The Rouran Army

[perszeusz]

Hi, I'm new to this forum, and I must say "it's great!"

I'm here because I've been searching for sources of some Steppe peoples for a long time, and I'm sure you guys could help me. I've been curious about the Rouran, I know there's a depiction of their heavy cavalry in a cave, and that they are related to the Avars, but little more is found. Anyone knows about the composition of these armies? I know they relied greatly on heavy cavalry, unlike the Xiongnu, but are there detail about it? for example, what kind of armour did they wear? how did they dressed for war?

Any info greatly appreciated, thanks beforehand.

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

Hello Perszeusz, thank you, welcome aboard

I know little about the Róurán (Jou-jan) 柔然, also known as Ruánruán (Juan-juan) 蠕蠕 or as Rúrú 茹茹. Unfortunately, I also did not read very much about their raids into China, so I don't know how they are depicted in the Chinese sources

But considering the fact that both the Xiōngnú (Hsiung-nu) 匈奴, the Blue Turks (Kök Türk or Tūjué [T'u-chüeh] 突厥) and the various Turko-Mongol peoples after them all had heavy cavalry, it is very highy possible that the Róurán 柔然 also had. In fact, it is still disputed whether the rock carvings at Salkhitiyn Shuudun Zost are from the Róurán 柔然 or Blue Turk period (the animal figures are probably several thousand years earlier). Here are the photos I have in my collection:

[perszeusz]

Wow! those are great close-ups! thanks, Tigin, too bad they're not well known...

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

You are welcome perszeusz