Composition on Warfare horse archer

The Composition on Warfare (III.8) says that a horse archer should wear a helm, lamellar klivanion and coat which protect his legs and part of his horse. The cut of this coat is based upon one found in a grave in the Caucasus.¹ Its divided skirt is the only practical way such a heavily padded coat could be made to acheive that effect. A solid skirt of heavy padding would be impossibly clumsy.

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Notes

1. Anna Jeroussalimskaja ‘Le cafetan aux simourghs du tombeau de Mochtchevaja Balka (Caucase Septentrional)’, Studia Iranica no. 7 (1978) pp.183-211.