The Battle of Chesterfield 1266 by Rupert Matthews

Author:Rupert Matthews [Matthews, Rupert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bretwalda Books
Published: 2013-03-24T00:00:00+00:00

Infantry delivering a pig snout attack. The triangle of men pushed forward would be the most experienced and toughest in the formation. Their task was to punch a hole in the enemy shield wall, then move forward allowing the rest of the formation to advance and split the enemy infantry into two pieces ready to be cut to pieces.

The basic cavalry tactic was the charge, delivered by two or three ranks of horsemen riding knee to knee. Each rank was 20 or so yards behind the one in front so that if a horse fell those behind stood a chance of jumping over it or veering out the way before they too were brought down. A charge of armoured knights delivered at the right time was devastating. Choosing when to launch this charge was perhaps the most important decision a 13th century commander had to make. Well formed infantry could withstand a charge for no horse will gallop straight into a solid object - including a wall of men. But even the slightest disorder would cause a formation to crack under the impact of a charge. Poorly trained infantry would often simply run away in the face of a charge of knights.

And once an army was fragmented and fleeing a commander would find it very difficult indeed to restore order and discipline.

The following sequence of diagrams showing armoured cavalry breaking a formation of poorly trained infantry. 1 - The cavalry charge, some infantry begin to flee. 2 - The cavalry make contact, more infantry flee while others are killed. 3 - The cavalry break through as the infantry formation breaks up. 4 - The pursuit begins with the cavalry able to kill the fleeing infantry with ease.

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