05-17-2010, 06:22 PM
There is still debated if the Sassanian Clibinarii used shields from the 3rd century onwards.
I believe an expert rider can carry a small buckler shield, while properly handling the long kontos. In an Osprey book (Rome Enemies: Parthians and Sassanians), you can see a Asavaran, who carries a shield fixed to the shoulder and not the arm.
Furthermore, when you go into melee battles or the kontos is lost/broken, the Asavaran were fighting with backup weapons as swords, maces, axes. Using then a shield is just reasonable.
Some researchers believe that the reliefs of Bishapur showing the triumph of Shapur I shows Sassanian nobles with small shields.
Even Ammianus make some statements about elite warriors equipped with shields. And the Sassanian elite warriors were the noble-born cavalrymen.
First, during the Siege of Bezabde, Shapur II was protected by somewhat of a shield "testudo" by his body guards. These guards (Pushtighban or Immortals) were generally mounted.
Second during Julians siege of Pirasabora A. mentions Iron Men equipped with shields.
Another example. It shows a Coptic wall painting, 4th-5th century, called "Pharaoh`s Army crossing the Red Sea" (in-situ Al-Bagawat, Egypt). It shows cavalry and infantry equipped in an un-Roman manner. Two figures are equipped with the forward-curled Phrygian cap, something very popularly associated with Persians (for more examples of that see Arch of Galerius and Column of Arcadius). The cavalry is equipped with shields.
Furthermore, you have to consider the development of the Clibinarii. First they were very Parthian . But with ongoing decades they had to develop new tactics and equipment due they had to face new enemies and tactics.
Due my researches I believe, while fighting the Romans in the 3rd and 4th century they field few shield-equipped lancer cavalry, but with the increasing threats of invading nomad steppe tribes (Huns, Chionitae, Hephtalites, Turks), they had to transform.
Instead of fighting more infantry-based armies now horse archers were the main threat to them. The superheavy cavalry was in disadvantage, too slow, too cumbersome. So they decreased the armor but giving them additional protection by using a shield. Finally that transformation was finished in the 6th century. From then on you can read many descriptions and see monuments that Sassanian clibinari were equipped with shields.
As with Sassanian cavalry there was a variety of equipment with them and the the main taks for lancers was not to fight infantry, it was to protect the horse archers for attacks from other lancers.
True and proven steppe warfare that was the base for Iranian/Sassanian cavalry warfare, either.
Do you know more examples of shield equipped early Asavaran cavalry (stelae, texts, monuments, paintings)?
I believe an expert rider can carry a small buckler shield, while properly handling the long kontos. In an Osprey book (Rome Enemies: Parthians and Sassanians), you can see a Asavaran, who carries a shield fixed to the shoulder and not the arm.
Furthermore, when you go into melee battles or the kontos is lost/broken, the Asavaran were fighting with backup weapons as swords, maces, axes. Using then a shield is just reasonable.
Some researchers believe that the reliefs of Bishapur showing the triumph of Shapur I shows Sassanian nobles with small shields.
Even Ammianus make some statements about elite warriors equipped with shields. And the Sassanian elite warriors were the noble-born cavalrymen.
First, during the Siege of Bezabde, Shapur II was protected by somewhat of a shield "testudo" by his body guards. These guards (Pushtighban or Immortals) were generally mounted.
Second during Julians siege of Pirasabora A. mentions Iron Men equipped with shields.
Another example. It shows a Coptic wall painting, 4th-5th century, called "Pharaoh`s Army crossing the Red Sea" (in-situ Al-Bagawat, Egypt). It shows cavalry and infantry equipped in an un-Roman manner. Two figures are equipped with the forward-curled Phrygian cap, something very popularly associated with Persians (for more examples of that see Arch of Galerius and Column of Arcadius). The cavalry is equipped with shields.
Furthermore, you have to consider the development of the Clibinarii. First they were very Parthian . But with ongoing decades they had to develop new tactics and equipment due they had to face new enemies and tactics.
Due my researches I believe, while fighting the Romans in the 3rd and 4th century they field few shield-equipped lancer cavalry, but with the increasing threats of invading nomad steppe tribes (Huns, Chionitae, Hephtalites, Turks), they had to transform.
Instead of fighting more infantry-based armies now horse archers were the main threat to them. The superheavy cavalry was in disadvantage, too slow, too cumbersome. So they decreased the armor but giving them additional protection by using a shield. Finally that transformation was finished in the 6th century. From then on you can read many descriptions and see monuments that Sassanian clibinari were equipped with shields.
As with Sassanian cavalry there was a variety of equipment with them and the the main taks for lancers was not to fight infantry, it was to protect the horse archers for attacks from other lancers.
True and proven steppe warfare that was the base for Iranian/Sassanian cavalry warfare, either.
Do you know more examples of shield equipped early Asavaran cavalry (stelae, texts, monuments, paintings)?
Gäiten
a.k.a.: Andreas R.
a.k.a.: Andreas R.
