Sub-Roman Britain (Cavalry etc)

[John Conyard]

This discussion is like a bad itch to me. I want to scratch it, but suspect I will only make things worse.

There seems to be a wish, even a longing, for post Roman British cavalry to mirror Roman cavalry. I have no such romatic idea. I'm going to brush over the issues around professional armies, centralised supply and training, compared to "tribal warbands". Instead I would just like to make a few basic comments.

You can melee riding in the four horn saddle.

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I suspect Attila was prepared to throw himself on a potential pyre of steppe saddles.

Small native breeds were prefered by the Roman cavalry. They were more likely to be disease resistant. And they can carry great weight. This is a cob of just over 14 hands. And I'm a great weight.

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Without quoting chapter and verse a lancea can be described as a slender javelin or light spear. Although there is little evidence for the length of Roman spears, the length of the weapon seems to remain remarkably constant through time at somewhere between 2.4m and 2.7m. The blades were designed to penetrate and cut, while the butt of the shaft was capped with a ferule. Evidence suggests the shafts were predominantly made of ash, a wood well suited to withstand shock. My reconstruction is 2.4m long with a weight of 1.5kg. It can be used couched or over arm.

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Recurve bows, probably asymetrical, were specialised enough in the late Western Empire to be produced in a state run "factory" in north Itlay. I'm not aware of any evidence of horse archery in the imediate post Roman period.

The cost of cavalry armour was considerable. Post Roman British cavalry do not have to face horse archers or other specialist units, so basic weapons and equipment would suffice. A pad or wooden saddle with low cantles, shield, javelins and perhaps some form of armour and possibly a sword would suffice. Comitatus represents the Equites Taifali, a unit based in Britain. We use the kontos and other equipment not because it was found in Britain, but because it was used by the Roman cavalry. So please don't assume the kontos was used in Britain.