cRPG

Off Topic => Historical Discussion => Topic started by: Ulter on August 05, 2014, 06:28:32 pm

Title: Lances
Post by: Ulter on August 05, 2014, 06:28:32 pm
So I am wondering what actually happened to lances after a knight hit someone with it. Did they always break upon impact?
 I know the jousting lances were purposely hollowed out, but what about lances like this
(click to show/hide)
?
 Would the rider be able to pull it out of the enemy's body and use it again if it didn't break?
Title: Re: Lances
Post by: Franke on August 05, 2014, 07:26:13 pm
I guess in a field battle the lance became useless after the initial clash as it would have been too long for the close quarters combat so the rider might have dropped it.
Title: Re: Lances
Post by: Laufknoten on August 05, 2014, 07:45:14 pm
I think I've read somewhere that they actually went back to their pages to get a new lance and ride a new charge, but I'm probably wrong on this. Though I'm pretty sure they avoided stationary fights when mounted as this wasn't their strong side.
 
Title: Re: Lances
Post by: Prinz_Karl on August 06, 2014, 09:17:01 am
They didn't continue fighting with their lances after the initial charge or at least it seems very pointless, as Franke said. They would change to melee weapons then, they also made several waves of charges sometimes though. However I don't think the lance broke on charges (more like the guy who's hit) and they had to bring new ones.

Cavalry charges also depended much on tactic and opportunity. A frontal cavalry charge on closed, disciplined infantry could end disastrous for cavalry and with the use of pikes those charges became completely uneffective. So the best would have been to charge loosened formations or simply untrained units. Cavalry would also only charge if a flat terrain is available, uneven and muddy terrains would be avoided. Meaning that those lancers (in this time they were mostly knights I think) had to fight as infantry if required.
Title: Re: Lances
Post by: Laufknoten on August 06, 2014, 01:54:17 pm
Quote from: Prinz_Karl on August 06, 2014, 09:17:01 am
They didn't continue fighting with their lances after the initial charge or at least it seems very pointless, as Franke said. They would change to melee weapons then, they also made several waves of charges sometimes though. However I don't think the lance broke on charges (more like the guy who's hit) and they had to bring new ones.
Even if it didn't broke it would most likely be stuck in the enemies body, perhaps even to a point where they would have had to dismount to get it back. So if the enemy consisted of lightly armed troops I guess the just drew their swords or maces and slaughtered them but against well trained and armed troops they actually fell back to get a new lance and ride a new charge if they had the chance to.