Cataphracts: Knights of the Ancient Eastern Empires

by Erich B. Anderson

Cataphracts were the most heavily armored form of cavalry in the ancient world, with riders and mounts both clad in heavy armor. Originating among the wealthiest nobles of various central Asian steppe tribes, such as the Massegatae and Scythians, they were adopted and adapted by several major empires. The Achaemenid Persians, Seleucids, Sassanians and eventually the Romans and their Byzantine successors. Usually armed with long lances, they harnessed the mobility and mass of the horse to the durability and solid fighting power of the spear-armed phalanx. Although very expensive to equip and maintain (not least due to the need for a supply of suitable horses), they were potential battle winners and remained in use for many centuries. Erich B Anderson assesses the development, equipment, tactics and combat record of cataphracts (and the similar clibanarii), showing also how enemies sought to counter them. This is a valuable study of one of the most interesting weapon systems of the ancient world.

Genres: History

188 pages, Hardcover

Published November 30, 2016

About the author

I am a freelance writer with a B.A. in history and anthropology from Northern Illinois University and a member of the Authors Guild. In 2008, I was awarded for writing one of the two best undergraduate history thesis papers with the title "Social and Political Views on the Use of Poison in Greco-Roman Society." I was professionally published for the first time in the 5.6 issue of Ancient Warfare in 2011. Since then, I have had over 40 articles published in the magazines History Today, Military History Monthly, Ancient Warfare, Medieval Warfare, Minerva, KMT, Strategy & Tactics, Military Heritage, All About History, History of War, Archaeological Diggings, History Magazine, Ancient Egypt, Renaissance and Katsujinken.. In 2013, I published Pan’s Pizza, a horror novella and my first work of fiction.

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough review of the evolution and equipment of 'eastern style' heavy cavalry. Tracing the path of this type of horseman from the Scythians, to its full maturation in Iran and Byzantium. The military history aspects are appropriately clipped to be focused on the actions of cataphracts in action.

[Mich Must Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cataphracts are basically ancient heavily armored knights. This book follows the origins, adoption, and adaptation of cataphracts through history. The book covers a time range from 4000 BC where traces of the first of the horse domestication appeared to 1204 AD with the Byzantine Empire.

I hate to be young ditsy Alice sitting on the bank proclaiming she needs pictures, but that’s what I’m gonna say. Anderson relies heavily on tactical descriptions, which are insightful. However, it tends to get rather dry at certain points. I have a visual book of battle at home and used this quite a bit as well as google. I realize that Anderson actually states that “...this book will serve as an introduction to the cataphracts for general readers of the public who are fascinated with ancient military history…” So, perhaps those who are used to reading military stratagem with just a description have no need. Even so, just a simple map, or a diagram every once in awhile for orientation as we move through would have been helpful, particularly in the beginning, where he covers a fair amount of ground of history pretty fast. There are eight pages of black and white photographs of artifacts and art in the middle of the book that are nice, but could have been sacrificed for simple maps, diagrams, or illustrations throughout.

I found this book a little difficult to get into at first, but as the chapters pass I began to feel really engaged. There is more evidence in the archaeological record later on and therefore more descriptive analysis of artifacts. Also, I had no idea that there is apparently theoretical evidence of the Arthurian legend originating with a transfer of a Sarmation Cataphract to the british Isles? How cool is that! Overall Cataphracts is written really well and flows nicely. It does well to introduce and spark an interest in ancient “metal-encased horseman”.

www.michmustread.com

[Zare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book about heavily armored warriors that are today known as Cataphracts. Author gives a very concise overview of how this heavily armored cavalry evolved from riders originating in Eastern European and Asian steppe and how they became a main shock unit for empires dating back to ancient Greece all the way to the fall of Constantinople.

What I especially liked is that every cataphract is presented as a complete weapon system - man and horse evolving through decades from heavily armored dedicated lancers to combined arms warriors that had lighter armor but were extremely capable in engaging the enemy from distance (archers), engaging in breakthrough (lances) or close combat (maces, swords, daggers). Together with this we follow evolution in rider's equipment that enabled rider to be more effective when fighting from the saddle and various types of armor and protection used.

As we follow this process we also encounter the countermeasures employed by the opposition - heavy infantry aiming for horse's weak spots or aiming to stun the rider by striking him hard with maces and mallets or just using lassos to simply take down the riders. We are shown how cataphract's weaknesses (lack of mobility and agility of both rider while seated on the horse and horse itself heavily burdened with armor, endurance issues when fighting in hot weather or for longer time) can be amended by using combined arms approach where heavy cavalry is supported by heavy infantry and/or light cavalry and how powerful was the charge of heavy cavalry and psychological effect it had on opposition.

If elephants were the Tiger tanks of ancient world, cataphracts were Panzer IV's that slowly evolved in more lightly armored units like today's Panhard or Patria assault vehicles.

Again history proves that there is no miracle weapon that would end a battle in a seconds, all the pieces need to act in unison and such a combined arms approach was more than a match for so many opponents, from Middle East kingdoms to kingdoms/empires in what is today Armenia, Iran, India to Huns, Bulgarians and Arab armies encountered by Byzantine at its zenith. At the forefront of each conflict heavy cavalry was there to strike first and break the enemy lines.

One of the reviewers already noted lack of graphics and this book would surely benefit from more graphical information, maps, sketches etc. Nevertheless author's style very vividly depicts the scenes of battle and cataphract's equipment and issues encountered in their military actions... you can just picture in your minds' eye heavy cavalry after breaking through enemy lines and having difficulties to stop and turn around to evade or attack again.

Excellent book, highly recommended.