Druzhina | 20 Aug 2016 10:23 p.m. PST |
|
jeffreyw3 | 21 Aug 2016 6:37 a.m. PST |
|
Perris0707 | 21 Aug 2016 7:21 a.m. PST |
Those are awesome! Thanks much! |
Great War Ace | 21 Aug 2016 8:33 a.m. PST |
I'm wondering where the "myth" of the heavily armored Byzantine army is supported by the original art sources. None of these "armored cavalry" would be above a "medium" in our system. And none of the spearmen would be above a "light". Scutati as "plate" or even "heavy" seem nowhere supported by the pictorial sources. |
GurKhan | 21 Aug 2016 10:19 a.m. PST |
The evidence for heavily armoured cavalry is mostly written, not artistic. |
PaulByzantios | 21 Aug 2016 12:01 p.m. PST |
Most, if not all Byzantine art was not for the purpose of military glorification. Byzantine art sources were mainly influenced by religious motifs and showing soldiers in field armor was not a desirable goal for the artist. In addition to the religious aspects, many of the illustrations are of non-battle situations where the soldiers would be in court dress uniforms. The Tagmatic cavalry units would have been as heavily armored as their Western European and Islamic counterparts as they were the professional military regiments. The Thematic forces were divided into 1st rate and 2nd rate groupings. The 1st rate Thematic forces being wealthier would have armor analogous to the Tagmatic regiments especially from the mid 10th century to the early 1000's. This does not even include the Kataphact cavalry which was as fully armored as the ancient Cataphracts of the Romans and Parthians. |
Perris0707 | 21 Aug 2016 2:12 p.m. PST |
The Romance of Alexander the Great clearly shows very heavily armored Byzantine troops. |
Codsticker | 22 Aug 2016 8:37 a.m. PST |
… many of the illustrations are of non-battle situations where the soldiers would be in court dress uniforms. One of the things that struck me about these illustrations is the lack of a uniform. Is my impression that the troops were issued uniforms incorrect or is it that these soldiers are wearing 'court dress'? |
Druzhina | 22 Aug 2016 10:13 p.m. PST |
|
Bowman | 23 Aug 2016 7:22 a.m. PST |
There seem to be some here. Is this from the Alexander manuscript?
|
Druzhina | 23 Aug 2016 10:55 p.m. PST |
Yes, this is the Alexander manuscript. There are no face covering ventails in this miniature (i.e. eyes only visible). There are many illustrations with metallic coifs like this in the manuscript. Druzhina Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers |