11-27-2006, 06:43 AM
Nicholas,
By the time the Praecepta Militaria is writen in the late 10th C what you say would be correct. However the Sylloge Tacticorum, which is the first to mention menavlatoi as a distinct body of troops, written in the mid 10th C Sylloge instructs them to operate as as an anti cataphract troop type:
“First of all, position the menavlatoi in the intervals alongside the front ranks: when the enemy approach to within bowshot range, the menavlatoi move through the intervals toward the enemy regiments and deploy from a distance of thirty fathoms, either having the frontage in a straight line or else in a wedge shape as stated in chapter 46. Their task is to stab boldly the horses of the cataphract cavalry with their menavlon.â€
By the time the Praecepta Militaria is writen in the late 10th C what you say would be correct. However the Sylloge Tacticorum, which is the first to mention menavlatoi as a distinct body of troops, written in the mid 10th C Sylloge instructs them to operate as as an anti cataphract troop type:
“First of all, position the menavlatoi in the intervals alongside the front ranks: when the enemy approach to within bowshot range, the menavlatoi move through the intervals toward the enemy regiments and deploy from a distance of thirty fathoms, either having the frontage in a straight line or else in a wedge shape as stated in chapter 46. Their task is to stab boldly the horses of the cataphract cavalry with their menavlon.â€
Peter Raftos