Sub-Roman Britain (Cavalry etc)

[Conal]

Stories and legends can have great persistence, but the social and technological structures supporting the original story don't necessarily follow. Military traditions are an amalgam of social and technological traits, not just stories.

India may still have tales of Alexander, but when was the last sarissa used in the subcontinent?
Homer was a foundation stone of Western Civilization, but no one understood a boar's tooth helmet during Classical times (AFAIK) all the way up to modern archeology.
Tales of Robin Hood persisted, as did knowledge of the 100 Year's War; but attempts to revive the longbow (lasting up into the 18th century) all foundered on technological and social differences.

I'm not arguing for a pre-Roman military or should I say warrior culture revival just suggesting that pre-Roman customs may have survived and influenced post-Roman politics to some extent. I accept that social and technological structures may not persist in exactly the structures as previously but the residual may be enough. Ever met an Irish American, they can be more Irish than those from the old country. I'm of Irish extraction myself and we call these guys Plastic Paddys but it still remains that although not celebrating centuries past you will still find these guys singing Kevin Barry (a ballad for an inocent killed in the 1916 uprising) for years to come. The annual celebrations of the battle of the Boyne has recently led to strife in Northern Ireland and that was in the 1600s... still influencing politics today :|