12-03-2015, 06:49 PM
Hi, Childeric
I don't know if Iazage fighting tactics were ever discussed. This thread is 5 pages long, and somewhere near the beginning I mentioned that Iazages were not Sarmatians, but actually related to Western Scythians. They did not use Sarmatian/Alan tactics, no contus, no heavy armor, they used short swords (much like Scythian), and they were buried in flat graves rather than in an Alanic tumulus or catacomb grave. Considering their weapons (or lack thereof), their fighting tactics would have been atypical to the "Sarmatian norm." The confusion was amplified by a book by Littleton & Malcor, wherein they claimed Iazages were instrumental on producing Britain's "Arthur." Neither author was aware of the later placement into Britain of the Equites Taifali Seniors (the Bears) and Tailfali Iuniors (the Dragon & Pearl), two Roman units comprised of actual Sarmatain warriors... nor were they willing to admit there never was a person called "Arthur."
On the Iazyges, your a-priori info would be in the earlier books of Ammianus Marcelinus, who discusses that tribe and its eventual defeat and importation into Britain.
To Folkert, there are several chapters on Sarmatians in the above-mentioned reference edited by Davis-Kimball; and maybe there's an illustration of a later sagaris. I wish you both success in your searches.
I don't know if Iazage fighting tactics were ever discussed. This thread is 5 pages long, and somewhere near the beginning I mentioned that Iazages were not Sarmatians, but actually related to Western Scythians. They did not use Sarmatian/Alan tactics, no contus, no heavy armor, they used short swords (much like Scythian), and they were buried in flat graves rather than in an Alanic tumulus or catacomb grave. Considering their weapons (or lack thereof), their fighting tactics would have been atypical to the "Sarmatian norm." The confusion was amplified by a book by Littleton & Malcor, wherein they claimed Iazages were instrumental on producing Britain's "Arthur." Neither author was aware of the later placement into Britain of the Equites Taifali Seniors (the Bears) and Tailfali Iuniors (the Dragon & Pearl), two Roman units comprised of actual Sarmatain warriors... nor were they willing to admit there never was a person called "Arthur."
On the Iazyges, your a-priori info would be in the earlier books of Ammianus Marcelinus, who discusses that tribe and its eventual defeat and importation into Britain.
To Folkert, there are several chapters on Sarmatians in the above-mentioned reference edited by Davis-Kimball; and maybe there's an illustration of a later sagaris. I wish you both success in your searches.
Alan J. Campbell
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb