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How did mounted knights gain an advantage over foot soldiers on open ground?
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Sumerian phalanx, a block of foot soldiers depicted standing shield-to-shield, presenting spears, and advancing in a dense mass, detail from the Stele of the Vultures, limestone bas-relief, c. 2450 bce; in the Louvre Museum, Paris.
Mounted knights gained a significant tactical advantage over foot soldiers on open ground primarily through the use of shock cavalry tactics, which leveraged their mobility, height, and sheer weight.1
This dominance was supported by several technological and tactical developments:
- Shock Potential: The combination of the lance and the stirrup allowed knights to deliver the full force of a horseās charge to a single point without being unhorsed upon impact.23
- Equipment Integration: By the 12th century, advancements such as the high-cantle war saddle, double girths, and rigid backplates welded the horse and rider into a single, braced unit.2
- Couching Technique: The introduction of the couched lance technique around 1100 allowed for longer, heavier weapons, further increasing the impact force of a charge.1
- Vulnerability of Infantry: Foot soldiers who were not operating in organized formations were particularly vulnerable to these charges, often being slaughtered once the cavalry broke their lines.1
While knights were formidable, their effectiveness relied on maintaining cohesion; when they lost formation or were countered by disciplined infantry or specialized tactics, their advantage could quickly vanish.1