Well, it's really been awhile since I was last here. I read everything from page 20 and up (the story that is, and then the preview).
Firstly, I guess it's time to answer some old issues. During one battle, I think during the Second Crusade or earlier, the Arabs rode only female horses, as it was during this time that the male horses (that the Crusaders would be mounted) were in heat. Thus, the male horses were charging, and were obviously disappointed that they had to fight female horses, and so the Arabs won that battle.
Chainmail! Still, that arrow going through surcoat, maille and then the gambeson irritates me. Horseback archery utilised bows weaker than foot archers; horse archers needed fast, flexible bows to shoot quickly and accurately while riding.
Turks fought with bows and swords on horseback, however, they would hold the bow and sword in one hand at the same time, so that the sabre's blade was facing upward by the thumb while the other fingers held the bow. When things got towards a melee, the Turk could slash downward readily.
Another interesting thing about scimitar fighting is that Middle Eastern peoples would sometimes fight, with one hand around the handle of course, but the other with the palm pressing against the opposite side of the edge, and this added leverage to close-quarter side-to-side by moving both hands at the same time to the sides, in a waving motion. Hard to explain, but it's really interesting to see on YuTu.
20-Aug-2012 05:27:52
- Last edited on
20-Aug-2012 05:29:09
by
Azigarath
