| As a result of military science development, knighthood was replaced with cavalry. Individual fighters gave place to
tactical units formed of riders - heavy cavalrymen. Protected by heavy armor, they were perfect in hand-to-hand fighting. The number of armor plates
decreased, but the weight and thickness became greater. All these changes were intended for defense from quickly developing firearms. Only a point-blank
pistol shot or a musket shot from less than 50 steps could pierce an armor. A sword or a saber was virtually helpless against a plate armor, unless
stabbing into joints. Cavalrymen were armed with quite expensive wheel-lock pistols (2-6 pieces). In close combat, they wielded swords, daggers,
polehammers, and sometimes long lances (depending on tactics). A cavalryman was quite heavy - the only armor weighed about 35 kg (77 lb) and consisted
of a steel helm, a cuirass, bracers and knee-long leg-guards. The riders wore jackboots. Their horses were strong but not very maneuverable.
A riders' attack was initiated at a slow pace; only in the close vicinity to an enemy cavalrymen trotted their horses. Heavy cavalry tactics was
varied and depended mainly on level of battle training. A well-trained cavalry - for instance, a Swedish one (the Gustaf Adolf's) or Austrian - wielded
cold steel weapons. Poorly trained riders charged an enemy with pistol point-blank fire. |
