Sub-Roman Britain (Cavalry etc)

[John Conyard]

There are the odd find of high status Swanton class B1 spearheads with a square cross section, probably made to fit on the standard spear of up to 9 feet. Some believe it is for throwing, but I have a large version which is really designed for hand to hand. It is a terrifying weapon and heavy to use.

I come from Cornwall and as a lad was deeply interested in Cornish tin mining. I suspect your question lies not in the amount of tin and copper in the ground but the ability to pay and feed the miners, workman and ancillary staff.

I suspect the Taifali even when brigaded with a fellow unit would be lucky to mount 200 men in the early fourth century Roman army. No post roman kingdom would be able to come close to that figure of regular trained horsemen. I would expect a few armoured high status leaders, plus a following of less armoured riders with the primary tactic being based on throwing spears without an ability to fight in close order with hand combat weapons.