Video

There is a missing last link in the evolution of cavalry spear, which is hungarian/polish lance, which was hollowed out and used lighter grip, while the force of impact was directed into the saddle. This allowed the lance to be longer, while still allowing to transfer the full force of the charge into the enemy.

I like the video but I heavily doubt a lance strike can pierce plate armor. mail? sure, but for plate? it's not like you'd pierce it so much as you'd make the guy flop from the whiplash. Reason guns became so craved on was because they were the only wepon that could reliably pierce plate, granted, crossbows and pikes could mayybe pierce weaker plates but that's like a few centimetres, which is why I said *reliably*

This is an excellent video

My question is why's there no chainmail?

That’s a pretty awesome and unique look 👌

the clinks of doom!

Pointy end forward

Hi, you see cavalry using overhand grip already in neo assyrian reliefs. Some of them might depict javelin throwing but in other scenes you can see them directly stabbing at an enemy

I'd love to see a more in-depth video on this topic. Also it's awesome when you have your armor and weapons with you when you discuss the various pieces of armor and weapons.

got the point, for the algorithm

I missed the cataphracts of the late roman, early medieval period.

I agree with much that has been said. I think the reality is that there would be different gambesons for different purposes. For example, you may have a thicker gambeson for a melee tourney, where you have 20, 30, 40 knights whaling on each other with opponents in a 360, whereas the battlefield/campaign gambeson may be lighter with some targeted areas for heavier padding, spine, ribs, hips, shoulder yoke, trying to balance movement and protection. I also agree that I think there would be differences between knights, footsoldiers, etc, dependent on the expected function and needs. Loved this topic, as it touches on many things I have been experimenting with for the last few years.

So, some comments: 1. Javelins / throwing spears definitely were used from chariots, both by Bronze Age Greeks and by Celts. As for melee spears, I've read that it is possible to use them against other charioteers and against fleeing infantry, and there are some descriptions in the "Iliad" that may be interpreted as melee spears used from chariots, but it is hart to tell for sure without practical experiments. 2. Cataphracts/cataphractarii (very heavy cavalry with very long spears) that the (Late) Romans were adopted from the Sarmatians and/or the Parthians definitely should be mentioned. The Byzantines used cataphracts till 10th or 11th century, before adapting more Western European heavy cavalry. 3. Goths, Franks and other Germanic peoples definitely used cavalry (actually Germanic cavalry existed since the times of Caesar ant Tacitus). There also are some mentions of Anglo-Saxon cavalry. Celts, such as Picts, Welsh and Bretons, also used cavalry in the post-Roman Europe. I've read that the Bretons were famous as mounted javelin throwers. 4. Polish winged hussars and lancers definitely are important. If I understand correctly, Western European cavalry started use pistols instead of lances in 16th century and cavalry charges with swords became popular in the 17th century, while Polish cavalry continued to use lances, and lancers became more popular in Europe during Napoleonic wars because of Polish influence. 5. And while in the Eurasian Steppe the main cavalry weapon was the bow and Steppe horse archers are pretty famous, there were some Steppe peoples who used spears and lances very successfully. Firstly, Sarmatians during late Antiquity had a lot of heavy cavalry with spears. And later Kalmyks used lance charges very successfully in the 17th century.

most interesting

Thank you! I was going mad trying to understand what was under the cote!

I think a force of each Saxons and Normans for a Hail Ceasar game set in Hastingd would be cool. Or use them for first crusade crusaders I suppose.

Really interesting video! I think many people think of cavalry being quite static and unchanging, but in reality ancient cavalry was quite different to medieval. Nicely demonstrated!

A topic I’ve been wondering about is the difference in power between hitting a target straight on with the lance rather than at an angle like you would in a joust.

I wonder how little padding you can get away with in modern day buhurt. I feel most people wear late 14th century and early 15th century armors that require the heavy padding for safety reasons. However I might wager that a late 15th century armor with big pointy couters, full shoulder defense (especially pauldrons that protects the gap on the top of the shoulder) , mitten gauntlets, and steel neck protection would be pretty safe with historical padding especially if worn with maille. The only exception being the helmet, which may need more padding due to constant blunt trauma. There is a good chance I am still wrong since I never practiced Buhurt, its just a feeling. I wish this can be tested out at some point.

You said whilstle-stop tour and indeed it was. Good broad strokes, concise discussion. You brought forth some very interesting comments as well. I am wanting to get around to mounting a spearhead and butt cap on a good hardwood shaft. I have two different lengths of wood so I can experiment too. So anything about spears ... . Cheers!

What injuries have you had jousting? Any broken thumbs?

The development of the knightly lance continued in Poland, and arguably it is where this weapon has reached its pinnacle. They wanted to make it longer, but you couldn't do it out of solid wood, because it would become either too flexible, too heavy, or both. So they sawed through the whole shaft lengthwise, dug out all the wood from the center, then glued both halves back together. Some cloth wrapping was glued all over the shaft, to make sure the glue joint won't come apart. That allowed for crazy length, up to 6.5 meters (21 feet). They added long colorful pennants to the end, which scared the enemy horses, that at the time were not used to this sight anymore. As the arm support they used a big wooden ball, which distributed the force of the hit somewhat, though probably not as good as a lance rest. But it wasn't needed much, because they used a dedicated lance stirrup attached to the front of the saddle. It's possible (albeit difficult) to used the lance while still keeping it in the stirrup, which transfers all the force of the impact to the horse, not to the rider. It all made it an expensive weapon, considering it was mostly a single use thing. But it did work extremely well. BTW - The Poles were responsible for reappearance of the lance in the West. That's why so many cavalry units still carry red and white colors.

The Byzantine use of heavy cavalry in the 10th and 11th century is super interesting. They likely used couched lances before the normans and would advance silently as a large block of men. Not a canter like you mentioned, but they were devastating. One period tactician likened them to a javelin that has one throw. Devastating and terrifying, but you only get one charge in an engagement

You should look up Longobard cavalry. They did make a point of using cavalry, it's not like there's nothing between the Romans and the Normans. Also the Carolingians did use cavalry quite a lot.

🗿👍

Nothing to say just an obligatory algorithm boost for the channel 👍👍

you are doing a great job, with these videos.

Were the Franks not big users of cavalry? Though I don't know that their use of them differed that much from other people of the periods you mentioned, I have the impression that they were a cavalry power of the early medieval period. Also, you went into how a light lance withdraws the weapon after striking the enemy, but with those heavy couched lances, once you've driven it through a person(!) how do you get it back, or is it discarded after that/usually broken? It seems the same maneuver wouldn't be possible. I've seen many examples of the first in demonstrations of various kind, but never the second.

yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

I have the same issue when I order mail, big noggin. The question is did you have to do a handstand to get out of the shirt? My tailored one that is long I have to and it’s not easy with the extra weight.

Please learn distinction between we and us

i wondered why they had used two rolls of sellotape on the box, until i saw the continents

Seems mail too big for you 😊

Haha, that ended suddenly! Tell us more about it 🙂

Neat!

Nice 👍 Reenactment or LARP? It doesn’t seem to fit with your 15th C English knight armour.

Very cool

Beautiful English armor. Now to dispel some foolish misinformation, just because it has a Sallet doesn’t mean it’s German. Every country and nation that had knights, used sallets. There were many different styles of Sallet. The German sallet generally not having ä reinforced brow, and an extended lower visor. The Italian style, the eyeslit was flush with the upper and lower parts of the visor, and it generally had an extra upper plate for reinforcing the brow. And there were mixtures and variations of these designs. Some had articulations on the back tail of the helm, some had fluting along the visor to aid in deflection, and some were one peice forged, and had no visor. Some also had just very long tails.

Great piece of armour. 👍

That looks like a German Armor, Brits usually used Armets. That's a Sallet.

Nice.

Fingers crossed it's Gwyneth Paltrow's head 🤞🤞😂 Nope just a nice mail shirt.

So... you gonna trim and tailor the arms so they fit snugly?

the sleeves seem kinda baggy.

AC 13 + Dex mod

I remember when my maile shirt first arrived. It got all binded up when I tried to pull it on, and it was stuck half over my head for what felt like an eternity but was probably 2-3 minutes. (Feels much longer when you have like 14 kgs just sitting there awkwardly on your arms and shoulders refusing to move!) It's all loose now and slips on over my gamberaon no problems.

Giant tefal heed, I have the same ,my army helmet was the largest size they had,when it rained my platoon sheltered under it 😕

Is this "real" armour that has a hope of stopping something or is it the poor quality mild steel everyone uses to "prove" arrows, etc. can penetrate it? I have seen maille which nothing could penetrate. Cheers! P.S.: I don't care about unboxing vids esp if it comes to nothing.

A mysteriously heavy mystery boxhas arrived!