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Germanic Cavalry (Gallic Wars) - SCOH - 04-02-2010
Caesar refers to Germanic cavalry as being a formation interspersed with infantry, who would charge with the cavalry. Can anyone give me a good explanation of how this was useful? After the cavalry had hit an enemy formation the light infantry came in an engaged in a stand-up fight, or did he simply mean the German cavalry had something akin to pages or retainers?
Re: Germanic Cavalry (Gallic Wars) - Alanus - 04-06-2010
I think you answered your own question with the last sentance.
The Germanic cavalry of Caesar's de bello Gallico appear to the Seuvi. They used no saddles, and a warrior ran along-side each horseman. This ped-soldier, it might seem, would perform the function of a person later known as a page. And too, he might hold the horse if the cavalryman dismounted to fight afoot. It would appear that Caesar's Germanic cavalry was elemental, compared to the more sophisticated horsemen-breeders among the Arverni and Aedui. But the Germans turned the tide at Alesia, causing the downfall of Vercingetorix and his brave cousin Vercassivelaunus.
Re: Germanic Cavalry (Gallic Wars) - Sascha - 04-06-2010
Take a look to this site:
http://www.projekt-sueben.de/html/aktionen.html
The Inf. Warrior grape the mane of the horse and run with the mounted one, beside the horse.
This allows fast combined attacks. The other way around the near infantry gives safety for retreated and out powered cavalry.
Re: Germanic Cavalry (Gallic Wars) - Gaius Julius Caesar - 04-06-2010
Quote:Take a look to this site:
http://www.projekt-sueben.de/html/aktionen.html
The Inf. Warrior grape the mane of the horse and run with the mounted one, beside the horse.
This allows fast combined attacks. The other way around the near infantry gives safety for retreated and out powered cavalry.
That is what I was thinking too.