Sub-Roman Britain (Cavalry etc)

[Astiryu1]

What was the Cavalry of Britain like before the Romans pulled out? Was it Roman in design or was it more like everywhere else and drew from the locals tactics and traditions. This would be a good point to consider when thinking about Roman Cavalry. Also something I consider is the practicality of a unit type in certain environments. Horse Archers for example work better in open areas while Lancers would usually take up less room for maneuvers and choose a small point to attack.

Caesar though long before post Roman-Britain, hired the Germanic tribesmen as his Cavalry and the West didn't really stress horsemanship like the East did "AFAIK". This I believe is due to the larger plains,steppes and deserts of the East as most cavalry dominated cultures came from this part of the world. (Prior to the middle ages anyway!?) I have read in a few places that the Mounted Knight as we later see in Britain was due to warfare in the Early Crusades but I leave that for another conversation.

There was horsemanship in all cultures to some extent but how important is it that there was a large or well organized Cavalry when there wasn't anyone else with comparable cavalry to worry about. Organization in many cases would be rough I am sure as the power vacuum became more hostile. The result would be service to the highest bidder; Ambrosius, He who shall not be named or anyone else. We also have to think about successive military takeovers like the Saxons, Vikings and last but not least the Normans. I would think things would have gone very differently if after the Battle at Stamford bridge the defenders jumped on horses and rode south instead of marching on foot all the way to get beaten by William of Normandy. A lack of horses in England at that time was costly. Going into battle tired isn't the best strategy. (I would have tried to capture Hardradda's ships to transport everyone I could to bear down the assault)

Anyways (before I travel even further through time :roll: ), it doesn't seem that there was that much Cavalry tradition in Britain before the middle ages. I like the myths but every respectable book I have read doesn't really mention battles with alot of Cavalry in England until Henry the II's "Assize of Arms" when the military and infrastructure was installed ushering in the system of "Knights proper". That said if I had a horse and a warlord was willing to pay me I would join his army. I wouldn't have had a job serving Romans any longer now would I? :lol:

One last point I have is an Island nation (unless Australia) doesn't really need much Cavalry due to size. Mainland Europe is alot bigger and I take that into consideration. You could march across England within a couple of days and you also have naval transport to a degree which is much more likely as water surrounds islands. :wink: Japan didn't really get into cavalry later on because of this (plus they had Ninja's :twisted: ) The water also acts as a barrier for invaders to bring too many horses to English soil. Ships weren't that big yet.