Finding History в Byzantine The byzantine army was the primary military body of the byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the byzantine navy. a direct continuation of the eastern roman army, shaping and developing itself on the legacy of the late hellenistic armies, [ 1] it maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization. Despite these advances, the byzantine army, often unable to afford newer equipment en masse, was left ill equipped and forced to rely on its increasingly archaic military technology. the cataphract finally passed into the pages of history with the fall of constantinople on 29 may 1453, when the last nation to refer to its cavalrymen as.
Elite Byzantine Cataphract By Dmavromatis On Deviantart Byzantine army. the byzantine army evolved from that of the late roman period taking as leading models and shaping itself on the late hellenistic armies, [ 1] but it became considerably more sophisticated in strategy, tactics and organization. the language of the army was still latin, although later (especially after the 6th century) greek. In any case, the eastern roman cataphract of the byzantine army fielded till the 10th century, was known for its super heavy armor and weapons (that included maces, bows, and rarely even javelins). typical contemporary descriptions of the cavalrymen mention the use of klibanion , a type of byzantine lamellar cuirass that was crafted of metal. The cataphract is a latecomer to the hellenistic battle line. cavalry of this type, where both horse and rider were covered as completely as possible in armour, developed first among the iranian peoples. antiochus iii seems to have been the first hellenistic monarch to employ cataphracts. they would be a significant military development later. The cataphract played a crucial role in many ancient and medieval battles. they were used both as a shock troop, charging into enemy lines with their lances or spears, and as a formidable defensive force, protecting the flanks and rear of an army. the charge of a cataphract was a terrifying sight for the enemy.
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