Horses in the Middle Ages
Horses in the Middle Ages differed in size, build and breed from the modern horse, and were, on average, smaller. They were also more central to society than their modern counterparts, being essential for war, agriculture, and transport.
Consequently, specific types of horse developed, many of which have no modern equivalent. While an understanding of modern horse breeds and equestrianism is vital for any analysis of the medieval horse, researchers also need to consider documentary (both written and pictorial) and archaeological evidence.
Horses in the Middle Ages were rarely differentiated by breed, but rather by use. This led them to be described, for example, as "chargers" (war horses), "palfreys" (riding horses), cart horses or packhorses. Reference is also given to their place of origin, such as "Spanish horses," but whether this referred to one breed or several is unknown. Another difficulty arising during any study of medieval documents or literature is the flexibility of the medieval languages, where several words can be used for one thing (or, conversely, several objects are referred to by one word). Words such as 'courser' and 'charger' are used interchangeably (even within one document), and where one epic may speak disparagingly of a rouncey, another praises its skill and swiftness.
Significant technological advances in equestrian equipment, often introduced from other cultures, allowed for significant changes in both warfare and agriculture. In particular, improved designs for the
were significant advances in medieval society.Consequently, the assumptions and theories developed by historians are not definitive, and debate still rages on many issues, such as the breeding or size of the horse, and a number of sources must be consulted in order to understand the breadth of the subject.
Breeding
During the
However, there were exceptions; in the 7th century a
The origins of the medieval war horse are obscure, although it is believed they had some
As the importance of horse breeding to successful warfare was realized, planned breeding programs increased. Many changes were due to the influence of
It is also hard to trace what happened to the bloodlines of destriers when this type seems to disappear from record during the 17th century.[12] Many modern draft breeds claim some link to the medieval "great horse," with some historians considering breeds such as the Percheron, Belgian and Suffolk Punch likely descendants of the destrier.[7] However, other historians discount this theory, since the historical record suggests the medieval warhorse was quite a different 'type' to the modern draught horse.[13] Such a theory would suggest the war horses were crossed once again with "cold blooded" work horses, since war horses, and the destrier in particular, were renowned for their hot-blooded nature.[14]
Types of horse
Throughout the period, horses were rarely considered breeds, but instead were defined by type: by describing their purpose or their physical attributes. Many of the definitions were not precise, or were interchangeable. Prior to approximately the 13th century, few pedigrees were written down. Thus, many terms for horses in the Middle Ages did not refer to breeds as we know them today, but rather described appearance or purpose.
One of the best-known of the medieval horses was the destrier, renowned and admired for its capabilities in war. It was well trained, and was required to be strong, fast and agile.[15] A 14th-century writer described them as "tall and majestic and with great strength".[16] In contemporary sources, the destrier was frequently referred to as the "great horse" because of its size and reputation.[17] Being a subjective term, it gives no firm information about its actual height or weight, but since the average horse of the time was 12 to 14 hands (48 to 56 inches, 122 to 142 cm),[18] a "great horse" by medieval standards might appear small to modern eyes. The destrier was highly prized by knights and men-at-arms, but was actually not very common,[12] and appears to have been most suited to the joust.[17]
Coursers were generally preferred for hard battle as they were light, fast and strong.[17] They were valuable, but not as costly as the destrier.[15] They were also used frequently for hunting.[19]
A more general-purpose horse was the rouncey (also rounsey), which could be kept as a riding horse or trained for war.[20] It was commonly used by squires, men-at-arms or poorer knights. A wealthy knight would keep rounceys for his retinue.[15] Sometimes the expected nature of warfare dictated the choice of horse; when a summons to war was sent out in England, in 1327, it expressly requested rounceys, for swift pursuit, rather than destriers.[21] Rounceys were sometimes used as pack horses (but never as cart horses).[22]
The well-bred
The
Horses in warfare
While
Tournaments
Tournaments and hastiludes began in the 11th century as both a sport and to provide training for battle. Usually taking the form of a melee, the participants used the horses, armour and weapons of war.[34] The sport of jousting grew out of the tournament and, by the 15th century, the art of tilting became quite sophisticated.[35] In the process, the pageantry and specialization became less war-like, perhaps because of the knight's changing role in war.[36]
Horses were specially bred for the joust, and heavier
Types of war horse
The most well-known horse of the medieval era of Europe is the destrier, known for carrying knights into war. However, most knights and mounted men-at-arms rode smaller horses known as coursers and rounceys. (A common generic name for medieval war horses was charger, which was interchangeable with the other terms). In Spain, the jennet was used as a light cavalry horse.[38]
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
Size of war horses
There is dispute in medievalist circles over the size of the war horse, with some notable historians claiming a size of 17 to 18 hands (68 to 72 inches, 173 to 183 cm), as large as a modern Shire horse.[44] However, there are practical reasons for this dispute. Analysis of existing horse armour located in the Royal Armouries indicates the equipment was originally worn by horses of 15 to 16 hands (60 to 64 inches, 152 to 163 cm),[45] or about the size and build of a modern field hunter or ordinary riding horse.[15] Research undertaken at the Museum of London, using literary, pictorial and archaeological sources, supports military horses of 14 to 15 hands (56 to 60 inches, 142 to 152 cm), distinguished from a riding horse by its strength and skill, rather than its size.[46] This average does not seem to vary greatly across the medieval period. Horses appear to have been selectively bred for increased size from the 9th and 10th centuries,[47] and by the 11th century the average warhorse was probably 14.2 to 15 hands (58 to 60 inches, 147 to 152 cm), a size verified by studies of Norman horseshoes as well as the depictions of horses on the Bayeux Tapestry.[48] Analysis of horse transports suggests 13th-century destriers were a stocky build, and no more than 15 to 15.2 hands (60 to 62 inches, 152 to 157 cm).[49] Three centuries later, warhorses were not significantly bigger; the Royal Armouries used a 15.2 hands (62 inches, 157 cm) Lithuanian Heavy Draught mare as a model for the statues displaying various 15th- and 16th-century horse armours, as her body shape was an excellent fit.[50]
Perhaps one reason for the pervasive belief that the medieval war horse had to be of
Although a large horse is not required to carry an armoured knight, it is held by some historians that a large horse was desirable to increase the power of a lance strike.[53] However, practical experiments by re-enactors have suggested that the rider's weight and strength is of more relevance than the size of the mount, and that little of the horse's weight is translated to the lance.[54]
Further evidence for a 14-16 hand (56 to 64 inches (140 to 160 cm)) war horse 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 bicycle or equestrian helmet.[55]
Transportation
Throughout the Middle Ages it was customary for people of all classes and background to travel, often widely. The households of the upper classes and royal courts moved between manors and estates; the demands of
During much of the Middle Ages, there was no system of interconnected
Mule trains, for land travel, and barges, for river and canal travel, were the most common form of long-distance haulage, although wheeled horse-drawn vehicles were used for shorter journeys.[60] In areas with good roads, regular carrier services were established between major towns.[61] However, because medieval roads were generally so poor, carriages for human passengers were rare. When roads permitted, early carriages were developed from freight wagons. Carriage travel was made more comfortable in the late 14th century with the introduction of the chariot branlant, which had strap suspension.[62]
The speed of travel varied greatly. Large retinues could be slowed by the presence of slow-paced carts and litters, or by servants and attendants on foot, and could rarely cover more than fifteen to twenty miles a day. Small mounted companies might travel 30 miles a day. However, there were exceptions: stopping only for a change of horses midway, Richard II of England once managed the 70 miles between Daventry and Westminster in a night.[63]
For breeding, war and travel purposes, it was also necessary to be able to transport horses themselves. For this purpose,
Riding horses
Riding horses were used by a variety of people during the Middle Ages, and so varied greatly in quality, size and breeding. Knights and nobles kept riding horses in their war-trains, saving their warhorses for the battle.
The most typical riding horse was known as a
Harness and pack horses
A variety of work horses were used throughout the Middle Ages. The pack horse (or "sumpter horse") carried equipment and belongings.[15] Common riding horses, often called "hackneys", could be used as pack horses.[59] Cart horses pulled wagons for trading and freight haulage, on farms, or as part of a military campaign. These draught horses were smaller than their modern counterparts; pictorial and archaeological evidence suggests that they were stout but short, approximately 13 to 14 hands (52 to 56 inches, 132 to 142 cm), and capable of drawing a load of 500 to 600 pounds (230 to 270 kg) per horse.[67] Four-wheeled wagons and two-wheeled carts were more common in towns, such as London and, depending on type of vehicle and weight of the load, were usually pulled by teams of two, three, or four horses harnessed in tandem.[61] Starting in the 12th century, in England the use of oxen to pull carts was gradually superseded by the use of horses, a process that extended through the 13th century. This change came because horse-drawn transport moved goods quicker and over greater distances than ox-drawn methods of transport.[68]
Agriculture
The
For farm work, such as ploughing and harrowing, the draught horses utilized for these purposes were, in England, called 'affers' and 'stotts' (affrus and stottus in medieval Latin). These horses were usually smaller and cheaper than the cart horse.
Equestrian equipment and technological innovations
The development of equestrian technology proceeded at a similar pace as the development of horse breeding and utilisation. The changes in warfare during the Early Middle Ages to heavy cavalry both precipitated and relied on the arrival of the stirrup, solid-treed saddle, and horseshoe from other cultures.
The development of the nailed horseshoe enabled longer, faster journeys on horseback, particularly in the wetter lands in northern Europe, and were useful for campaigns on varied terrains.[25] By providing protection and support, nailed horse shoes also improved the efficiency of draught horse teams.[71] Though the Romans had developed an iron "hipposandal" that resembled a hoof boot, there is much debate over the actual origins of the nailed horseshoe, though it does appear to be of European origin. There is little evidence of nailed-on shoes prior to AD 500 or 600, though there is speculation that the Celtic Gauls were the first to nail on metal horseshoes.[76] The earliest clear written record of iron horseshoes is a reference to "crescent figured irons and their nails" in a list of cavalry equipment from AD 910.[77] Additional archaeological evidence suggests they were used in Siberia during the 9th and 10th centuries, and had spread to Byzantium soon afterward; by the 11th century, horseshoes were commonly used in Europe.[78] By the time the Crusades began in 1096, horseshoes were widespread and frequently mentioned in various written sources.[77]
Riding technology
The saddle with a solid tree provided a bearing surface to protect the horse from the weight of the rider. The Romans are credited with the invention of the solid-treed saddle, possibly as early as the 1st century BC,[79] and it was widespread by the 2nd century AD.[80] Early medieval saddles resembled the Roman "four-horn" saddle, and were used without stirrups.[81] The development of the solid saddle tree was significant; it raised the rider above the horse's back, and distributed the rider's weight, reducing the pressure on any one part of the horse's back, thus greatly increasing the comfort of the horse and prolonging its useful life.[4][page needed] Horses could carry more weight when distributed across a solid saddle tree. It also allowed a more built up seat to give the rider greater security in the saddle. From the 12th century on, the high war-saddle became more common, providing protection as well as added security.[25] The built up cantle of a solid-treed saddle enabled horsemen to use lance more effectively.[54]
Beneath the saddle, caparisons or saddle cloths were sometimes worn; these could be decorated or embroidered with heraldic colours and arms.[82] War horses could be equipped with additional covers, blankets and armour collectively referred to as barding; this could be for decorative or protective purposes. Early forms of horse armour, usually restricted to tournaments, comprised padded leather pieces, covered by a trapper (a decorated cloth), which was not particularly heavy.[83] Mail and plate armour was also occasionally used; there are literary references to horse armour (an "iron blanket") starting in the late 12th century.[84]
The solid tree allowed for effective use of the
The increased use of the stirrup from the 8th century on aided the warrior's stability and security in the saddle when fighting.[88] This may have led to greater use of shock tactics, although a couched lance could be used effectively without stirrups.[54] In particular, Charles Martel recognized the military potential of the stirrup, and distributed seized lands to his retainers on condition that they serve him by fighting in the new manner.[89]
A theory known as
There was a variety of headgear used to control horses, predominantly
Spurs were commonly used throughout the period, especially by knights, with whom they were regularly associated. A young man was said to have "won his spurs" when he achieved knighthood.[94] Wealthy knights and riders frequently wore decorated and filigreed spurs.[95] Attached to the rider's heel by straps, spurs could be used both to encourage horses to quickly move forward or to direct lateral movement.[96] Early spurs had a short shanks or "neck", placing the rowel relatively close to the rider's heel; further developments in the spur shape lengthened the neck, making it easier to touch the horse with less leg movement on the part of the rider.[95]
Harness technology
A significant development which increased the importance and use of horses in
A further improvement was managed by altering the arrangement of the teams; by hitching horses one behind the other, rather than side by side, weight could be distributed more evenly, and pulling power increased.[101] This increase in horse power is demonstrated in the building accounts of Troyes, which show carters hauling stone from quarries 50 miles (80 km) distant; the carts weighed, on average, 5,500 pounds (2,500 kg), on which 5,500 pounds (2,500 kg) of stone was regularly loaded, sometimes increasing to 8,600 pounds (3,900 kg) – a significant increase from Roman-era loads.[102]
Horse trades and professions
The elite horseman of the Middle Ages was the knight. Generally raised from the middle and upper classes, the knight was trained from childhood in the arts of war and management of the horse. In most languages, the term for knight reflects his status as a horseman: the Italian cavaliere, the French chevalier, Spanish caballero and German Ritter. The French word for horse-mastery – chevalerie – gave its name to the highest concept of knighthood: chivalry.[103]
A large number of trades and positions arose to ensure the appropriate management and care of horses. In aristocratic households, the marshal was responsible for all aspects relating to horses: the care and management of all horses from the chargers to the pack horses, as well as all travel logistics.[59] The position of marshal (literally "horse servant") was a high one in court circles and the king's marshal (such as the Earl Marshal in England) was also responsible for managing many military matters.[104] Also present within the great households was the constable (or "count of the stable"), who was responsible for protection and the maintenance of order within the household and commanding the military component and, with marshals, might organise hastiludes and other chivalrous events.[105] Within lower social groupings, the 'marshal' acted as a farrier.[106] The highly skilled marshal made and fitted horseshoes, cared for the hoof, and provided general veterinary care for horses; throughout the Middle Ages, a distinction was drawn between the marshal and the blacksmith, whose work was more limited.[107]
A number of tradesmen dealt with the provision of horses. Horse dealers (frequently called "horse coursers" in England[citation needed]) bought and sold horses, and frequently had a reputation as dishonest figures, responsible for the brisk trade in stolen horses.[57] Others, such as the "hackneymen" offered horses for hire, and many formed large establishments on busy roads, often branding their horses to deter theft.[57]
Women and horses
It was not uncommon for a girl to learn her father's trade and for a woman to share her husband's trade, since the entire family often helped run medieval shops and farms. Many guilds also accepted the membership of widows, so they might continue their husband's business. Under this system, some women trained in horse-related trades, and there are records of women working as farriers and saddle-makers.[108] On farms, where every hand was needed, excessive emphasis on division of labour was impracticable, and women often worked alongside men (on their own farms or as hired help), leading the farm horses and oxen, and managing their care.[109]
Despite the difficulties of travel, it was customary for many people, including women, to travel long distances.[60] Upper-class wives frequently accompanied their husbands on crusade or to tournaments, and many women traveled for social or family engagements; both nuns and laywomen would perform pilgrimages.[110] When not on foot, women would usually travel on horseback or, if weakened or infirm, be carried in a wagon or a litter. If roads permitted, women sometimes rode in early carriages developed from freight wagons, pulled by three or four horses.[111] After the invention of better suspension systems, travel in carriages became more comfortable.[62] Women of the nobility also rode horses for sport, accompanying men in activities that included hunting and hawking.[112]
Most medieval women rode astride. Although an early chair-like sidesaddle with handles and a footrest was available by the 13th century and allowed women of the nobility to ride while wearing elaborate gowns, they were not universally adopted during the Middle Ages.[75] This was largely due to the insecure seat they offered, which necessitated a smooth-gaited horse being led by another handler. The sidesaddle did not become practical for everyday riding until the 16th-century development of the pommel horn that allowed a woman to hook her leg around the saddle and hence use the reins to control her own horse. Even then, sidesaddle riding remained a precarious activity until the invention of the second, "leaping horn" in the 19th century.[113]
It was not unknown for
See also
Notes
- ^ a b Carey et al., p. 112
- ^ Bennet et al., pp. 19-21
- ^ a b c d e Nicolle, p. 267
- ^ a b c d e Bennett (1998)
- ^ a b c Bennett, Deb (2004) "The Spanish Mustang: The Origin and Relationships of the Mustang, Barb, and Arabian Horse" Archived 6 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Frank Hopkins. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
- ^ a b c Bumke, p. 178
- ^ a b Gies & Gies, p. 88
- ^ British Percheron Horse Society. "History of the British Percheron Horse Society" Archived 23 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine. British Percheron Horse Society. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
- ^ Bennet et al., pp. 71-72
- ^ a b Edwards
- ^ Hyland (1998), p. 15
- ^ a b c d Prestwich, p. 30
- ^ See e.g.: Clark, p. 23 and Prestwich, p. 30
- ^ Carey et al., p. 113
- ^ a b c d e f Gravett, p. 59
- ^ Eustach Deschamps, 1360, quoted by Oakeshott (1998), p. 11
- ^ a b c Oakeshott (1998), p. 11
- ^ Clark, p. 29
- ^ Hyland (1998), p. 221
- ^ a b Oakeshott (1998), p. 12
- ^ Prestwich, p. 318
- ^ Hyland (1998), p. 222
- ^ a b Oakeshott (1998), p. 14
- ^ Hyland (1998), pp. 32, 14, 37
- ^ a b c Bennet et al., p. 74
- ^ Prestwich, p. 325
- ^ Bennet et al., p. 121
- ^ Chevauchées were the preferred form of warfare for the English during the Hundred Years' War (see, amongst many, Barber, pp. 34-38) and the Scots in the Wars of Independence (see Prestwich, pp. 10, 198-200)
- ^ Barber, p. 33
- ^ Prestwich, p 31
- ^ a b Sadler, p. 32
- ^ Bennet et al., p. 123
- ^ Sadler, p. 45
- ^ Barker, pp. 4-15
- ^ Oakeshott (1998), pp. 79–83
- ^ Barber, p. 42
- ^ "Craft Court, Tiltyard and Menagerie Court". Royal Armouries. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2007.
- ^ Oakeshott (1998), pp. 11-14
- ^ Bumke, p. 175
- ^ Hyland (1998), pp. 1-2
- ^ Bumke, p. 177
- ^ Greene, R. and Elffers, J. The 33 Strategies of War, p. 181.
- ^ Nicolle, p. 169
- ^ Davis
- ^ study by Ann Hyland, quoted by Clark, p. 23
- ^ Clark, p. 25
- ^ Hyland (1994), pp. 58-59
- ^ Hyland (1994), pp. 85-86
- ^ Hyland (1994), pp. 146
- ^ Hyland (1998), p. 10
- ^ Oakeshott (1998), pp. 104-105
- ^ American Endurance Riders Conference, "Endurance Rider's Handbook, Chapter 3, Section IV" Archived 15 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine, American Endurance Riders Conference, Retrieved 2008-08-14.
- ^ International Museum of the Horse, "Medieval Horse 476 - c. 1450: Knight versus Moor", International Museum of the Horse, Retrieved 2012-05-24
- ^ a b c d Alvarez, Richard. "Saddle, Lance and Stirrup: An Examination of the Mechanics of Shock Combat and the Development of Shock Tactics" Archived 23 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Classical Fencing. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
- ^ Oakeshott (1999), p. 92
- ^ Labarge, pp. xiii-xiv
- ^ a b c Clark, p. 8
- ^ Labarge, p. xiii
- ^ a b c Labarge, p. 41
- ^ a b Tuchman, p. 57
- ^ a b Clark, pp. 9-10
- ^ a b Gies & Gies, p. 56
- ^ Labarge, p. 19
- ^ Hyland (1994), p. 99
- ^ Clark, p. 6
- ^ Oakeshott (1998), p. 14 and Prestwich, p. 31
- ^ a b Clark, pp. 27-28
- ^ a b c Dyer Making a Living p. 129
- ^ Slocum, pp. 140-1
- ^ Slocum, pp. 141-2
- ^ a b c d Slocum, p. 143
- ^ Claridge, Jordan (June 2017). "The role of demesnes in the trade of agricultural horses in late medieval England" (PDF). Agricultural History Review. 65 (1): 5.
- ^ a b c d Chamberlin
- ^ Gies & Gies, pp. 128, 147
- ^ a b Gies & Gies, p. 273
- ^ McBane, pp. 57-60
- ^ a b Heymering, Henry, RJF, CJF, "Who Invented Horseshoeing?", Science of Motion, Retrieved on 2011-11-06.
- ^ Slocum, pp. 143-4
- ^ Gawronski, "Some Remarks on the Origins and Construction of the Roman Military Saddle", Archeologia (Archaeology), pp. 31-40
- ^ Hope, Chapters 1 and 2
- ^ Oakeshott (1998), p. 40
- ^ Wagner et al., p. 65
- ^ Barker, pp. 175-6
- ^ Bumke, p. 176
- ^ Hobson, p. 103
- ^ ComputerSmiths, "Stirrup" Archived 1 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine, History of Chinese Invention, ComputerSmiths, Retrieved 2006-12-04.
- ^ Dien, Albert, "The Stirrup and its Effect on Chinese Military History", Silkroad Foundation, Retrieved 2008-08-14.
- ^ Bennet et al., pp. 73-4
- ^ World Decade for Cultural Development 1988–1997. United Nations Page 31 Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. World Decade Secretariat. Archived 7 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ White
- ^ see, e.g. D. A. Bullough, English Historical Review (1970) and Bernard S. Bachrach, "Charles Martel, Mounted Shock Combat, the Stirrup, and Feudalism" in Studies in Medieval and Renaissance History (1970).
- ^ a b c Oakeshott (1998), p. 38
- ^ Oakeshott (1998), p. 39
- ^ Barber, p. 16
- ^ a b Wagner et al., p. 67
- ^ Wagner et al., p. 66
- ^ Needham, Volume 4, Part 2, 317.
- ^ Needham, Volume 4, Part 2, 322.
- ^ Needham, Volume 4, part 2, 305
- ^ a b c Needham, Volume 4, Part 2, 312
- ^ Gimpel, p. 34
- ^ Gimpel, p. 32
- ^ Norman, p. 143
- ^ Norman, p. 133
- ^ Norman, pp. 132–3
- ^ Clark, pp. 14–15
- ^ Clark, pp 15–16
- ^ Leyser, pp. 162-165 and Power, p. [page needed]
- ^ Leyser, p. 145
- ^ Labarge, p. xiv
- ^ Tuchman, p 57
- ^ Gies & Gies, p. 42
- ^ Georgia Ladies Aside, "Sidesaddle History" Archived 3 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Georgia Ladies Aside. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- ^ Gies & Gies, pp. 45-46
- ^ de Pisan, Christine, as translated by Willard and Cosman (1989)
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Further reading
- Barton, P. G., "The Medieval Powys Warhorse", Montgomeryshire Collections, 107
- Gladitz, Charles (1997), Horse Breeding in the Medieval World, Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1851822706
External links
- Warhorse: the archaeology of a medieval revolution?, AHRC funded research project by the University of Exeter and the University of East Anglia