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Composition on Warfare horse archer

Byzantine 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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For more information see the author’s Osprey Publishing, Warrior Series volume Byzantine Cavalryman: Eastern Roman Empire, c.900 - 1204, 2007.

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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.