How Effective were Spears Against Cavalry?

[Domen]

And it should be noted a charge of cavalry against pikemen (or any other infantry) did not have to end with annihilation of neither cavalry, nor infantry. Repeated and inconclusive charges with a clash of both formations and close combat were possible without many casualties for one or both sides.

Account of Samuel Maskiewicz - one of Polish hussars who fought in the company (banner) of prince Porycki in the battle of Klushino (which was eventually won by Polish hussars) says this:

"(...) about that I shall remember, for it is beyond belief, that the companies managed eight or ten times to fall upon the enemy. (…) After the repeated charges and hand-to-hand fighting with the enemy, our equipment was broken and our strength was dissipated (…) The horses were also ready to drop, because they have not received sustenance since dawn and for five hours of battle, they had served with a will but were reaching the limits which nature imposes (...)."

And Porycki's company (banner) lost only 5 soldiers killed in the entire battle:



Check also discussion on this forum:

http://historum.com/medieval-byzantine-h...tcount=358