CAROLINGIAN CAVALRY (VIII-IX CEN.)

In the very early Middle Ages (6th-7th centuries), infantry played a huge, if not decisive, role on the battlefields. However, over time, cavalry became more and more important. It is assumed that under the rule of the Frankish majordomo Charles the Hammer (first half of the 8th century), cavalry became a de facto key element of the Frankish army, and it also played such a role during the reigns of Pepin the Short and Charlemagne (8th century - early 9th century). Sometimes you can even find opinions that Karol Hammer created a new formation in the army of the Franks, i.e. Frankish armored cavalry. The defensive armament of the Frankish horseman in the 8th-9th centuries consisted primarily of armor - often chain mail or scale armor. The head was very often protected by a Normandy type helmet or a helmet resembling to some extent a later chapel. The legs were protected either by high boots or greaves, although these were rare. The offensive weapons used were primarily a one-handed sword with a relatively long blade and a winged spear. Stirrups were widely used by Frankish horsemen at that time. It can be assumed that this ride was also characterized by good training and high morale. The effectiveness of such driving can be proved by both the Battle of Poitiers, victorious for the Franks (732), as well as the later, most often successful expedition of Charlemagne (he ruled 768-814).