10-31-2008, 08:48 PM
Quote:Having been under live fire (if not sharps) from mounted archers I can tell you it isn't easy for any length of time. Arrows do get through the gaps in formations or hit unprotected areas such as your feet!
You can bet it wasn't easy. Heavy infantry can march against horse archers and win the day. The mounts of the horse archers get blown and men can recover their strength much more than horses can. Typically elite horse archers kept remounts. Heavy infantry can wait until a degree of exhaustion and low ammo affects the horse archers and forces them to retire. And well coordinated fresh horse archers are not replacing them.
The ordinary shield wall can stand up to this. Provided the infantry don't panic and maintain order. And are prepared to accept casualties. Remember unlike the horse archers, the infantry can apply relatively constant pressure.
This can be the tactical result of the first battles.
However even in spite of initially fortuitous conditions. The infantry commander has a prick of a strategic situation on successive occasions. His casualties mount and increasing privation dents the spirit of even the most hardened men. The Horse archer army has the better strategic mobility. And can resupply and rest itself with impunity.
The only counter is a type of shield wall involving overlapping shields that give full protection with minimal casualties. This is very tiring for the infantry. Even worse for the horse archers who find their fire infective and become even more dispirited and exhausted. When their favorite tactics don't work.
But it requires infantry well trained and prepared for the task. And preferably fresh. But this tactic was employed by many successfully, even "barbarian" armies.
The steppe counter to this tactic. As I said, was to send in particularly brave and skilled lasso artists. (these are the ones with the poles, not the trick artists of western movies)
This a tricky operation. A steppe horseman dragged from his mount by nasty infantrymen, is not going to have a nice day.
This was best afforded when the infantry carry squared shields that could be gripped. Not like those smartie-pants Late Romans who carried those big oval shields. In which case try grappling hooks.
I guess if you're on a campaign against horse archers. Prey there is not too many of them, or at least they get bored and wander off.
Otherwise you better achieve your strategic objectives promptly with great determination.
It appears Crassus allowed himself to be overwhelmed by the initial attacks and failed to rally his troops sufficiently.
Maybe the better move would have been to withdraw and wait for the gods to answer your prayers. Although there could be political and monetary considerations against this.
Steven.
