06-17-2008, 03:32 PM
Quote:If this weapon in its eighteen foot length, in Markle's view, rendered the phalanx a cumbersome and fractious animal then such would also apply to charging cavalry in files as he imagines them.
Renaissance Polish hussars were known to use lances of this length to good effect. ( http://www.jasinski.co.uk/wojna/comp/comp06.htm ) There are tales of Swedish pike being charged through, but like all cavalry-riding-over-infantry stories in my opinion, the swedes must have broken ranks just before contact.
One thing to consider is the nature of a "charge". If I remember correctly, there was a clash between Napoleon's Polish lancers and Prussian infantry in the rain (no gun-play) in which the horse did not charge into them so much as approach an poke them due to their longer reach. I don't recall if they broke.
Paul M. Bardunias
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
