Pictures of warriors who adopted Steppe warfare

[Temüjin]

actually they tried to immitate Sarmatian style exactly because of this reason, because they wanted to trace back their families to the Sarmatians, similar to how the rest of western europe tried to find connections with the Romans.

[Nomad (Daz)]

I wonder Polish Hassar cavalry men. Why did they had wings? Their should be logical use of it.
Could it be to keep the balance during the ride. They were heavily equited and it would be death if they would have fall off the horse. And in battle its difficult not to fall of the horseback.

[Subu'atai]

^ Haha probably just to look good

Instead of spending the money on training their troops they spent their money attaching wings on their horses. Heh, sedentary people rather cute sometimes

[Lannes]

Jun 19, 2008 16:20:21 GMT 3 Nomad (Daz) said:

I wonder Polish Hassar cavalry men. Why did they had wings? Their should be logical use of it.
Could it be to keep the balance during the ride. They were heavily equited and it would be death if they would have fall off the horse. And in battle its difficult not to fall of the horseback.

There is little reliable evidence that the wings were worn in battle(at least, during the period in which they evolved into their most famous back-mounted form), and if they were, the only logical intent would appear to be an added intimidating factor to the rider's appearance.

More likely, the wings were parade garb.

Instead of spending the money on training their troops they spent their money attaching wings on their horses. Heh, sedentary people rather cute sometimes

The towarzysz tutelage system was extensive training, and certainly, the force's demonstrated capabilities (varied formations, varied and foe-based methods of main attack, the ability to shock charge numerous times, and general riding ability) smack of a great level of training.

Rest assured, the cost of putting some feathers on a wooden pole and covering the pole with velvet was surpassed to the point of insignificance compared to the cost of armament, horse breeding/care, and other factors that went into making the hussars a quality cavalry force.

[Subu'atai]

Heh fair enough, though I don't see the intimidating factor. Put some spikes around the place then maybe yes - I would call that an intimidating factor haha

[Temüjin]

intimdating for the enemy horse. at least that's what the Poles claim.

[Subu'atai]

LOL ;D

[obioba]

Well, as I can see, some of my collegues have a problem with Polish Hussary as well as (it seems to me) with Poles themself. Well, Vienna 1683 and Sobieski's Pogrom still hurts a lot some nations
Anyway,I just want to explain what was the reason of wearing such a thing.
1-they were worn in the batlle and very rarelly anywere else. Simply-not very practical:) In battle, when horses in gallop there make a very high, not pleasant noise. You can find it in the web, Polish Sience Academy (Polska Akademia Nauk) tested them in early 70ties.
2-as a part of the uniform, every Hussar was wearing a skin of the leopard, tiger,bear,wolf or at least zubr's or tur's (Zubr is a polish bison, tur was a polish forest buffallo - last killed in 1627 in Puszcza Jaktorowska, Polska). The smell of the wild predators together with the noise made by the wings in full gallop were causing panic in the enemy horse units. To check, type JAN MATEJKO and change to graphic - one of the best polish painters and the look of the polish army. To check the results of the hussary tactics you can type in to the google -Batlle of Kircholm- when we destroyed Sweden. Well, Vienna 1683 is the good example as well.
3- the other reason for a succes of the Hussars were a kopia (copy). We developed state of art techniques of making them. If you are intrested in that topic, send me a PM. I will answer with pleasure. Now I am to tired,sorry. You can always check these copies yourself - just go to The Museum Of The Polish Army (Muzeum Wojska Polskiego) in Warszawa. There is a hell lot of them as well as other stuff. And we have got airports,you know. Sometimes we even have roads!(rotfl)

Anyway, I wish you more real history and less prejudice:) First check every source - than write the history.
For any question fell free to PM me.

[hjernespiser]

It was my understanding that the wings also made it difficult to lasso the rider.

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

Greetings Obioba, welcome aboard and thanx for the info

[Temüjin]

there are a lot of misconceptions and myths about the Polish Hussaria. for example there is no source that confirm the use of wings in battle in the first place (some have argued it was only worn on parade and there is a famous picture of Hussars on parade with wings). ALL suggestions as to the purpose of wings other than that they look fancy are pure conjecture.
as for the Leopard skin, that was nothing special or unusual. early Hussar style cavalry on the Balkans (Deli) also wore wolfskin or similar. and later on, officers in the cavalry had shabraques made of leopard skin, those were expensive and basically just for the fancy. if horses were scared of the smell it would have been impossible for the rider himself to mount his horse and for officers to command their soldiers (which were on horses).

[zinnmartina]

Here is a little about the polish hussars

As you can find out at the 17th century they were the best cavalary of Europe.
They were able to smash nearly everything in their way.


www.jasinski.co.uk/wojna/comp/comp06.htm
www.jasinski.co.uk/wojna/index.htm

One must be understand also.
First the hussars were mercernaries. In Poland they converted to a special elite unit.
The members of this units did come from the noble polish families or were battlehardend veterans from cavalery units, who had the honour to serve as a towarczy.

I did see original armours and uniforms incl. feathers in Krakow.
These riders did look absolutly fantastic.
Like an red and silver eagle on a horse.

[matthew]

hi all, could any one please tell me which book the picture of the Burgundians with dragon standard came from? am having trouble finding it

thanks

[Temüjin]

it's from the book "Barbarians" by Tim Newark & Angus McBride from Concord Publications (no 6004 in the "Fighting Men Series"). it's a format similar to osprey books, just that there's more artwork and less text.

[Tobodai]

This is a really interesting thread topic, thanks. Does Han Dynasty cavalry count as warriors who adopted steppe warfare? Or is its large amount of steppe-born recruits compromising to be considered thus?