which then enables you to move forward, sideways or even upwards if you are defending spear and sword thrusts; all of this and leaving your hands free to fight/defend.

If the use of the reins is the preferred method, I would suggest that the types of bits we see in the archaeological record (as long as they are bits for ridden and not driven horses) indicate that a very , very light touch on the reins would be needed as the pressure conveyed to the horse through the reins is VERY strong and requires light, careful hands. This is why many people condemn the Roman bits as severe but I would argue that there are direct comparisons in the modern equestrian sports of reining (Western style riding), show jumping (quick response and high level of control for quick corners on the course) and polo (quick reponse to reduction of speed).

I have seen horses rear and fall over backwards if the pressure on their mouths/poll is too strong and that is not a pretty sight and extremely painful for horse and rider and if you were in combat, you would both probably end up skewerd!

[PhilusEstilius]

I don't think it would have been a difficult thing for a cavalryman to both hold the shield and the reins in the left hand at the gallop, for most of his work must have been done in a rout where he would slash at the enemy from behind as they tried to flee the field the shield being at the left to simply protect his left side.

[Vindex]

It isn't particularly difficult when you're moving forward but it becomes a little more difficult when you have to slow down and manoeuvre as the shield hand then moves where the reins take you as opposed to the shield hand doing what you want the shield to do ie protect you (if that makes sense).

[Vitruvius]

Ave,Y'all,
Might I suggest that interested parties contact Frater John Conyers and his "Comatatis" group or Dr. Mark Junkelman aout this subject....The both have experience in such matters.
Salve to all,
Vitruvius.....aka Larry Mager