Border Reivers and Alani-Sarmatians...

[Arthes]

You misunderstood me.
Of course I know Scythians are from the steppes.

:lol:

I merely compared the tactics of Scythian, Welsh and Scotttish Border Reivers to point out that while the tactics are similar, the steppes have nothing to do with it. It's mainly to do with hit-and-run tactics, withdrawing into terrain afterwards, where the enemy can't follow.

True...the Catuvellauni and Silures who fought under Caratacus in the hills of the West used a similar method of guerilla warfare against the Romans ...
Hereward too used a hit and run method, having the marchy terrain around Ely as a retreat where the Normans could not follow.
The comparisons are interesting as the 'hit and run' battle is a more tribal method of fighting, as opposed to those used by the larger city states of Europe. (thinks about the Roman viewpoint of the British cavalry :wink: )
It is probably the reason the Sarmatians were chosen for Britain, their fighting tactics were similar to the locals, so they knew what to expect.
Seeing a heavily armoured Sarmatian troop riding towards them, was probably initially enough to frighten the Pritani raiders...although I suspect they also had some friendly interaction...!