Sub-Roman Britain (Cavalry etc)

[Matthew Amt]

...During my reenjoyment by pouring over it I stumbled onto a section about Celtic cavalry from roughly the time of the Bouddica rebellion. Interestingly enough these men had the same sort of equipment listed by Mr.Conyard three posts back, well, except they all had saddles and helmets. These men fought alongside light infantrymen, who defended them from enemy spears. The infantrymen were replaced by lightly armed legionaries in Rome's own recruitment of similar units from the Celtic Auxilia.

As I understand it, British cavalry in the first century AD was not highly regarded by the Romans. However, I believe much of that is based on just one source, so it may be an exaggeration. Units of mixed cavalry and infantry were common in the *auxiliaries* (legionaries not included), and seem to have been inspired by *German* warriors from Caesar's era.

These heavy horsemen would have thrown their javelins, helped break the enemy line using a spear for a few with help from the infantry, and then they left their spear in their latest victim and then ripped free their swords.

LOTS of ancient cavalry types used javelins or throwing spears, with swords as backup. Standard procedure, I'd say.

It was certainly enough to help Bouddica take down a couple of legions and maul Camulodunum (sp?) and Londoninium severly.

Um, Boudicca defeated about 4 *cohorts* of Legio IX Hispana, but the Roman cavalry got clean away. She did indeed destroy London and 2 other towns. The general belief is that her force was primarily infantry, with some chariots. Really not much cavalry.

But if we were to play this game a little longer we might suppose that the Celtic nobles of the Bouddica rebellion can be exchanged for Romano-British aristocracy. Most important of all, these Romano-Britons would have have at least four centuries of Roman tactics, weaponry, and armour ingrained into their fighting style.

Certainly the Late Roman army had a stronger emphasis on cavalry, and we know they used spears, javelins, and swords, with shields and at least some armor and helmets. Doesn't strike me as any surprise to see mounted aristocrats in Post-Roman Britain, because their military traditions would have evolved from the *Roman* military, not the Celtic system, though of course there was provincial influence in the Roman army since before the Empire began! (Doesn't really take 31 pages of discussion to get to that conclusion, eh?)

Oh, beware the Ospreys--good inspiration, but not always well documented.

Vale,

Matthew