'Horses in the Medieval period in Europe had an extensive role in all aspects of warfare, culture, transportation and even national identity. While the most common image of the medieval horse is the destrier of the armoured knight of the high middle ages, there were many types of horses, all specifically documented in historical literature, that formed the foundation stock for many modern horse breeds and disciplines of riding.
Despite the popular image of a European knight on horseback charging into battle, the heavy cavalry charge was not a common occurence.[citation needed] Pitched battles were avoided, if at all possible, with most offensive warfare in the early Middle Ages taking the form of sieges,[1]or swift mounted raids called chevauchées, with the warriors lightly armed on swift horses and their heavy war horses safely in the stable.[2] While pitched battle was sometimes unavoidable, it was rarely fought on land suitable for heavy cavalry. In the fourteenth century, while mounted riders were very effective for initial attack,[3] it was common for knights to dismount to fight. [4]
By theLate Middle Ages (approx 1300-1550), battles became more common, probably because of the success of infantry tactics.[1]
Tournaments began in the eleventh century as both a sport and training for war. Usually taking the form of a mêlée, the participants used the horses, armour and weapons of war.[5] The sport of jousting grew out of the tournament and, by the fifteenth century, the art of tilting became quite sophisticated.[6] IIn the process the pageantry and specialization became less war-like, perhaps because of the knight's changing role in war.[3]
Horses were specially breed for the joust, and heavier armour developed. However, this did not necessarily lead to significantly larger horses. Interpreters at the Royal Armouries, Leeds, have re-created the joust, using specially bred horses and replica armour.[7] Their horses are 15-16 hands, and approximately 1100 lb,[8] and perform well in the joust. The researchers also tested historic artifacts and found that the medieval war saddle within the armoury fit one of their smaller horses perfectly.[citation needed]
The most well known horse of the medieval era of Europe is the destrier, known for carrying knights into war. Most knights and mounted men-at-arms rode smaller horses known as coursers and rounceys.[6] (A generic name often used to describe medieval war horses is charger, which appears interchangeable with the other terms).
Stallions were often used as war horses in Europe due to their natural agression and hot-blooded tendencies. A thirteenth century work describes destriers "biting and kicking" on the battlefield.[9] However, the use of mares by European warriors cannot be discounted from literary references.[9] Mares were the preferred war horse of the Moors, the Islamic invaders who attacked various European nations from A.D. 700 through the 15th Century. [10]
War horses were more expensive than normal riding horses, and destriers the most prized, but figures vary greatly from source to source. Destriers are given a values ranging from seven times the price of an ordinary horse[11] to 700 times.[12] The Bohemian king Wenzel II rode a horse "valued at one thousand marks" in 1298.[9] At the other extreme, a 1265 French ordinance ruled that a squire could not spend more than twenty marks on a rouncey.[6] Knights were expected to have at least one war horse (as well as riding horses and packhorses), with some records from the later Middle Ages showing knights bringing twenty-four horses on campaign.[13] Five horses was perhaps the standard.[11]
There is little evidence for a controlled and consistent breeding of warhorses in Europe during the early Middle Ages, or a development of particular breeds or strains. uncontrolled breeding throughout Europe resulted in the loss of good warhorse stock, which had to be built up again over the following centuries.[14] However, there were exceptions; in the 7th century, a Merovingian kingdom still retained at least one active Roman horse breeding centres.[11]
It is also hard to trace what happened to the bloodlines of destriers when this type appears to disappear from record during the seventeenth century.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). Other modern breeds, including the Shire and Frisian also claim such descent.[citation needed] However, other historians discount this theory. [15] Such a theory would suggest the war horses were crossed once again with the cold bloods, since war horses, and the destrier in particular, were renowned for their hot-blooded nature.[16]
The origins of the medieval war horse are equally obscure, although it is believed they had some Arabian blood, through the Spanish or Andalusian horse. It is also possible that other sources of oriental bloodstock came from what was called the Nisaean breed from Iran and Anatolia were brought back from the Crusades. [17] Spanish horses were the most expensive (although that refered to their origin, not their breeding). In Germany, spanjol became the word used to describe warhorses; German literary sources also refer to fine horses from Scandanavia. [18]Feudal France was also noted for its warhorses.[19]
There has also been some dispute, in medievalist circles, over the size of the warhorse, with some notable historians claiming a size of 17-18 hands (as large as a modern Shire or police horse).[20] However, there is little evidence for such a size. Analysis of existing horse armour located in the Royal Armouries indicates they were originally worn by horses of 15-16 hands[21], about the size and build of a modern hunter. [22] Research undertaken at the Museum of London, using literary, pictorial and archeological sources, supports military horses of 14-15 hands, distinguished from a riding horse by its strength and skill, rather than its size.[23]
Perhaps one reason the 'myth' of the giant warhorse was so persuasive is the assumption, still held by many, that medieval armour was heavy. In fact, even the heaviest tournment armour (for knights) weighed little more than 90 lb, and field (war) armour 40-70 lb; horse armour, more common in tournaments than war, rarely weighed more than 70lb.[24] Hardened leather, and padded bards would have been more common [25], and probably as effective.[26] Even allowing for the weight of the rider, such a load could easily be carried by 1200 lb horse.
Further evidence for a 14-16 hand warhorse is that it was a matter of pride to a knight to be able to vault onto his horse in full armour, without touching the stirrup. This arose not from vanity, but necessity: if unhorsed during battle, a knight would remain vulnerable if unable to mount by himself. In reality, of course, a wounded or weary knight might find it difficult, and rely on a vigilant squire to assist him. Incidentally, a knight's armour served in his favour in any fall. With his long hair twisted on his head to form a springy padding under his padded-linen hood, and his helm placed on top, he had head protection not dissimilar to a modern bike helmet.[27]
Destrier does not refer to a breed, but to a horse displaying certain characteristics: (be specific--powerful build, agility, whatever) . Also known as the 'Great Horse', the destrier was highly prized by knights and men-at-arms, but was actually not very common.[28] The word destrier comes from the latin dextarius, which means "right-sided" (the same root as our modern 'dexterous'). [29] It was described by contemporary sources as the "great horse" because of its size and reputation.[citation needed] This is, of course, a subjective term, and gives no firm information about its actual height or weight. The average horse of the time was 12-14 hands,[citation needed] thus a "great horse" by medieval standards might appear small to our modern eyes.
The destrier appears to have been most suited to the joust; coursers seem to have been preferred for battle.[30]
The Rouncey was a general, all purpose horse.[citation needed] While some sources describe rounceys as indifferent horses, suitable only for poor squires, others describe them as good all-purpose horses. When a summons to war was sent out in England, in 1327, it expressly requested rounceys, for swift pursuit, rather than destriers. [31]
Coursers were swift horses that seem to have been preferred for battle.[6] (Put a paragraph on coursers here with link to article)
(Put stuff here about Palfreys)
