Cavalry

‘Konnica Achemenidów z perspektywy greckiej’

by Bogdan Burliga

Studia i Materiały do Historii Wojskowości 23 (2012) (w druku)

Getaryggen 1567 - ett slagfält från Nordiska Sjuårskriget (årsrapport 2011) / Getaryggen 1567 - a Battlefield from the Nordic Seven Years War

by Claes Pettersson

Annual report from an ongoing reasearch project. Published by Miliseum / Jönköping County Museum

In late atumn 1567 a Danish army led by by the excellent commander Daniel Rantzau advanced north towards the castle of... more In late atumn 1567 a Danish army led by by the excellent commander Daniel Rantzau advanced north towards the castle of Jönköping. Their aim was to strike a decisive blow against the heartland of the Swedish realm, thus forcing the enemy to surrender or at least negotiate. What today is know as the Nordic Seven Years War had been going on since 1563 and the war-weariness spread rapidly among both soldiers and the ordinary population. And even more important - the treasuries in both countries were almost empty, meaning that armies consisting of mercenaries could not be kept together as fighting units much longer. Something had to be done.

The offensive of october 1567 followed the main highway from the Danish costal province of Halland into the neighbouring Swedish county of Småland. Here the primitive road followed the Nissan river valley. Despite the hilly terrain, dense woodland and late atumn rains Rantzau managed to lead his force to Jönköping in ten days, an impressive feat considering the fact that the army numbered 8 000 men, including cavalry, artillery and a large wagon train with supplies and followers.

For most of the time the outnumbered Swedish defenders kept their distance, avoiding open combat. Instead they blocked the road by felling trees and destroying bridges. But about 20 km southwest of Jönköping a blockhouse and some simple field fortifications in a good defensive position were manned by about 1000 men, both regular soldiers and local militia. The place was wisely chosen, being a hill and a flanking ridge overlooking the highway just where it left a long narrow causeway after having crossed a bog. But against the defenders came some of the best soldiers of their time; Danish, Scottish and German mercenaries led by Christoffer von Dohna. They were the vanguard of Rantzaus main army, also counting about 1000 men. But they were far better equipped, battlewise and expertly led. So, after a first skirmish and some initial losses von Dohna let loose his cavalry unit in a flanking movement while his infantry pushed uphill, along the road. The Swedish position was overrun and what can best be described as a slaughter started when the defenders tried to flee. Then followed the sacking of the Swedish camp.

Still, the Swedish High Command had reached their goal. By delaying Rantzau's army for several hours they got the time needed to destroy the bridges and causeways across the vast Dumme Mosse bog. And by doing so, winning another day on the Danish advance, they managed to evacuate and burn their own town and fortress, Jönköping, thus depriving Rantzau of an important base for a winter offensive. It was right - in theory. But instead of retreating to Danish territory the enemy commander pushed on into the rich county of Östergötland. There the army stayed, sacking and plundering, into the winter months of 1568 when lack of reinforcements resulted in a long march south, back to Denmark. In the end nothing had been achieved and the war went on for another three years...

Rantzau's offensive and the battle of Getaryggen has been the focus for a research project, managed by the Miliseum Museum in Skillingaryd and Jönköpings County Museum. The actual battlefield has been located and surveyed in 2010 and 2011. Despite a terrain quite unsuitable for metal detectors a number of finds tells the story of an almost forgotten conflict some 444 years ago. Lead bullets are few, but instead there are crossbow bolts, a short sword, knives, horse equipment and some tools that might have been used as "weapons" by the local militia. It has been possible to interpret the battle by using Rantzaus own war diary, topographical observations and the distribution of the finds. And today the battlefield is registered as an ancient monument and is given legal protection against plundering.

So far, so good. But now it's time to go one step further with the 1567-project. Having found the battlefield, our aim is to begin looking at the consequences of this conflict. Written sources tells us about an almost total devastation; of farms, villages and churches burned or plundered. Of a population starving in the harsh winter of 1568. Here is an important field of research as Småland today is seen as the most peaceful part of the world one could ever imagine. But following in the tracks of Rantzau's army you begin to see things quite differently. Because once this was a region harried by border wars over and over again...

Scouting for Soldiers: Reconnaissance and the British Cavalry, 1899—1914

by Spencer Jones

Published in 'War in History' 18(4), 2011. pp.495 - 513

Although reconnaissance was considered the primary duty of cavalry, British cavalry were poorly trained in this duty... more Although reconnaissance was considered the primary duty of cavalry, British cavalry were poorly trained in this duty prior to the Anglo-Boer War (1899 – 1902). The dismal performance of scouting duties in this conflict prompted a complete overhaul of reconnaissance organisation, while innovative training methods were introduced to improve scouting and horsemastery. Although the process was not without difficulties, the results were positive and proved extremely valuable in 1914. It is the purpose of this article to add to the ongoing debate on British cavalry in the period 1899 – 1914 by demonstrating how the vital skills of reconnaissance were developed as a result of the Anglo-Boer War experience.

Essor de la production littéraire hippiatrique et développement de la cavalerie: contribution à l'histoire du cheval dans l'Antiquité tardive

by stavros Lazaris

Considérations sur l'apparition du fer à clous: contribution à l'histoire du cheval dans l'Antiquité tardive

by stavros Lazaris

Odyrsian arms, equipment, and tactics

by Christopher Webber

Published in British Archaeology Reports, 2001

The cavalry formed a large part of the Odrysian army and this article describes their tactics, weapons, apparel,... more The cavalry formed a large part of the Odrysian army and this article describes their tactics, weapons, apparel, armour, and equipment, based on the latest archaeological discoveries.  It is fully illustrated, including (for the first time) colour reconstructions of the Kazanluk tomb paintings.  The article illustrates the transition from classical to hellenistic equipment, tactics, and appearance.

"Control of ancient horses: horse bits, spurs, ant the problem of the saddle, stirrup and horseshoes in the Iberian Peninsula" (in Spanish) "El gobierno del caballo montado en la Antigüedad clásica con especial referencia al caso de Iberia. Bocados, espuelas y la cuestión de la silla de montar, estribos y herraduras".

by Fernando Quesada-Sanz

Gladius XXV, 2005, pp. 5-58.

We examine the different elements of the horse’s tack in Antiquity: bits, spurs, saddle,  stirrups and the... more
We examine the different elements of the horse’s tack in Antiquity: bits, spurs, saddle,  stirrups and the problem of horseshoes, with special reference to the case of Iberia.

"Aristocratic riders and the appearance of a true cavalry in the Iberian Iron Age: to copnceptually different ambits" (in Spanish) "Aristócratas a caballo y la existencia de una verdadera caballería en la cultura ibérica: dos ámbitos conceptuales diferentes".

by Fernando Quesada-Sanz

In C. Aranegui (ed.) Actas del Congreso Internacional, 'Los Iberos, príncipes de Occidente'. Barcelona, 1998, pp. 169-183.

The use of the horse in the Iberian world is normally associated with the aristocratic and military spheres. The... more The use of the horse in the Iberian world is normally associated with the aristocratic and military spheres. The generally-held opinion is also that both aspects were necessarily related, that the use of the horse as an element of status amongst aristocratic groups meant that cavalry forces existed in ancient Iberian armies. Our aim is to demonstrate that this is not so, that it is possible to distinguish very difierent phases in the military use of the horse in tha Iberian culture, and that a different state of affairs is also found in the Celtiberian area. More specifically, we believe that cavalry was probably developed in the Iberian culture only from the 2nd century BC, and that earlier use of the horse as a status symbol pertains to a conceptual sphere parallel to, but different from its military use.

L'utilisation du cheval dans le «Far West» méditerranéen (in French) "The uses of horses in the Iberian 'Far West' during the Iron Age"

by Fernando Quesada-Sanz

In Les équides dans le monde Méditerranéen antique. Colloque International.
École Française d’Athénes, Atenas, 26-28 Noviembre de 2003.
Monographies d’Archéologíe Méditerranéenne, Lattes 2005, pp.95-110.

L’utilisation du cheval dans le «Far West» méditerranéen. Bilan des recherches et étude de cas: le problème de... more L’utilisation du cheval dans le «Far West» méditerranéen. Bilan des recherches et étude de cas: le problème de l’apparition de la cavalerie en Ibérie

L'utilisation du cheval dans le «Far West» méditerranéen (in French) "The uses of horses in the Iberian 'Far West' during the Iron Age"

by Fernando Quesada-Sanz

In Les équides dans le monde Méditerranéen antique. Colloque International.
École Française d’Athénes, Atenas, 26-28 Noviembre de 2003.
Monographies d’Archéologíe Méditerranéenne, Lattes 2005, pp.95-110.

L’utilisation du cheval dans le «Far West» méditerranéen. Bilan des recherches et étude de cas: le problème de... more L’utilisation du cheval dans le «Far West» méditerranéen. Bilan des recherches et étude de cas: le problème de l’apparition de la cavalerie en Ibérie