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#71
Ancient and Medieval History / Re: The western view of Byzant...
Last post by Nick Harbud - Jun 11, 2026, 12:12 PMOf course, one should always remember that history is written not so much by the victors as the literate who, at this time were largely associated with various ecclesiastical establishments. In particular, western churchmen always had major differences of opinion with their eastern counterparts, both before and after the Great Schism. This undoubtedly coloured their opinions. I mean, look how ecclesiastic writers treated Reynald de Châtillon whose only crime was to hang the Archbishop of Antioch outside his castle window until the latter agreed to contribute towards fighting the Saracens.
#72
Ancient and Medieval History / Re: The western view of Byzant...
Last post by Martin Smith - Jun 11, 2026, 09:54 AMQuote from: Ian61 on Jun 11, 2026, 06:59 AMQuote from: Imperial Dave on Jun 11, 2026, 06:21 AMhttps://www.medievalists.net/2026/06/western-view-byzantium/
What have the Byzantines ever done for us....!
Given us the name Basil. 😁
And a useful descriptive word for sneaky, underhand politics*...🙂
* which begs the question, is there any politics which isn't....🙃
#73
Ancient and Medieval History / Re: The western view of Byzant...
Last post by Ian61 - Jun 11, 2026, 06:59 AMQuote from: Imperial Dave on Jun 11, 2026, 06:21 AMhttps://www.medievalists.net/2026/06/western-view-byzantium/
What have the Byzantines ever done for us....!
Given us the name Basil. 😁
#74
Ancient and Medieval History / Scottish Iron Age burial - Ant...
Last post by DBS - Jun 11, 2026, 06:47 AMhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/reconnecting-the-dead-in-iron-age-britain-funerary-processing-and-longdistance-connectivity-at-loch-borralie-scotland/450BC6B98B6F1FECE3E42941F26C8619
Getting some media coverage given the removal of the woman's brain and post-mortem modification of long bones. ("Iron Age woman likely had her brains scooped out before burial" is the CNN take...)
Getting some media coverage given the removal of the woman's brain and post-mortem modification of long bones. ("Iron Age woman likely had her brains scooped out before burial" is the CNN take...)
#75
Ancient and Medieval History / The western view of Byzantium
Last post by Imperial Dave - Jun 11, 2026, 06:21 AMhttps://www.medievalists.net/2026/06/western-view-byzantium/
What have the Byzantines ever done for us....!
What have the Byzantines ever done for us....!
#76
Shows & Events / Re: Carronade at Falkirk; June...
Last post by kodiakblair - Jun 10, 2026, 07:16 PMQuote from: Dave Knight on Jun 07, 2026, 10:22 AMI did find time to raid the flea marketWere you a pearl fisherman or did you come with breathing apparatus ?
I took 2 steps through the door, sensed the fetid air then about-turned, a man with emphysema chooses his battles carefully
Seriously though the flea market was in a terrible location, up a few stairs and backstage behind the curtains. I know it was the first at FHS so teething troubles are expected. Lads running the Cannae game told me it'll be moved for next year, school dodn't want folk behind the stage.
#77
Army Research / Re: Byzantine Heavy Cavalry
Last post by nikgaukroger - Jun 10, 2026, 03:29 PMForgot to mention in the later manuals there are also dedicated small bodies of cavalry, some mainly horse archers, who operate ahead of and on the flanks of the main body.
In terms of the period you are interested in Eric McGeer's "Sowing the Dragon's Teeth: Byzantine Warfare in the Tenth Century" covers the manuals.
In terms of the period you are interested in Eric McGeer's "Sowing the Dragon's Teeth: Byzantine Warfare in the Tenth Century" covers the manuals.
#78
Army Research / Re: Byzantine Heavy Cavalry
Last post by nikgaukroger - Jun 10, 2026, 02:56 PMI won't claim to be an expert either, but here is my take on it mainly from the manuals.
From Prokopios in the C6th the cavalry appear to be primarily armoured horse archers of whom some also carried a spear. They were certainly also happy to charge and fight hand to hand as well as shoot, but I'm not sure I'd call them "lancers" at this stage.
The Strategikon of the late C6th/early C7th seems to want the cavalry to be double armed but does appear to accept that in reality some will be "lancers" and others "archers" in the formation. Tactics certainly appear to be a "lance charge" being shot in by the archers in the formation. However, (some of) the archers can also be detached to operate more on their own ahead of the "lancer" formation.
The Taktika of Leon (early C10th) basically repeats the Strategikon. However, some historians such as John Haldon think that archery declined in the "Thematic" period.
The Sylloge Tacticorum which is (probably) slightly later than the Taktika has the "line" cavalry in shallower formations than previously with 3 ranks of lancers and 2 of archers. Again the tactic is a lancer charge shot in by the integral archers. This work also introduces the katafraktoi who are similar but in heavier armour and use a "wedge" formation.
The Praecepta of Nikephoros Phokas and the update of that by Nikephoros Ouranos (later C10th and early C11th) are very similar to the Sylloge but the katafraktoi weapons change a bit.
From Prokopios in the C6th the cavalry appear to be primarily armoured horse archers of whom some also carried a spear. They were certainly also happy to charge and fight hand to hand as well as shoot, but I'm not sure I'd call them "lancers" at this stage.
The Strategikon of the late C6th/early C7th seems to want the cavalry to be double armed but does appear to accept that in reality some will be "lancers" and others "archers" in the formation. Tactics certainly appear to be a "lance charge" being shot in by the archers in the formation. However, (some of) the archers can also be detached to operate more on their own ahead of the "lancer" formation.
The Taktika of Leon (early C10th) basically repeats the Strategikon. However, some historians such as John Haldon think that archery declined in the "Thematic" period.
The Sylloge Tacticorum which is (probably) slightly later than the Taktika has the "line" cavalry in shallower formations than previously with 3 ranks of lancers and 2 of archers. Again the tactic is a lancer charge shot in by the integral archers. This work also introduces the katafraktoi who are similar but in heavier armour and use a "wedge" formation.
The Praecepta of Nikephoros Phokas and the update of that by Nikephoros Ouranos (later C10th and early C11th) are very similar to the Sylloge but the katafraktoi weapons change a bit.
#79
Army Research / Byzantine Heavy Cavalry
Last post by Dave Knight - Jun 10, 2026, 02:28 PMI am no Byzantine expert so would appreciate some assistance. My understanding is that they evolved from being dual armed with lance and bow to mixed units of lancers and archers to finally becoming just lance armed. Is this correct and if so when did the changes take place? I am interested in general, but particularly want to understand their arms when fighting the Lombards and Normans in the 11th Century.
#80
Battle Reports / Re: 5 Justinian Byzantine 15mm...
Last post by Imperial Dave - Jun 09, 2026, 08:09 PMBad day at....?