Sub-Roman Britain (Cavalry etc)

[Alanus]

they had a shoulder harness called a Wytoch. One band went to a cup holding the butt, another to a bridle further forrard than the left hand. So, the whole lance outfit swung through an arc pivoting on the right shoulder/chest. But, we are talking about massive lances.
Anyway, my point is this. That stuff really worked and there is nothing whatever in it that was beyong Alan or Sarmat technology..especially if roman army workshops were available. I ve read many accounts of peopel seeing Alans fiddling about at hip level with saddle likit and bits and pieces. All very hazy and inconclusive. To me, that what you would do with a wytoch.

REf Malcor...yes...kanal vision they call it. Pity. I hope your book on Artor is going well. I ve looked for tamgas at Ribchester but never found any. Arborea and Catterick are on my list for searches. Ref:composite bows, i ll bet the glue on them didnt last long in western Europ's filthy wet climate!!
Sorry to waffle at loength
Rodi

Hello, Rodi

Seems to me that lancers in the reenacting Equites Taifali group do use a wytoch. I suppose the Sarmat-Roman cavalryman employed this harness to sling the lance around his back while employing the bow or other weapons, and probably used it in the same manner as the Polish Husarius. All of the remaining illustrations of Sarmatian contusarii are too vague, agreed.

As for the steppe bow in Britain's climate, the Vatican illustration was penned about 200 years after the Romans left Britain (assuming they did abandon the Isle, which I doubt). I use 2 bows built from original materials. When the weather is damp/rainy, I lose about 5 pounds draw-strength. The original bows were made with sturgeon glue, or other fish glue, which was water-resistant. This is not the same as hide glue. Strangely enough, the Vatican illustration also shows scale armor. When you look at it, you can see the links between the Sarmatians, Romans, and finally the Britons.

With Malcor we find the old adage-- mostly wrong most of the time, but not totally wrong all of the time. She and Morris would have made a pair. :roll:

As for the novel? Novels are fiction. Basically, I connected the original "Tewdrig filus Theithfallt" to a possible father, Fritigern. According to Darrell Wolcott, the original Theithfallt was "foreign" and born c. 350. I think 360 would be a better date, as this would place him entering Britain c. 396 when Stilicho seems to have shipped the Equites Taifali into Britain. There is a link between the earlier Theithfallt/Tudwal (Thiudebalth) with the later man by the same name who married the daughter of Pepio. Either he or his son Tewdrig was the cavalryman who called himself "the Bear." The Equites Taifali Seniors were the Bears (as on their shields). This family originally started out associated with non-Britons, aka the Irish Desii; but after the link with Pepio's Gwentians, the family became the richest and most powerful in sub-Roman Britain (according to Prof. Snyder). There is a link, perhaps far more than a novel's fiction. 8)