Heavy Cavalry - History of Heavy Cavalry - Middle Ages - Africa and Asia

Africa and Asia

The Mongol light cavalry using bows were an unstoppable force across Asia and Eastern Europe until the armoured cavalry of the Egyptian Mamelukes decisively defeated them at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260. The war between Mamlukes and Mongols ended in a treaty between both forces with each winning and losing battles.

Muslim military advances in Sub-Saharan Africa relied heavily on armoured cavalry, playing a similar role to that in Medieval Europe.

In China, heavy cavalry developed during the Qin and Han Dynasties. Heavily armored riders wielding lances became widespread during the Western Han era. Armoured cavalry, in which both soldier and steed are clad in complete armour, were employed since late Han Dynasty, and became widespread in the 4th century AD, where it was the main power of the armies of the northern dynasties of China, 4th century to 6th century. During the Tang dynasty, as the importance of lighter-armed cavalry and infantry increased and that of the armoured cavalry decreased, the horse-armours were seldom used. However, armoured cavalry were again used by the Song dynasty and its enemies including Jin, Xixia, Mongols, Khitans.

In Korea, the earliest evidence of armoured cavalry is a mural painting drawn in the mid-4th century AD, Koguryo. Lamellar armours were used for both men and horses, with the soldiers carrying lances. Another mural painting of Koguryo shows an armoured cavalryman wielding his lance using both hands, unlike the couched-lance used by medieval European knights. During the Koryo dynasty bardings was still used, but how many barded heavy horsemen existed remains unknown. In the Chosun dynasty bardings were no more used, and the horsemen's main weapon was the bow. Lances and other close-combat weapons were seldom used effectively. However, starting from the 17th century at least, the Korean cavalry began to carry two-handed flails along with bows.