"Late Roman / Early Byzantine Cavalry" Topic

I am trying to figure out and reconcile how these were equipped.

A number of years ago I started a Justinian Byzantime / Late Roman army with various swaps so I could morph between the two for WAB. You know how projects get delayed….

Well, having returned to it, but now trying to get it ready for Hail Caesar, I am having some trouble. I have heavy cavalry with kontos (Old Glory, but I dont like them), heavy cavalry with Kontos and bow (Chiltern, I love these), and various Germanic spear armed and light Hun cavalry.

The HC lists allows one Late Roman unit to have kontos. At least half of the Byzantine cavalry must be spear/bow armed. So, most of my OG Byzantines would need to be retired (not a big deal I guess), but has current scholarship discredited that the Byzantine cavalry used the kontos?

I have looked at all my books and items, and they all show the kontos, or perhaps I am misinterpreting.

Also, since the list states that half of cavalry must be spear/bow armed, I need to paint much more (not looking forward to it) to match all my Huns and Germans for early Byzantines, or just my Chilterns away and go Late Romans.

So, I guess the questions are – Is it currently thought that Early Byzantines did not use the kontos? Also, who makes good mixed weapon Early Byzantine cavalry now?

Aventine has said they will be doing Early Byzantines soon, but they aren't out now, sad to say.

I don't know about current scholarship I'm afraid. It's been awhile since I read Procopius also.

FWIW, my sources, all popular and all secondary, seem to allow me to have some of the Early Byzantines with lance/kontos, with those generally being represented as the Bucellarii retainers. I particularly like the representations in the Osprey book "Late Roman Cavalryman". I also liked the interpretations in the OOP Montvert "Justinian's Wars" (although the artwork is more amateurish). In the end, I go with what looks cool, so long as at least one slightly-plausible source allows it.

In 15mm, I have collected a mixture of Old Glory, Khurasan, and Strategia Nova for Early Byzantine cavalry. All are "Essex-compatible" in size and heft, especially if I mix horses. Unfortunately, I suspect from your OP that you are using 28mm…

MH

Similar to hinds, I believe that most Byzantine cav are armed with bow only. Procopius suggests a minority had bow + kontos (or in some translations) spear.

Museum makes very nice 15mm Byzantines filor the early period.

I agree that Aventine anything are great 28mm figures. Keep an eye out on plastics as new releases are always popping up.

If you want to know how the Early Byzantine military fought and was equipped, Ilkka Syvanne is the acknowledged modern expert. Get a copy of his PhD thesis "Age of the Hippotoxotai". It is the complete work on the early Byzantine military through the age of Heraklios.

As to Byzantine cavalry being mostly only bow-armed, that doesn't tally with their engagements with the Sassanians. The Sassanians wanted to make battle a shooting match. The Byzantines would engage this way as a preliminary, but they were trained to get into hand to hand combat indicating they had heavier melee weapons than their opponents.

I would play HC using the army list suggestions and not retire you OG Byzantines. Rick Priestly in his designer notes does mention that these are guidelines and the player is free to make edits as necessary for a scenario or the type of army a player has in mind. If you are looking for a friendly game of HC with an opponent, you should be able to use your early Byzantines with the kontos.

I am one for period armies to never put lead to waste. Use your kontos armed cavalry. Adding in your Germanic and Hun light cavalry should create the type of balanced cavalry force the eastern Romans and Byzantines favored.