|
Saxon thegn | Anglo Saxon History |  | |
| | Battle of Hastings 1066AD Observations - Did the Saxons use Caltrops ? |
|---|
Please Note: I am using the term Caltrop loosely meaning a horse stopping device, not necessarily the same as the
Roman Caltrop, this is because I am not sure of the term to use for this type of device, possibly a stake.
|
What is a Caltrop ▲
|
|---|
From Wikipedia
A caltrop (also known as caltrap, galtrop, cheval trap, galthrap, galtrap, calthrop, jackrock or crow's foot) is
an area denial weapon made up of usually four, but possibly more, sharp nails or spines arranged in such a manner that
one of them always points upward from a stable base (for example, a tetrahedron). Historically, caltrops were part of
defences that served to slow the advance of troops, especially horses, chariots, and war elephants, and were
particularly effective against the soft feet of camels. In modern times, caltrops are effective when used against
wheeled vehicles with pneumatic tires.
The Greek word, τρίβολος meaning 'water-chestnut', translated into Latin as tribulos. The Latin name tribulus
originally meant the caltrop (a spiky weapon of similar shape), but in Classical times the word already meant this plant
as well.
Tribulus terrestris is the plant that these weapons originated from, as the spiny pods penetrated through leather shoes
and into feet.
|
Why do I bring this up as a subject? ▲
|
|---|
The reason I bring this up as a subject is because of the above illustration from the Bayeux Tapestry, and was trying to
understand what it meant.
Why on earth are horses falling to the ground and knights falling off them ? there doesn't appear to be anyone attacking
them !!
|
Then I looked more closely at the image ▲
|
|---|
And I then noticed there were a number of pointy things on the ground, if these were a type of caltrop then the horses
would be flying through the air, and throwing the knights to the ground.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Local Interest
Just click an image |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
![Saxon thegn](javascript:launch_resize("/images/1066AD/saxon_thegn_lft.png",900,1000);)
