Cavalry was a stupid idea

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  • Опубліковано 27 сер 2016
  • The Great Courses Plus free trial: ow.ly/fA12302OFSt
    Riding a horse into battle is not a technique easy to adopt. The first man to suggest it may have been laughed at.
    Support me on Patreon: / lindybeige
    A long ramble by me. Possibly I should have done one video about Celtic/Roman four-pommelled saddles, and a separate one about how cavalry took a long time to develop.
    I wasn't quite at my peak while making this one. I came back from abroad with a virus, and had spent the previous day coughing.
    Buy the music - the music played at the end of my videos is now available here: lindybeige.bandcamp.com/track...
    More weapons and armour videos here: • Weapons and armour
    Lindybeige: a channel of archaeology, ancient and medieval warfare, rants, swing dance, travelogues, evolution, and whatever else occurs to me to make.
    ▼ Follow me...
    Twitter: / lindybeige I may have some drivel to contribute to the Twittersphere, plus you get notice of uploads.
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    website: www.LloydianAspects.co.uk
    / user "Lindybeige"

КОМЕНТАРІ • 9 тис.

  • @henrybuchanan6613
    @henrybuchanan6613 5 років тому +7147

    Those are brave words for someone in lancing distance

    • @masonburton7676
      @masonburton7676 5 років тому +47

      RAINBOW_REALITY underrated comment man

    • @lefoolish1989
      @lefoolish1989 5 років тому +170

      brave words for someone riding towards my spear

    • @redpotato2585
      @redpotato2585 5 років тому +27

      @@lefoolish1989 underrated comment man

    • @ikerd7182
      @ikerd7182 5 років тому +14

      @Landsturmregiment underrated comment man

    • @Brugar18
      @Brugar18 4 роки тому +30

      @@lefoolish1989 Brave words for someone who gets charged in by fully plated medieval tank.

  • @kevincrady2831
    @kevincrady2831 4 роки тому +4219

    Hannibal: "Yeah, you're right. Riding horses into battle is silly."
    Equip: Elephants

    • @oOZionOo
      @oOZionOo 4 роки тому +52

      *Equips Elephants

    • @xhawkenx633
      @xhawkenx633 4 роки тому +103

      Khmer: let add crossbows to those elephants

    • @yoursexualizedgrandparents6929
      @yoursexualizedgrandparents6929 4 роки тому +6

      @@xhawkenx633 under rated

    • @maxmuller8633
      @maxmuller8633 4 роки тому +20

      @@xhawkenx633 Funny how a smaller bolt can literally penetrate your armour better than a sawed off javelin

    • @xhawkenx633
      @xhawkenx633 4 роки тому

      @@maxmuller8633?????

  • @JamieDionne
    @JamieDionne 3 роки тому +1495

    Lindybeige: “Cavalry is a stupid idea”
    Mongol Empire: “Am I a joke to you?”

    • @belka8618
      @belka8618 3 роки тому +202

      Mongolian horse archers
      Sassanid cataphracts
      Parthian horse archers
      Russian cossacks
      Polish hussars
      Ottoman sipahi
      French cuirassiers
      Etc etc
      And these are only some of the notable ones
      For thousands of years all armies needed cavalry

    • @wynnwong4008
      @wynnwong4008 3 роки тому +35

      Well they're effective mainly due to the archery not the Calvary lol

    • @belka8618
      @belka8618 3 роки тому +121

      @@wynnwong4008 "Mobile archery" thanks to the horses
      A group of archers couldn't have destroyed an entire roman army with little effort but horse archers did.
      Also the cataphracts and the hussars were amazing. The heavy cavalry charge was absolutely devastating to the infantry and the hussars... Well they saved vienna

    • @WhiteWolfsp93
      @WhiteWolfsp93 3 роки тому +11

      mongols did use infantry, you know.

    • @JamieDionne
      @JamieDionne 3 роки тому +88

      @@WhiteWolfsp93 No shit Sherlock. Everyone had infantry. I’m not brain dead. It’s just that the Mongols are very well known for their use of horses.

  • @zacharymohammadi
    @zacharymohammadi 4 роки тому +843

    “Cavalry is stupid”
    This video was sponsored by Crassus INC.

  • @redenabao2358
    @redenabao2358 5 років тому +4712

    cavalry is a stupid name i prefer stallion battalion

    • @shrekonion8307
      @shrekonion8307 5 років тому +401

      Steed stampede

    • @Saiyan_Goku
      @Saiyan_Goku 5 років тому +19

      rey nietes nice

    • @pipebomber04
      @pipebomber04 5 років тому +197

      Horse full force

    • @LukaSzent
      @LukaSzent 5 років тому +157

      I prefer “A Mare Fanfare”.

    • @Marshal_Windsor
      @Marshal_Windsor 5 років тому +12

      I swear that’s the name of an album can’t remember the bands name though

  • @Spealder
    @Spealder 5 років тому +3694

    "Laughs in mongolian"

  • @jimmymac4559
    @jimmymac4559 4 роки тому +235

    “Let’s invent something to get my old and frail mother-in-law on this unpredictable horse” said the optimistic Chinese man from 400A.D.

    • @banananotebook3331
      @banananotebook3331 3 роки тому +10

      One has the feeling that said man was optimistic in more than one way.
      "While we're at it, why only limit it to horses? Why, with this invention why don't we get her to ride on an unpredictable bull instead? Or a tiger?"

  • @DomingoDeSantaClara
    @DomingoDeSantaClara 4 роки тому +86

    When the troops run short of food it's very easy to convert cavalry to carvery.

  • @tyguy6296
    @tyguy6296 8 років тому +2329

    i think MOST military tech was at one time considered pretty stupid.
    guns? ''here... hold this. it will explode, but if it holds together it should shoot this tiny bit out the end''
    planes? ''its made of canvas, wood, and paper... hop in and fly it! safe?? oh heavens no... the opposite in fact''
    everything is stupid until someone figures out how to make it ''not stupid'' and it gives them a massive advantage. then it's a game changer and they are brilliant

    • @PopTartNeko
      @PopTartNeko 8 років тому +154

      it was pretty stupid but man do i want passenger zeppelins to come back

    • @tyguy6296
      @tyguy6296 8 років тому +87

      PopTartNeko pretty sure we could get those to work safely now. i would love to take a trip on one

    • @Horvath_Gabor
      @Horvath_Gabor 8 років тому +54

      We actually cannot get them work, at least not safely. There are only two gases than can reliably lift a big passenger zeppelin that could transport people/cargo across large distances: Hydrogen and Helium. Hydrogen is cheap (you can get it by electrolysing water) but ridiculously flammable, while Helium is much more stable, but since the US kept its reserves artificially cheap and wasted them for decades, so it is slowly becoming scarce enough that filling zeppelins with the stuff would be a waste.

    • @badegg4909
      @badegg4909 8 років тому +18

      Well, and if we get some genius coming along making vacuum airships. JS. that would be the "Cheapest" by envelope filler. but I suspect the envelope itself would be space age expensive.

    • @SuperBonobob
      @SuperBonobob 8 років тому +22

      But when something is stupid in hindsight then you know it really is stupid.

  • @cyberinfotech8780
    @cyberinfotech8780 6 років тому +2657

    To summarise:
    Calvary was stupid when it began.
    Then it became effective.
    Then cars and tanks came along and it went back to useless.

    • @IRMentat
      @IRMentat 6 років тому +220

      you started well enough but it was massed artillery, mud and machine guns that put an end to horses.
      tanks and tracked vehicles (be it sleds, trains or trucks) took on the roles that 4 legged animals could not.
      Resupply infrastructure, spear-tip, scout and carrier of big guns.

    • @flare9757
      @flare9757 5 років тому +1

      Cyber Infotech Hail the Mark 1 AFV!

    • @itssnapshot
      @itssnapshot 5 років тому +19

      Cavalry

    • @bashkillszombies
      @bashkillszombies 5 років тому +8

      Don't tell the police that.

    • @FrarmerFrank
      @FrarmerFrank 5 років тому +19

      Really?
      Google WW2 Charge at Krojanty
      The Polish Calvary had Lances,yes,but the sword was replaced with pistols and Rifles and they were considered light mobile units similar to Jeeps with machine gun turrets
      Of course US Calvary vs Indians where they are shooting at each other on horses (not aiming for Horses which were "valuable spoils") is American History

  • @kevinstachovak8842
    @kevinstachovak8842 3 роки тому +38

    At first I thought you'd lost it- cavalry was extremely useful for commanders, both tactically and as scouts. But then I decided to hear you out, and you are spot-on. It really is kind of amazing that horses were ever domesticated in the first place. The initial domestication must have taken nerves stronger than steel cable!

    • @fakecubed
      @fakecubed 11 місяців тому +3

      We'd already had experience with domesticating dogs, goats, cattle, pigs, and even llamas, all of which can be difficult and dangerous in their own ways. Heck, two of those actually want to eat us. I imagine horses were fairly easy to domesticate after that, just build paddocks around them, or somehow drive them in. Perhaps first it was to slaughter for meat or use for milk, but having them around we would have come up with new uses over time, and by then the horses would be more used to be around humans and being handled by them in some way. Cavalry is pretty nuts, but it probably started with using them for carrying loads, then riding for travel, then it would've been a natural outgrowth to hunt from horseback, and eventually ride them into battle as commanders, and finally the cavalry charge.

  • @eriksamuelhennings2704
    @eriksamuelhennings2704 4 роки тому +449

    Me: Laughs because Horses are scared of the most bizarre things.
    Also Me: Sees a Spider and thinks I am gonna die.

    • @retrodarktrooper6372
      @retrodarktrooper6372 3 роки тому +28

      Well, my horse, despite not giving a shit about anything normally, almost bucked me off
      Because of a moth

    • @butterskywalker8785
      @butterskywalker8785 3 роки тому +8

      @@retrodarktrooper6372 people do that too

    • @secretbaguette
      @secretbaguette 3 роки тому +5

      @@butterskywalker8785 Buck you off because of a moth? I have to ask in what sort of human interaction has this happened?

    • @butterskywalker8785
      @butterskywalker8785 3 роки тому +2

      @@secretbaguette not like that,I mean almost dropping and killing the fucking child because a moth was in a wall at least 3 meters away from me type of stuff

    • @secretbaguette
      @secretbaguette 3 роки тому

      @@butterskywalker8785 Oh

  • @unjogratis936
    @unjogratis936 5 років тому +1279

    *This Video is Sponsored by the Great Horses Plus*

  • @Storming360
    @Storming360 5 років тому +1831

    4.6k persians, mongols , turks and poles disliked this

    • @thegreatrainman2336
      @thegreatrainman2336 5 років тому +38

      Sina Zarin also everyone that knows anything about history this fool is throwing up all over himself with stupidity cav was a game changer

    • @potatotop9532
      @potatotop9532 5 років тому +75

      juan zatarain did u even watch the video

    • @stay10578
      @stay10578 5 років тому +96

      @@thegreatrainman2336 Did you just read the title and base your opinion off of that?

    • @tannhasuervonhohenstein3728
      @tannhasuervonhohenstein3728 5 років тому +24

      @@thegreatrainman2336 Horses could easily be beaten back by a wall of spears.
      Formations made to scare horses and kill them.
      When muskets came, they took an already used formation to go against horses. Cav were not easy to use.
      Also looking after thousands of men and a few hundred horses is a hard task alone.

    • @mihajlonovkovic3428
      @mihajlonovkovic3428 4 роки тому +13

      Persians, Mongols/Turkic nomadic horsemen, Winged Hussars, Christian crusader knights, Russian Cossacks, thats just a small list.

  • @cristian-ionutapostol8018
    @cristian-ionutapostol8018 4 роки тому +10

    People misunderstand this video so hard. He's not saying Cavlary IS a stupid idea, but rather that when it was first devised it would've been seen as a stupid idea, because back then horses were skittish, petite draft animals, not hardy, war-capable mounts, and because there was no equipment or technique for doing something like that yet.

  • @talesofwendigo1232
    @talesofwendigo1232 3 роки тому +138

    “Cavalry is a stupid idea”
    *Mongol throat singing stops...*

  • @noahhoward2883
    @noahhoward2883 8 років тому +2740

    To clarify: this video isn't saying that cavalry was ineffective throughout history; it obviously wasn't. It's about the numerous problems that needed to be solved by ancient cultures in order for cavalry to become effective.

    • @WG55
      @WG55 8 років тому +237

      As usual, the commenters are judging the video based on the title.

    • @MrL702
      @MrL702 8 років тому +13

      Muh not denying its effectiveness throughout history but its a dumb idea.

    • @panjul-g9h
      @panjul-g9h 8 років тому +58

      alot of people need to see this, lindy has made a interesting video and instead people write a comment without watching it, sad really

    • @MrL702
      @MrL702 8 років тому +18

      World's Future Leader They have watched the video. Quit being a stuck up fanboy.

    • @panjul-g9h
      @panjul-g9h 8 років тому +15

      GetTrumped lol yeah, but they still don't understand

  • @yorkshire_tea_innit8097
    @yorkshire_tea_innit8097 8 років тому +423

    Horses naturally run in groups, they form stampedes. That would make it much easier to convince a horse to do a cav charge. Peer pressure.

    • @mistersharpe4375
      @mistersharpe4375 8 років тому +96

      And when you are the typical combatant of a pre-industrial army (a farmer who only tagged along for loot), nothing is really going to convince you to stand your ground when facing something like that. First you falter, then you turn, you run, your buddies do the same and the fight is technically over.

    • @BeenSauce
      @BeenSauce 8 років тому +7

      +Mister Sharpe Isn't that the point?

    • @Yotanido
      @Yotanido 8 років тому +48

      Yes. He was reinforcing his point, not contradicting it...

    • @GamesFromSpace
      @GamesFromSpace 8 років тому +14

      Except that the horses would be much more likely to stampede away from the enemy, because they're not stupid.

    • @cynicalpsycho5574
      @cynicalpsycho5574 8 років тому +22

      next they'll all be smoking to try and fit in...

  • @Abrogator91
    @Abrogator91 3 роки тому +497

    Lindybeige: "Cavalry is a stupid idea."
    King Harlaus: "You wot mate?"
    Swadian knights go brrrrr

    • @oseanvega2199
      @oseanvega2199 3 роки тому +64

      Calling cavalry stupid might actually get the Swadians to stop feasting.

    • @Nr9Boon
      @Nr9Boon 3 роки тому +37

      Horses can't handle the epic mass of us butter lords

    • @natesprofile2630
      @natesprofile2630 3 роки тому +7

      Dude what a beta. Sarranid Mamlukes are chad

    • @blacknosugar6836
      @blacknosugar6836 3 роки тому +26

      Jeremus the Monk was knocked unconscious by Swadian Knight

    • @fadhli179
      @fadhli179 3 роки тому +5

      Swadian and sarranid was using armored war horse, i think the calvary term in lindy mind was smiliar to khergit lancer (which obviously considered the worst melee cavalry, and the cheapest). Riding fast unarmored horse that was not good for anything except flanking manuver

  • @danhall6922
    @danhall6922 4 роки тому +271

    Roman General crassus invaded Pathia
    "Using calvery is a stupid idea,"
    Ends up drinking melted gold

    • @danhall6922
      @danhall6922 3 роки тому +14

      @Yeast Yeast
      he was killed during negotiations but as the story goes his the parthians poured melted gold down the throat of his dead corpse...
      May well be a myth...
      May just be the truth...
      Pouring melted gold down the throat has been a recorded method of execution for some civilisations

    • @michaekrynicki8330
      @michaekrynicki8330 3 роки тому +18

      @@danhall6922 seems wastefull

    • @SkywalkerExpress
      @SkywalkerExpress 3 роки тому +11

      Caesar also has the same experience getting harassed by Numidian cavalry out in the open during the civil war in North Africa. The different is Caesar is not Crassus.

    • @JoeTheBroken
      @JoeTheBroken 3 роки тому +4

      @@michaekrynicki8330 Just wait for the body to decompose, retrieve the gold from the skeleton a year or two later

    • @wowisthatgami8293
      @wowisthatgami8293 3 роки тому +4

      Title says: "Cavalry WAS a stupid idea" not IS

  • @Bikeadelic
    @Bikeadelic 4 роки тому +469

    If a dog is mans best friend then horses must be his greatest ally. The amount of work the horse has done for mankind over the millennia is phenomenal.

    • @morganpetros9635
      @morganpetros9635 2 роки тому +13

      Yeah, well, there's a reason it's called "horsepower" and not "dogpower" ...

    • @Bikeadelic
      @Bikeadelic 2 роки тому +24

      @@morganpetros9635 you say it like its common sense but horses are very overlooked in terms of their contribution to humanities history.

    • @fredflintlocks9445
      @fredflintlocks9445 2 роки тому +7

      @@Bikeadelic only because they've been replaced by steam/internal combustion for 3 generations now but even in WW2 successful cavalry charges were performed, and horses were used to carry artillery and baggage carts just like they have been for millennia.

    • @BoleDaPole
      @BoleDaPole 2 роки тому

      It's still animal slavery and ultimate animal abuse.

    • @heavenlywhitenoise2294
      @heavenlywhitenoise2294 2 роки тому +4

      Dog best friend
      Horse best ally
      Housecat best companion

  • @Patrick-dj9dd
    @Patrick-dj9dd 8 років тому +733

    Thesis of the video:
    Cavalry was a laughable idea and something that would have appeared impossible to the cultures that adopted the method of warfare.
    This is not discrediting the efficiency of cavalry. This is not denying the impact that cavalry had in warfare. This is simply a statement about the initial thoughts that people would have when presented with the idea of cavalry.
    What people are (incorrectly) perceiving Lloyd to be saying:
    Cavalry's bad

    • @Nicholas2727
      @Nicholas2727 8 років тому +2

      +

    • @MateuszZakowski
      @MateuszZakowski 8 років тому +25

      For me it was a simple clickbait.

    • @tzenophile
      @tzenophile 8 років тому +14

      +Patrick Except that this is exactly what he IS saying, in the very first sentence: "Using horses in warfare as cavalry is a stupid idea and that is what I am going to talk about in this video."
      What are YOU perceiving that he is saying in that sentence?

    • @Patrick-dj9dd
      @Patrick-dj9dd 8 років тому +20

      tzenophile He wasn't saying cavalry was a bad tactic, he was saying the idea of riding around on a horse trying to kill people on foot was likely perceived to be stupid before it became a prevalent military technique. Nobody would know that cavalry would win many battles and that in shock tactics they were supreme when the idea first came along, so it must have just sounded absurd.

    • @tzenophile
      @tzenophile 8 років тому +3

      He is not using the word "was", he is using the word "is". He is being disingenuous, or, in other words, trolling.

  • @mangogoat8195
    @mangogoat8195 4 роки тому +307

    "I have once been bareback riding, and boy do you have to grip with your thighs"
    What a quote

    • @NLTops
      @NLTops 3 роки тому +3

      You ride horses bareback? You must be a Mangolian.

    • @muhamadsayyidabidin3906
      @muhamadsayyidabidin3906 3 роки тому +1

      @@NLTops *Numidian

    • @NLTops
      @NLTops 3 роки тому +16

      @@muhamadsayyidabidin3906 *it was a joke mixing his name and a nomadic equestrian culture. Go bother someone else.

    • @apandas_am5635
      @apandas_am5635 3 роки тому +2

      Just watched that part, that’s what he said

    • @bobo0202
      @bobo0202 3 роки тому +4

      When I ride bareback, I hold her thighs

  • @owenkeller2748
    @owenkeller2748 3 роки тому +37

    Can we circle back to this “trousers glued on a bull” idea? I think we have some potential here.

  • @feartheghus
    @feartheghus 6 років тому +1438

    I can tell you why the first horses were ridden, it was quite probably not done for any advantage like using them for work or travel or combat, I bet it was just some idiots having a hold my beer moment.

    • @Tombombadillo999
      @Tombombadillo999 6 років тому +42

      Bob Johnson thought the same, quite logical tbh

    • @GumaroRVillamil
      @GumaroRVillamil 5 років тому +120

      Not to mention riding a horse is pretty cool. Even if just for getting around, it looks imposing. It could have also begun as a sort of status symbol. A "Look, Im a great chieftain and I can maintain these beautiful beasts", sort of thing

    • @kaizen5023
      @kaizen5023 5 років тому +41

      hahahhaha Bob I never thought of it that way but oh man I just know you are right, this exactly how these things happen! "Hold my beer, watch this bro, I can totally jump on that thing and make it carry me around."

    • @novy9032
      @novy9032 5 років тому +7

      @Bob Johnson It all probably developed into a rodeo after that.

    • @olenickel6013
      @olenickel6013 5 років тому +17

      I'd suspect that riding horses was more of a thing that kids of nomad tribes started doing. Maybe parents put them on horseback with their baggage when they moved to new pastoral grounds and kids growing up with that might grow up to ride around on horseback. As horses grew bigger and probably with some experimentation in the sort of skirmish battlefields that would occur on the steppes and with knowledge of chariot warfare but without the economy to actually produce chariots, cavalry might have slowly evolved and then reached a point that it became efficient enough to produce an "oh shit"-moment when these tribes started raiding the civilized city states in the middle east.

  • @itsnotatoober
    @itsnotatoober 5 років тому +869

    Mongols: "Hold my fermented horse milk."

    • @RiceMan31
      @RiceMan31 4 роки тому +12

      Hold my Koumiss

    • @triangulum8869
      @triangulum8869 4 роки тому +34

      Ahmet Akın Aydoğdu The mongols were actually just entirely horses disguised as humans.

    • @RiceMan31
      @RiceMan31 4 роки тому +15

      @@triangulum8869 Wait, you weren't supposed to know that.

    • @musab9424
      @musab9424 4 роки тому +6

      @@triangulum8869 I heard that centaurs are inspired by them because they are in a perfect accordance with horses so they are like a piece of horse

    • @JustScrapHD
      @JustScrapHD 3 роки тому

      didnt use mongols primarily use horses for archers?

  • @TheGoldenWarden
    @TheGoldenWarden 4 роки тому +115

    "Tractor goes thundering past"
    As a rancher. That's a phrase I never thought I'd here in my life.

    • @ericolens3
      @ericolens3 2 роки тому

      🤣 lol
      I mean, have you tried racing a tractor before?

  • @SatanicBunny666
    @SatanicBunny666 3 роки тому +69

    As someone who rode horses for more than 10 years actively I often been thinking about this. Like, I'm not the greatest rider out there, but I'm pretty comfortable on horseback even at high speeds, but that's without all the massive weight and gear required for combat. The idea of efficiently maneuvering the horse while at the same time trying to hit people with a weapon and not dying is just baffling to me. Obviously it can be done as proven by history, but the amount of skill it takes both from the people who need to breed and condition the horses as well as the guys doing the actual riding is massive.
    It does explain why (if my memory serves me correctly) adjusted for inflation the price of a single medieval knight's horse and equipment adjusted for inflation is more than the price of a large modern house.

    • @themcchuck8400
      @themcchuck8400 3 роки тому +18

      That's why being a knight was a profession. They spent a lifetime in training and practice.

    • @riftvallance2087
      @riftvallance2087 3 роки тому +10

      I remember the jousting competition history channel ran. As it turned out the people who did the best with it were the professional horse trainers. The people with the most riding experience and the people with the best understanding of horses

    • @Kombatfaountain4
      @Kombatfaountain4 3 роки тому +6

      @Bold well knights in the most basic of terms were simply soldiers who rode horses. Their social standing really varied depending on time period and country. You’re thinking of lords (which all knights were generally lords or land owners but not all lords were knights) but primarily they were cavalry soldiers above all other things

    • @davidjones332
      @davidjones332 3 роки тому +1

      The cavalry only survived into modern times because it was beneath the dignity of the landed gentry to walk into battle. The history of warfare shows that cavalry charges were rarely effective against a determined body of infantrymen, and that after one good charge the surviving horses were blown and unfit for further action. Even if they charged successfully, their momentum often carried them straight off the field and they were of no further use to their generals. It was a hopelessly inefficient form of warfare. The successful horsemen were those either used for reconnaissance or the bowmen or mounted infantry used for harassing actions. To quote Punch "The use of cavalry is to give tone to what would otherwise be a mere vulgar brawl".

  • @dafuyoma
    @dafuyoma 8 років тому +2839

    Cavalry is a stupid name. They should have called it "horse force".

    • @JonJon-dx3up
      @JonJon-dx3up 8 років тому +14

      bahahaha yes

    • @austin09jj
      @austin09jj 8 років тому +21

      genius

    • @wbnc66
      @wbnc66 8 років тому +80

      Umm cavalry is derived from the word caballus one of the latin words for horse, or mounted on a horse :D chevalier and cavalry mean "horseman"

    • @croisaor2308
      @croisaor2308 8 років тому +357

      "Stallion Battalion"

    • @austin09jj
      @austin09jj 8 років тому +26

      Croí Saor even better

  • @curtainpoles3120
    @curtainpoles3120 8 років тому +447

    but look at my horse... my horse is amazing

    • @TheDarkWiiPlayer
      @TheDarkWiiPlayer 8 років тому +29

      give it a lick?

    • @MidWitPride
      @MidWitPride 8 років тому +14

      That's a donkey.

    • @Twiggyay
      @Twiggyay 8 років тому +24

      +DarkWiiPlayer it tastes just like raisins

    • @kataiarpad
      @kataiarpad 8 років тому +7

      it tastes just like raisins!

    • @numberspace321
      @numberspace321 8 років тому

      +DarkWiiPlayer it tastes just like raisins

  • @Daniel_Doce275
    @Daniel_Doce275 3 роки тому +187

    *the mongols are typing*
    *the takeda clan is typing*
    *polish huzzars are typing*

    • @Khorne_of_the_Hill
      @Khorne_of_the_Hill 3 роки тому +3

      Is the takeda clan at all related to the pharmaceutical company?

    • @diddlypoop
      @diddlypoop 3 роки тому +2

      @@Khorne_of_the_Hill samurai clan.

    • @AverageAlien
      @AverageAlien 3 роки тому +9

      when you miss the point of the video

    • @Bollibompa
      @Bollibompa 3 роки тому +3

      Are you commenting the title only?

    • @wowisthatgami8293
      @wowisthatgami8293 3 роки тому +4

      "Cavalry WAS a stupid idea". WAS

  • @kirtash5597
    @kirtash5597 4 роки тому +85

    -"Cavalry was a stupid idea"
    -Alexander The Great: "now listen here little shit"

    • @keithau8159
      @keithau8159 2 роки тому +1

      Not agree at all.Rome period,in fact in iron stage,lot of tools regarding to different usage were invented.Stand on ground small,middle and huge size catapult,mechanical powerful spring single and multiple shoots of box were invented and widely make use of them in warfare and that is why Rome empire had huge wide territories in middle east area.but in fact the most trouble zone in ancient time.Well it is and seem logical cavalry are easy triggered,however all horses wearing suitable light weight steel or heavy steel protective armor,all four legs equipped with scythe long at back and short in front while charging in formation or units,together with horse 4-6-8 wheels wagon with small and middle catapult installed in the deck,would be very dangerous and deadly and powerful weapons as modern days using of tanks and howitzers as formation units at all.Agree.😁😂😀

  • @tomtom7955
    @tomtom7955 5 років тому +698

    if horses where a terrible idea i cant wait for the elephant video

    • @walterbell1529
      @walterbell1529 5 років тому +55

      Fenrir World-Eater one war animal that that everyone can agree on, that was awful in battle was the rhinoceros

    • @tyson6127
      @tyson6127 5 років тому +60

      @@walterbell1529 The chicken was pretty bad as well

    • @kathyhalton8352
      @kathyhalton8352 5 років тому +21

      @@tyson6127 Wait till you try a banana

    • @dravenocklost4253
      @dravenocklost4253 5 років тому +1

      @@walterbell1529 please give me something to Google to research this

    • @wateriestfire
      @wateriestfire 5 років тому +1

      ua-cam.com/video/pu8JB3XX4OI/v-deo.html

  • @mokopa
    @mokopa 7 років тому +1205

    I heard "this video was sponsored by Great Horses Plus"

    • @htf5555
      @htf5555 7 років тому +67

      So this was all horse propaganda

    • @oz_jones
      @oz_jones 6 років тому +16

      Courses are for horses.
      *xfiles.mid*

    • @martinthedrainedsedlak
      @martinthedrainedsedlak 6 років тому

      Osmorosvo hahahaha

    • @pugilist102
      @pugilist102 6 років тому +6

      The Barbarian Empires of the Steppes, from the Great Courses Plus, actually covers the topics discussed in this video.

    • @teaser6089
      @teaser6089 6 років тому +2

      Stop horse abuse now! Donate $9,99 a month to stop the abuse of the horse.

  • @maipes
    @maipes 3 роки тому +16

    As someone with a degree in horses, your horse knowledge really impressed me. Spot on.

  • @MishaAbr2004
    @MishaAbr2004 4 роки тому +7

    In my opinion the reason stirrups became more popular than the roman saddle is that you can stand up in them. This not only means that your horse can gallop longer (due to a more even weight distribution than while sitting down), but also provided an advantage in combat as this allowed you to make your strikes more powerful by allowing you to put your whole weight behind it. Also it provided a defensive advantage as standing up made your upper body harder to reach.

  • @Weykpotis
    @Weykpotis 5 років тому +425

    "I have once been bareback riding, and so I can tell you that it's-- it's... _boy_ you have to grip with your thighs."
    -- Lindybeige, 2016.

    • @TheRealParsonz
      @TheRealParsonz 5 років тому +19

      glad i wasn't the only one who heard this xD

    • @jamesmacleod9382
      @jamesmacleod9382 5 років тому +9

      Talking about sex without a condom?

    • @gollumisahomie5671
      @gollumisahomie5671 4 роки тому +2

      Not really that much unless your trotting

    • @gorkyd7912
      @gorkyd7912 4 роки тому +6

      After gripping with your thighs every day for 14 years I'm sure they got the hang of it.

    • @legostarwarsbattledroid5272
      @legostarwarsbattledroid5272 4 роки тому +1

      I read this as he said this

  • @melihism
    @melihism 5 років тому +770

    Early cavalry wasn't used to charge on a line of men but rather to chase already routed enemies.

    • @FlameDarkfire
      @FlameDarkfire 5 років тому +161

      For most of history cavalry’s main purpose was to pursue and cut down retreating enemy forces. Alexander used cavalry as shock troops and in pre-modern and modern era cavalry fought each other, but their main purpose was routing the enemy.

    • @carl-os4603
      @carl-os4603 5 років тому +60

      @@FlameDarkfire also covering light infantry/support units (slingers/javelinners/archers/ambushers/horse support units), dont forget about charging from backside or flanks, some types of cavalry even charged in front of heavy infantry (late knights, catafracts), only light support cavalry were supposed to pursue enemies.
      And EVERY type of cavalry was weak in meele combat against ANY infantry (cavalry had advantages only in charging and moving speed).

    • @yimboninja7415
      @yimboninja7415 4 роки тому +1

      That the hell man! Cant believe I gave you a view for this!

    • @armynurseboy
      @armynurseboy 4 роки тому +68

      It was also used to scout for the enemy pre-battle, harass them while they were moving to and setting up for battle, and to turn their flanks by using the horse's superior speed during the battle. The use of cavalry for warfare IS NOT stupid. Using cavalry INCORRECTLY in warfare is stupid.

    • @revanati222
      @revanati222 4 роки тому +27

      Speed, scouting, harrassment, and ability to run down or outflank an enemy force at it's weakest.
      You wouldn't use cavalry to smash into the front of a prepared and determined enemy force, thats the job of another infantry unit, to pin that unit into place.
      You would strike a unit from an unprepared flank with cavalry, or to route a wavering or inexperience foe.

  • @Khorne_of_the_Hill
    @Khorne_of_the_Hill 3 роки тому +11

    I once went horseback riding, and the horse freaked the Fuck out because it saw a peacock

  • @JerryEricsson
    @JerryEricsson 3 роки тому +11

    Years back, I served with the 3rd Armored Cavalry, of course the only horses we had were for parade use, and not for battle, they had been replaced by armor, tanks, armored personal carriers and armored command tracks. When I was a young boy living on our farm, I grew up riding bareback on one of our 3 horses, we had Barney, Lady and Babe, Barney was a Shetland/quarter horse cross, Lady was a huge work horse, and Lady was a younger quarter horse that could run like the wind. Barney was a very tame horse, he would do anything for we kids but hated adults. When dad or mom would approach Barney he would nip at them or turn and ready a kick, however we kids could climb all over him, ride him and if we would fall off, he would stop dead and stand there looking at us till we got back up and remounted. Lady was skittish, she would shy away from things like you mentioned, once she was galloping along with me on her back, down the dirt road that ran past our farm. For some reason she went down into the grassy ditch that was beside the road, when she got near the fence, a large post came along, she shyed away from that and threw me right over the fence onto the soft tall grass that was nice enough to break my fall and not my bones. Babe, being a HUGE horse like to prance. Now if you have ever ridden a horse you would know that a trot is a sort of rough near run, a prance is more of a marching by a horse, a sort of trotting walk if you will, and when riding bareback it just beat the hell out of your but, but when she went into a gallop, the way we kids loved to ride, her gate was so smooth you would think you were riding the rocking horse machine outside the grocery store. Lady's gallop was even smoother, Barney could gallop but only a short distance as he was a very old horse.

  • @neuralkernel
    @neuralkernel 8 років тому +123

    Still not as stupid as trying to knife fight from the top of a sandworm...

    • @nicholaswatson2725
      @nicholaswatson2725 8 років тому +25

      good sir, revoke that statement, i believe that knife fighting on the top of a sand worm is a very clever way of carrying out your legacy, you sir are incorrect and mistaking the bad-assery of fighting on the top of a sand worm with a knife in your hand with it not being as brilliant as Leonardo Da Vinci himself!

    • @ahoosifoou4211
      @ahoosifoou4211 8 років тому +7

      if you have a long as lance then i guess riding sandworms would be worth it.

    • @TimothySnowman
      @TimothySnowman 8 років тому +5

      mmmmmmm... Shai-Hulud.

  • @Arcsinner
    @Arcsinner 8 років тому +1484

    You can see that Lindy is now biased, because he has a sponsor. It is well known, that "The Great Courses Plus" hates horses

    • @panjul-g9h
      @panjul-g9h 8 років тому +156

      maybe they don't want horses to be smart too?

    • @skellious
      @skellious 8 років тому +18

      You'd think they'd be in favour of horses considering the expression "horses for courses"

    • @deektedrgg
      @deektedrgg 8 років тому +7

      Normally dropping a sponsor in the middle of a video would be annoying to me, but for some reason, this method of sponsoring really fits Lindy.

    • @q1w2e3621
      @q1w2e3621 8 років тому

      +

    • @eruantien9932
      @eruantien9932 8 років тому +5

      Though, many years ago, Lloyd did say that cavalry was, for a long time, a ridiculously stupid idea compared to chariots. Maybe that's why they get along so well!

  • @40jwthomas
    @40jwthomas 3 роки тому +11

    It’s pretty crazy that Alexander the Great conquered “the world” without stirrups

  • @Parhelion2
    @Parhelion2 4 роки тому +10

    I was under the impression that standing up in the saddle was an important part of Calvary. Driving the power of your thrust into your legs rather than your lower back sound like a more powerful move to me.

    • @bradleythebuilder8743
      @bradleythebuilder8743 3 роки тому +2

      This is the most sexual non-sexual comment that I have ever seen. I need to go deal with something......

  • @MrPanos2000
    @MrPanos2000 8 років тому +195

    THEN THE WINGED HUSSARS ARRIVED
    COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE
    THEN THE WINGED HUSSARS ARRIVED
    COME AND TURNED THE TIDE

    • @gururumon916
      @gururumon916 8 років тому +6

      Probably listened to that album about thirty times now.

    • @alfsonderslagna8316
      @alfsonderslagna8316 8 років тому +6

      Let it spread

    • @germanrifle
      @germanrifle 8 років тому +4

      i came here for this not disapointed

    • @birddogg62
      @birddogg62 8 років тому +1

      This is the best response to this stupid video. Way better then something about those god damn Mongolians, lol.

    • @MrPanos2000
      @MrPanos2000 8 років тому +3

      +Gebirgsjäger they did sort of. The real bullshit is that they took down all videos from youtube for copyright reasons

  • @exudeku
    @exudeku 5 років тому +764

    Minutes later...
    *AND THE WINGED HUSSARS ARRIVED!*

    • @Pigen_
      @Pigen_ 5 років тому +71

      *Polish Christian songs intensifies*

    • @pongangelo2048
      @pongangelo2048 5 років тому +26

      Genghis Khan is laughing at the distance.

    • @notatruck2640
      @notatruck2640 5 років тому +34

      COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE!

    • @DawidDVD
      @DawidDVD 5 років тому +17

      The high ground intensifies

    • @tynanroyhiggins
      @tynanroyhiggins 5 років тому +17

      I literally came here to post this comment myself lol. Ottoman Empire btfo.

  • @AlexRetsam
    @AlexRetsam 3 роки тому +3

    Thoughts as to why stirrups would replace 4 pommelled saddles:
    - Like you mentioned, stirrups are an aid to mounting/dismounting, which would be especially useful as larger horses were bred and put to use
    -There are benefits to having different saddle designs depending on what the rider is doing or wearing i.e long distance comfort or cavalry charges or hugely armoured buttocks. Stirrups help everyone stay in the saddle but change the seat to suit their needs
    -Being able to stand up is an enormous advantage. You can use different weapons, ride different terrain and JUMP your brave steed over obstacles that would otherwise be impossible
    -Stirrups also make controlling the horse with just your knees much more effective, freeing up your hands to smite your enemies more effectively. If pressure on your saddle with your thighs is what's keeping you on the horse, you're not going to be able to train a horse to be steered by your knees and therefore you're a slave to the reigns

  • @secretbaguette
    @secretbaguette 3 роки тому +7

    4:02-4:13
    11 straight seconds of Lloyd yelling about crisp packets.

  • @adrianglennbionat
    @adrianglennbionat 8 років тому +105

    riding bareback....I like the sound of that.

    • @Achiles5th
      @Achiles5th 8 років тому +9

      You will have no thighs (not to mention the non-mentionables) after two hours...................don't ask it was a weird vacation.

    • @emcdavee
      @emcdavee 8 років тому +38

      +Monark Roy The joke went straight over your head

    • @octemberfury
      @octemberfury 8 років тому +24

      hmmm.. OR DID IT?

    • @Achiles5th
      @Achiles5th 8 років тому +9

      Don't pull a Lady Godiva, never pull a lady Godiva.

    • @emcdavee
      @emcdavee 8 років тому +3

      +octemberfury touché

  • @raiderfox7229
    @raiderfox7229 5 років тому +793

    Cavalry was a stupid idea.
    *THEN THE WINGED HUSSARS ARRIVED*

    • @UkrainianPaulie
      @UkrainianPaulie 5 років тому +36

      My great great etc. Grandfather was at Vienna in 1683 as a Winged Hussar. I reenact him with full armor and kopia. Europe's best Cavalry!

    • @pwnmeisterage
      @pwnmeisterage 5 років тому +62

      One day I'd love to meet someone who brags "My great-etc-great ancestor was a Polish brothel prostitute. I reenact him/her in traditional costume ..."

    • @jamesharding3459
      @jamesharding3459 5 років тому +2

      Raider Fox Goddamit I literally came here to comment that

    • @Iskandr314
      @Iskandr314 4 роки тому +2

      Cataphrakts*

    • @jasper677
      @jasper677 4 роки тому +8

      True Born Son of Liberty lol alone with people claiming on youtube to be sons of polish hussars/napoleonic war heroes/viking descendants you could reenact these events. Funniest thing: theyre all from america, where its the easiest to tell your son whatever you like because yiu fled your homecountry and any evidence

  • @andrzejpetrenko852
    @andrzejpetrenko852 4 роки тому +5

    With stirrups it's easier to lift yourself and lean forward while riding on horse, it helps during charge with a spear or a lance.

  • @johnmccrossan9376
    @johnmccrossan9376 3 роки тому +8

    "The horses that get to breed are the ones men want"
    Mlp wierdos: CORRECT

  • @Rickenbacker69
    @Rickenbacker69 6 років тому +624

    We Swedes had the stupidest idea, though - moose cavalry! Didn't quite work out, but the trials must have been both impressive and hilarious.

    • @Tombombadillo999
      @Tombombadillo999 6 років тому +70

      Mats Nylund sweden is still famous for bogus and illusioned decisions (e.g modern politics are a good example). Very sadly, as its a beautifull country.

    • @analogdistortion
      @analogdistortion 5 років тому +3

      And painful

    • @Brashnir
      @Brashnir 5 років тому +13

      didn't you guys also make cannons out of ice?

    • @CraftQueenJr
      @CraftQueenJr 5 років тому +4

      Mats Nylund thanks for that mental image.

    • @stronggirlsuperheroineonli5094
      @stronggirlsuperheroineonli5094 5 років тому

      I thought that was the Soviet army?

  • @ivan55599
    @ivan55599 8 років тому +245

    *Early cavarly was a stupid idea. Fixed. Your welcome.

    • @DrSmokeTrees
      @DrSmokeTrees 8 років тому +12

      You fixed nothing. STFU you pedantic douche. No one likes you.

    • @spazzmaticus1542
      @spazzmaticus1542 8 років тому +72

      *you're

    • @christopherknorr2895
      @christopherknorr2895 8 років тому +20

      +Nathan Brinkerhoff You're doing the Lord's work. Bless you sir.

    • @oBCHANo
      @oBCHANo 8 років тому

      Modern cavalry is a pretty retarded concept too, anything you could do on horseback you could do better on foot, other than running fast.

    • @airborne2767
      @airborne2767 8 років тому +1

      oBLACKIECHANoo No middle calavary was the worst.

  • @JoFa876
    @JoFa876 4 роки тому +7

    5.7K people didn't watch the video, and went by the title. :) Also, cheese and onion go fantastically together.

    • @harryfloros8796
      @harryfloros8796 2 роки тому

      But they belong in a green packet. Putting them in a blue one, rather than the traditional salt and vinegar is just rude. And unnecessary. Like randomly changing the recipe of Coca Cola.

  • @adrianmedyanik8814
    @adrianmedyanik8814 2 роки тому +2

    Mounted archer has entered the chat and raided your village

  • @colinbunn6066
    @colinbunn6066 5 років тому +457

    I understand this guy's arguments...
    but the Mongol's case is just stronger.

    • @santiagocortez9554
      @santiagocortez9554 4 роки тому +18

      they used bows gve them two advantages, speed and range. AND that type of army was kinda new to everyone else, and if it were seen today it wouldve kinda looked like when Adolf invaded poland with tanks and modern tactics.

    • @_Muzolf
      @_Muzolf 4 роки тому +40

      @@santiagocortez9554 It really wasn`t new. It was just forgotten by a lot of people, but the Hungarians (Ironically, the last european nation the mongols reached, and almost destroyed. ) used the exact same tactics centuries before and menaced most of europe before going native and adopting christianity and the european feudal system.

    • @midshipman8654
      @midshipman8654 4 роки тому +6

      Orpheus Program I think the arguement is for the origin of cavalry, not when it was already established

    • @barbatvs8959
      @barbatvs8959 4 роки тому +3

      @@_Muzolf Mary-worshippers aren't Christian.

    • @_Muzolf
      @_Muzolf 4 роки тому +19

      @@barbatvs8959 Lol "Mary Worshippers" i suppose this is aimed at Catholics? So tell me, what religion should one convert to in the year 1000? You know, before protestants even existed? Oh, btw, Hungary has plenty of Protestants itself these days. If you only consider them "true christians". Of course this kind of exclusion of essentially what is the majority of christianity (Considering if you don't consider Catholics true christians, then i guess you would exlude Eastern Ortohox ones too, since they are closer to Catholicism as to protestants.) is rather dumb.

  • @BanditoBurrito
    @BanditoBurrito 8 років тому +567

    But cavalry wins me battles in Total War :

    • @toxictoz2042
      @toxictoz2042 8 років тому +6

      noo cretan and syrian archers do ;)

    • @matan8074
      @matan8074 8 років тому +27

      medieval 2 knight's to rear, goodbye noobs.

    • @NK-ph4ot
      @NK-ph4ot 8 років тому

      Dragoons are best. infantry+cavalry

    • @yourethatmantis5178
      @yourethatmantis5178 8 років тому +80

      cavalry is stupid I don't need them in my armies
      (10 seconds later)
      "this is a black day! our General has fallen my lord!"
      (5 more seconds later)
      "our men are running from the battlefield! a shameful dispray!"

    • @bobuscesar2534
      @bobuscesar2534 8 років тому +3

      +You'reThatMantis And than the enemy cavalry kills the rest. They were so useless like firearms useless.

  • @alecparks8680
    @alecparks8680 4 роки тому +4

    From the words of corb lund ''I want to be in the calvary If they send me off to war I want a good steed under me like my forefathers before I want a good mount when the bugle sounds"

  • @robertguttman1487
    @robertguttman1487 3 роки тому +1

    Something to think about: In The Iliad the Trojans were referred to as being noted for "horse-tamers", but they are depicted as always riding into battle in chariots. Greek Mythological characters are also depicted riding chariots, including in the personification of Apollo transiting the sky every day in the form of the Sun. Ancient Greek references to actually riding on horseback were rare. One of the very few exceptions was Belleraphon, who actually rode on the back of a "winged horse" (Pegasus), which is depicted as a really extraordinary thing to do. In fact, riding horses was regarded by the Greeks as so far from normal that they mythologized Central Asian horse-archers as "Centaurs", i.e., supernatural beings who were "half-man-and-half-horse".

  • @Adumb_
    @Adumb_ 8 років тому +198

    Why did they ever change Salt and Vinegar from Blue to Green, and Cheese and Onion from Green to Blue? Whats next? Yellow Ready Salted? It doesn't bear thinking about.

    • @lindybeige
      @lindybeige  8 років тому +66

      Bloody Walkers!

    • @iota-09
      @iota-09 8 років тому

      i guess because in italy cinegar is commonly deoucted as yellow or green, and there are instances of cheese and onions depicted as blue, but we're talking about the uk here so i dunno.

    • @JOB891
      @JOB891 8 років тому +2

      In China, Ready Salted/original flavour Lays (walkers) are yellow.

    • @SonsOfLorgar
      @SonsOfLorgar 8 років тому +1

      sourcream and onion has been blue, plain salted yellow, dill green, grill/bbq brown, cheese orange and vinegar teal/turqoise in Sweden for as long as I can remember XD

    • @lpsp442
      @lpsp442 8 років тому +2

      I dunno, yellow for Ready Salted makes sense to me. It's the neutral crisp flavour, so it gets the neutral crisp colour.

  • @TalonSky
    @TalonSky 8 років тому +352

    Normally a fan of your work, but this one falls REALLY flat. Yes, undomesticated, untrained horses are a bad idea in battle. Which is why the cultures that utilized them trained them, raised them from birth, practiced with them every day, and invented devices to aid in these endeavors.
    The armies who had cavalry historically had a GREAT advantage over those who didn't.

    • @amysusername1
      @amysusername1 8 років тому +85

      The title was inaccurate, probably to get more clicks, but his point wasn't that cavalry was never useful, it's that it was not useful for most of human history, until stirrups and pommels were invented.

    • @garretphegley8796
      @garretphegley8796 8 років тому +35

      They didn't know what the outcome would be it just kind of happened. So original cavalry was a stupid idea.

    • @OleSAO
      @OleSAO 8 років тому +34

      It's like saying flying was a horrible idea... The first airplanes were quite bad and people died.

    • @randalftheblack2572
      @randalftheblack2572 8 років тому +49

      You should really watch a video from start to finish before commenting..

    • @johnconstantin4100
      @johnconstantin4100 8 років тому

      my friend Rome hadn't cavlary until make the gauls federats so the where fine and after that they didnt liked using cavlay much and thats the longest lasting empire in our world (if we dont count China as an empire)

  • @nickscurvy8635
    @nickscurvy8635 3 роки тому +21

    I can't help but love lindybeige because he harnesses the childlike wonder and excitement of a 9 year old coupled with the expertise and intellect of a professor.

  • @luismariomiller5707
    @luismariomiller5707 4 роки тому +1

    There is this thing on horseback riding where you lift yourself while the horse lifts it's back. It keeps you from bouncing all around the horse making much easier to control yourself and it's also easier on the horse. It also helps a lot if you want to aim a bow or a Lance precisely. Important things in cavalry. None of this can be achieved with a Celtic chair. That's why you use a stirrup.

  • @RoninDave
    @RoninDave 7 років тому +78

    Horses allowing people to ride them into battle was pretty stupid but horse unions were notoriously ineffective as every motion proposed was shot down with a thunderous nay. I'll get my coat.

  • @bronkobrumby776
    @bronkobrumby776 5 років тому +1087

    Yes and no, at the same time, you made a few good points, but also made some faults. Let's start step by step:
    -Armed riders in Europe started around 800 BC with the East Hallstatt Culture, we have iconography like the beltplate of Vace, Slowenia, which shows mounted warriors, and we have the archaeological pendants like Kleinklein, Steiermark, Austria. Iconography, specially the early ones, are hard to believe or are just not enough detailed to get a good image, but when those illustrations, correspond to actual archaeological findings, it becomes clearer. And those guys rode their horses with no real saddles, at lest non with a wooden tree, like the celtic/roman saddles, so it was more like an riding pad, in best case. And it worked, when your riding skills were good.
    - Horses often get seen as skittish prey creatures, but modern ethology shows significant differences. An example is the gender. In a wild herd, the "leading mare" (leading behaviors is also a very complex topic, and don't work like a pyramid hierarchy as most people think in horses, but this is not relevant for this video) is responsable fr leading the herd to water, food an safety. The "leading stallion" is responsable to keep the herd together and protect the herd from predators, so that the "leading mare" can guide the herd members to a safe place. Do you have an idea how often wild stallions fight and defeat and sometimes (but rare) even kill attacking predators? So in average stallions are braver and more agressive as females, what also explains any kind of historical iconography that the artists and craftsmen showed clearly that the war horses used where stallions. Same for the written sources, at least in best case. So oft curse the people of the past searched and used horses (primarily stallions, but there a few archaeological exceptons, but very rare) who have the necessary braveness and agression. Today those character tread, became less important and it's hard to find such a horse today, because breeding changed, today most horses are working animals or companions in sport and hobby. But even today you find such old bloodlines with very distinctive character trades of the past time, like the Camargue ponies, old Spanish bloodlines, often used for bull fights or robust ponies, who are all less skittish than more modern breeds like the British pure blood. And of course in this very small percentage you find exceptional well conditioned individuals for that kind of job, same as with humans. If you ever meet Zogo, the Murgese stallion of Joram van Essen, and know the destrier of Mike Canfor, or meeting Aragon the old Spanish blood Gelding, who is trained at the moment, by an archaeologist (don't know the name of Aragon's owner, the FB channel don't mentions that) for experiments, you will understand what i mean. Those horses are incredible different from modern breeds, Arne Koets told me (who works with the owner of Aragon for example, that Aragon needed just 5 mins to desensitize from plate armor and being able to do all speeds, without any negative reaction or fear, what is totally different to what you would expect from a horse. So we can tell, that the horses used for combat, where a specific type of character and talent, specialy for the elite, who was usual mounted in most cultures.
    -Stirrup experiments and researches are done atm, but no result published atm, so more will follow, for example by Lisa Kyre from Germany.
    -As far as we can tell, horses even in the late medieval period, where not that large as we may think of. The average stays between 150 and 155cm with some exceptions. Similar sizes we can see in roman cavalierly or other periods for example, Sutton Hoo Burial mound 17, a around 8 year old stallion between 152cm of shoulder height. A well treated horse of that size, weight between 450 and 500 kg. Riders say that a horse can, wen well riden, carry a third of his body weight without any risk. So even for late XV century knights, with a full plate suit, which weights (field suit) around 25kg, plus the rider an tack (no full horse armor) you lay around 95 to 105 kg of additional weight. That's still far away from the critical third of the horses body weight. And we know, how well trained those horses of the XV century were. Similar is it with any kind of armor, no matter what period, the armors used for battle from horseback were never that heavy, of course not. With shield and a full coat of mail, with a closed helmet as Arne, André, Joram, and Milan wears for example, it is maybe 30kg of gear depending of the shield. So weight is not a critical factor.
    There's so much more to say about, but that would be to much, so just here the few most important points.
    Some references:
    facebook.com/RijClinicsArneKoets/
    facebook.com/destrier.lucilinburhuc/
    ua-cam.com/users/airntvideos
    Some Literature:
    C.Hornig. Das spätsächsische Gräberfeld von Rullstorf (Leihdorf 1993).
    M. Carver, Sutton Hoo, a seventh-century princely burial and its context (2005).
    M. Carver, Sutton Hoo, Burialground of Kings? Britishmuseum (2005).
    W. Gerbers, Auf dem Weg nach Wallhall. Das Pferd der Altsachsen, Begleiter durch Leben und Tod (Lohne 2004).
    M. Rech (Hrsg), Pferdeopfer-Reiterkrieger. Fahren und Reiten durch die Jahrtausende (Bremen 2006).
    A. Hyland, The medieval war horse, from Byzantium to the Crusades (New York 1990).
    H. Müller, Albrecht Dürer. Waffen und Rüstungen (Berlin 2002).
    j. Clark, Medieval horse and it's equipment, c,1150- 1450, Medieval find from excavations in London (London 2011)
    J.C Smith, Dürer. Arts & Ideas (vienna 2012).

    • @drakevandiver340
      @drakevandiver340 5 років тому +58

      Well played

    • @feministkitozwierzeta.krow763
      @feministkitozwierzeta.krow763 4 роки тому +28

      GG WP

    • @buttermonkeyFTW
      @buttermonkeyFTW 4 роки тому +146

      I didn’t read it but since you USED PROPER SOURCES Ima assume you’re good

    • @bronkobrumby776
      @bronkobrumby776 4 роки тому +36

      Ahh yea well, thanks XD
      It's a topic, which just starts to get researched, so clearer results will follow hopefully soon. Sure good sources are important.

    • @mylordandsaviour4786
      @mylordandsaviour4786 4 роки тому +18

      Bronko Brumby, you are a good man. Thank you

  • @didekjozwiak
    @didekjozwiak 4 роки тому +83

    "Random Brit rambles about horses for 17 minutes and 45 seconds"

    • @a.s7902
      @a.s7902 3 роки тому +11

      Random? This is the Beigeman you're talking about here! Show some respect lad!

    • @katyungodly
      @katyungodly 3 роки тому +1

      Random?! This is LINDYBEIGE!!!

  • @balangigahonorandsacrifice3836
    @balangigahonorandsacrifice3836 3 роки тому +6

    Fun fact: the last mounted charge by a US cavalry unit was in Moring, Philippines in WW2. It worked.

  • @Jakers457
    @Jakers457 8 років тому +404

    Strap spandaus to them. Instant victory.

    • @botchamaniajeezus
      @botchamaniajeezus 8 років тому +56

      a weapon to surpass metal gear

    • @ThumpertTheFascistCottontail
      @ThumpertTheFascistCottontail 8 років тому +29

      But what if the enemy armed themselves with crisp packets??

    • @ledichang9708
      @ledichang9708 8 років тому +5

      Carrots and sugar cubes.

    • @RichyArg
      @RichyArg 8 років тому +6

      and stick a few fire arrows up it's bumhole ears and nose, to fuel it's berserk rage

    • @Dnanidref
      @Dnanidref 8 років тому +6

      but pommels work only if you unsrew them, so you have to bring lots of swords

  • @linkofvev
    @linkofvev 7 років тому +606

    The real question is why did we not have cow cavalry?!

    • @modernminded5466
      @modernminded5466 7 років тому +245

      Cowalvy

    • @joshuahadams
      @joshuahadams 6 років тому +70

      Paddy Hugill hell, Bulls have their own handlebars. Stick a saddle and bridle on it, maybe something to extend its horns, and you're good to go.

    • @pyramear5414
      @pyramear5414 6 років тому +77

      Experiments were done by a group called CrazyForCows which tried to use steers as cavalry (a bull would be very difficult to train because of their aggresiveness) with specialty saddles and they found they could only coax them into moving 8 miles per hour. They also take more food than a horse. A horse typically will eat 20 pounds of hay per day, a cow will eat 24 pounds. If you were fielding an army of them, the 20% increased food requirements would be very difficult to manage indeed.

    • @mohandasjung
      @mohandasjung 6 років тому +28

      Paddy Hugill Cows are a meat&milk machine, they are too expensive.

    • @swanbaa
      @swanbaa 6 років тому +24

      Because for some reason mojang doesnt allow us to put saddles on cows in minecracft.More like mojang was a stupid idea am i right?..........haha.......kill me

  • @kristianheinonen9890
    @kristianheinonen9890 3 роки тому +1

    The answer to your stirrup-question is most likely: archery. All cultures using succesful mounted archers tend to stand in the stirrups to compensate for the movement of the horse when aiming.

  • @MetoagaYT
    @MetoagaYT 4 роки тому +8

    Lindybeige: Cavalier are stupid.
    Riders of Rohan: Haha horse charge go brrrrr

  • @soundslave
    @soundslave 8 років тому +99

    Ghengis Khan disagrees a bit Lindy.

    • @LMcAwesome
      @LMcAwesome 8 років тому +14

      Watch the damn video before commenting.

    • @soundslave
      @soundslave 8 років тому +7

      LMcAwesome lol you caught me. I got about 5 minutes in before typing that.

    • @hektor-vektor7024
      @hektor-vektor7024 8 років тому +7

      most ppls attention span doesnt go beyond 5 minutes, couple that with the title your going to get comments like this and rightly so

    • @LMcAwesome
      @LMcAwesome 8 років тому

      AKN Concept Wrongly so.

    • @hektor-vektor7024
      @hektor-vektor7024 8 років тому +7

      LMcAwesome
      hardly, use click bait at own peril

  • @2adamast
    @2adamast 8 років тому +301

    Nice try, but battle is a stupid idea too.

    • @thefracturedbutwhole5475
      @thefracturedbutwhole5475 8 років тому +57

      Battle and War is what has driven progress, the father of the computer was a WW2 decryption expert and engineer . . . it may be stupid, but it is necessary

    • @Troglodytarum
      @Troglodytarum 8 років тому +4

      +The Fractured But Whole I don't think you understood what he was saying.

    • @tomharvey2567
      @tomharvey2567 8 років тому +2

      +The Fractured But Whole Not necessarily, it speeds up the process but a majority of discoveries have been for war, not civilian use.

    • @2adamast
      @2adamast 8 років тому +16

      The Fractured But Whole I was thinking of the personal discomfort and hazards of battle. As for progress, the enigma machine is a pre war effort, like the Spitfire, the DC3, the hollow charge, the radar, etc.

    • @thefracturedbutwhole5475
      @thefracturedbutwhole5475 8 років тому +5

      Tom Harvey you may want to look into the subject . . . War is the mother of progress both military and civilian

  • @evertondossantos5202
    @evertondossantos5202 Рік тому +1

    Any day, an influencer will say in the internet " the wheel was a stupid idea"...

  • @oldsteve4291
    @oldsteve4291 3 роки тому

    The stirrup allows the rider to gallop with their arse elevated above the saddle and allowing the knees to work as suspension. With the Celtic saddle, the faster the horse moves the more the rider is bounced up and down.

  • @joshuahadams
    @joshuahadams 6 років тому +227

    I suppose it's like the dude who decided to have cheese or yogurt for the first time. It seemed nuts at the time, but eventually worked out.

  • @joluoto
    @joluoto 8 років тому +71

    Probably why chariots were used waay before they did the cavalry thing.

    • @ragimundvonwallat8961
      @ragimundvonwallat8961 8 років тому +24

      i think at first they just used roller blades...but you can only figth on pavement lol

  • @JerryEricsson
    @JerryEricsson 3 роки тому

    I grew up on a farm. Dad took in some horses for a fellow who lived in town but needed a place to keep his horses so they could ride on weekends. We were allowed to "exercise" the horses as much as we wanted (My 2 sisters and I) however they never left the saddles out on the place, so we rode them bare back. They did leave the halters and bridles out on the place so we had control of the horses, but we actually got quite good at riding bare back. The times when I got to ride a saddled horse were memorable, it was sort of like the difference of riding in the back of a deuce and a half truck or the front seat of a Jeep over the same stretch of desert.

  • @strakhovandrri
    @strakhovandrri 3 роки тому +2

    7:54 I love how the camera tries to stabilise his movements.

  • @typorad
    @typorad 8 років тому +106

    Drinking milk from a cow was a stupid idea... until it wasn't. Humans couldn't always digest milk.

    • @Mrjohnnymoo1
      @Mrjohnnymoo1 8 років тому +1

      Who do you think was the brave man that tried to go grab a 1300-2000lb beast? Also, why don't we drink milk from any other animals? (Hardly anyone drinks goats milk, and I don't know of any other animal we drink milk from.)

    • @mrswan7745
      @mrswan7745 8 років тому +50

      +Mrjohnnymoo1 Uhh, lots and lots and lots of people drink goats milk.
      Ever heard of this place called "Not North America"?

    • @Mrjohnnymoo1
      @Mrjohnnymoo1 8 років тому +1

      Jaxon Duin I personally grew up with goats, and cannot stand goats milk, or cheese. I was saying is there any animals other than cows and goats that people drink milk from. Granted in the U.S people don't drink it, I acknowledged people still drink it :)

    • @evm7272
      @evm7272 8 років тому +3

      +Mrjohnnymoo1 The biggest reason for people not drinking goats milk (excluding south america) is due to its expensive nature. Goats dont produce much milk, and it is therefore in short supply. I personally love goat milk products

    • @Mrjohnnymoo1
      @Mrjohnnymoo1 8 років тому

      Evin M I don't think I have met a person in America that enjoy's goat products. Although, I don't know where you are.

  • @ShadowReaper-pu2hx
    @ShadowReaper-pu2hx 5 років тому +193

    I think they rode horses (properly) before they fought with them.

    • @alessiodebonis2710
      @alessiodebonis2710 5 років тому +13

      yeah, that's too basic for him tp admit

    • @nh6900
      @nh6900 5 років тому

      i dont think you understand horses.

    • @burgerkiller4438
      @burgerkiller4438 5 років тому +1

      That's what he said in the video

    • @alessiodebonis2710
      @alessiodebonis2710 4 роки тому +1

      I heared PHD mentioning saddles were used few thousands years before cristianity. which make sense because saddles were not so hard to build if you think about it

    • @alessiodebonis2710
      @alessiodebonis2710 4 роки тому +1

      ua-cam.com/video/aeWs9fqLbec/v-deo.html

  • @manumof699
    @manumof699 3 роки тому

    I'm curious how macedonian cavalry (alexander's) rode into Battle without a roman saddle or a styrrup. Does anybody know?

  • @glynluff2595
    @glynluff2595 3 роки тому +2

    A horse! A horse! Half my kingdom for a horse- then I can run away! Apologies to the late Richard III found recently under a car park. He fell off his horse and lost his crown.

  • @tulud
    @tulud 8 років тому +103

    'Cavalry is a stupid idea'
    you wanna tell that to the huns or the mongols?

    • @SnowHawkX
      @SnowHawkX 8 років тому +139

      Watch the video before you post stupid comments.

    • @germanvisitor2
      @germanvisitor2 8 років тому +4

      The huns usually rode to battle and dismounted for combat.

    • @GeneralZaroDj
      @GeneralZaroDj 8 років тому +5

      do you understand the passage of time... when where the huns around lol, 3000 BC?

    • @PerfectDeath4
      @PerfectDeath4 8 років тому +8

      The video hints about how early cavalry was not some brilliant idea because no one had established or known about better tactics and equipment for it. Saying, "lul, the huns and mongols made it work." is complete hind sight, especially since Lindy is talking about cavalry tactics PRIOR to the huns and mongols! xD
      For another bit of hind sight, Napoleon commented about how stupid of an idea it was to put a steam engine into a wooden ship.

    • @apothneisko
      @apothneisko 8 років тому +6

      Cavalry is a stupid idea accept for wait for it......the Mongols

  • @deepsouthredneck1
    @deepsouthredneck1 8 років тому +200

    I want a 4 pommeled horse.

    • @RyanRyzzo
      @RyanRyzzo 8 років тому +83

      That's some serious firepower once you unscrew 'em.

    • @gabreshaa8234
      @gabreshaa8234 8 років тому +9

      that's a bit of an overkill don't you think?

    • @realCevra
      @realCevra 8 років тому +13

      easily beats a spandau

    • @deepsouthredneck1
      @deepsouthredneck1 8 років тому +20

      A 4 pommeled horse with spandaus for legs and brens for eyes.

    • @wesleycaine7832
      @wesleycaine7832 8 років тому +8

      But where is the katana?!

  • @daviddick815
    @daviddick815 4 роки тому

    I've heard that stirrups allow you to lean into a thrust more, and direct a pole-arm, lance or spear around. As well, being able to "stand" on them can help with articulation, just watch anybody on a bicycle. You could also cup or armor the stirrups and maybe even kick with them. Great show!

  • @blasterofmuppets4754
    @blasterofmuppets4754 3 роки тому +1

    That maneuver with the horned saddle you described seems to only work when you are in good physical condition. Riding with a stirrup is maybe just easier to learn.

  • @luispt77
    @luispt77 8 років тому +355

    Amazing how many idiots are here in the comment section. Lindy is not saying using cavalry has been a stupid ideia in recent history (mongols, medieval,etc).
    He is talking about thousands of years ago, when horses were a very different animal to what they are today. In those early days when we domesticated them it sure looked like a stupid idea to ride one straight into a bulk of enemies.

    • @dinoman6123
      @dinoman6123 8 років тому +6

      anddd then its click bait.

    • @dinoman6123
      @dinoman6123 8 років тому

      yea like 1300s

    • @thefurrybastard1964
      @thefurrybastard1964 7 років тому +2

      He makes a great point. Butall through this video, I had the image of Yosemite Sam yelling, "Woah Horse!"

    • @RoninDave
      @RoninDave 7 років тому +7

      +Reasonably Sane medieval is relatively recent history compared to 5000 years ago or more when horses were first domesticated

    • @RoninDave
      @RoninDave 7 років тому +4

      ***** no it didn't - check a history book it ended about 500-600 years or so ago and we're speaking in relative terms. We are closer to the Middle Ages than we are 5-6000 years ago when the horses were first domesticated and what lindy was talking about through most of the video.

  • @MisterDonPatch
    @MisterDonPatch 8 років тому +187

    "Lindy, you idiot! I don't need to watch your video to know that you're wrong. Here's a list of everyone who used calvary in history so I can prove that I am an unsung genius and history expert."
    He's not arguing that the cavalry is ineffective, he's saying that the idea of riding a skiddish and unpredictable animal into battle is ridiculous. It's comparable to the grade-school jokes about the man who first discovered cows milk: it is a stupid idea to grab random saggy bits under an animal and drink the discharge, but it turned out okay.

    • @JayOFae
      @JayOFae 8 років тому +7

      Or more that certain inventions and selective breeding were required before horses were suitable for riding to battle.

    • @MisterDonPatch
      @MisterDonPatch 8 років тому +1

      Jason Fee
      Oh, absolutely. That would be a more correct explanation.

    • @Nerdarchy
      @Nerdarchy 7 років тому +4

      Yeah, but on the plus side, all of the comments from the pre-watching the video-armchair historians are beneficial to Lindy's video being seen in the first place (not that he needs that much help). Inflammatory isn't always bad on UA-cam and I'm glad to hear his well-researched thoughts on the matter!

    • @StoutProper
      @StoutProper 7 років тому +3

      Clinegg I wonder how long it took them to work out which discharging dangly bits from a horse were the ones that turned out okay

    • @treyriver5676
      @treyriver5676 7 років тому

      well except that it worked.

  • @joaosabino2909
    @joaosabino2909 3 роки тому

    The horse distracted the infantry man, trying to get the horse down, while the ridder got the infantry man...

  • @ramenseie2481
    @ramenseie2481 3 роки тому +2

    Genghis Khan: Throat Singing noises.

  • @bv-dh9kx
    @bv-dh9kx 5 років тому +154

    3:28 trained horses dont get spooked as easily. cavalry horses were trained to crash into thing. ex shield walls

    • @AlexanderRM1000
      @AlexanderRM1000 4 роки тому +33

      The title is mostly for clickbait but the point he's making is about wild horses. This is why it took a couple *thousand* years after domestication for horses to be used just for pulling chariots and even longer for horse-riding warriors to become prominent.

    • @somezsaltz6835
      @somezsaltz6835 4 роки тому +1

      Bruh waaaat

    • @AlexanderRM1000
      @AlexanderRM1000 4 роки тому +16

      Also while trained warhorses might be willing to charge into a shield wall, charging one into solid infantry is a good way to find yourself on a dead horse falling towards a line of hostile soldiers. Well disciplined infantry were incredibly difficult for cavalry to attack in most periods- the main tactic of cavalry is to charge at a formation hoping they'll either break and run or at least get disorganized enough to loosen up so cavalry can run through the middle of them, and if the infantry don't loosen they turn away at the last moment. What made them so powerful is that infantry needed to not only resist the urge to break and run in the face of a giant horse barreling at you, but also resist the urge to leave formation and chase after the enemy when they appeared to be running.

    • @SplendidFellow
      @SplendidFellow 4 роки тому +4

      Watch the whole video mate

  • @thomasmillin2155
    @thomasmillin2155 8 років тому +89

    What about lions? That'd be cool, lions

    • @magiguy102
      @magiguy102 8 років тому +2

      Lions would probably be more effective to just unleash. They don't move particularly smoothly (in terms of sitting atop one), I doubt they could carry the weight of a person and still be badass, and the whole point of having a lion would be that it could bite and swipe at your enemies, which would be hard to stay on the back of during combat.

    • @Ms10000123
      @Ms10000123 8 років тому

      To big and aggressive for domestication, and a build unsuited for riding.

    • @wicho2103
      @wicho2103 8 років тому +1

      +Charlie Bronson it's a big cat and cats are jerks, you can domesticate them but I feel they are not 100% safe as dogs (best friend ever)

    • @Ms10000123
      @Ms10000123 8 років тому +2

      ***** Even with dogs, their 'loyalty' is mainly pack mentality. They see you as the leader, so the follow you. I think big cats are too strong, and thus will easily take that leadership role.

    • @q1w2e3621
      @q1w2e3621 8 років тому +1

      +RS420 XI626s +

  • @robertschill2686
    @robertschill2686 3 роки тому +1

    The references to "cavalry" in Homer may have been references to dragoons. That is, soldiers who traveled on horseback but fought on foot. Swords, shields, and camping equipment were very heavy back then. Far too heavy for a man to carry on a long march. While cavalry needed especially aggressive horses to charge into battle, any old plow horse could carry your gear.

  • @jimmifoulkes9072
    @jimmifoulkes9072 4 роки тому +1

    I've done a bit of horse-combat (just a bit, I've never owned a horse), and I think stirrups are (marginally) more helpful than saddle-pommels, because they allow you to compensate for the vertical motion of the horse, using your legs like birds use their neck. This is SUUUUPER helpful for archery, but also makes aiming a spear or sword easier (you generally wouldn't do this with a couched lance, though)

  • @lukebrazier3845
    @lukebrazier3845 7 років тому +42

    I see your point, but cavalry win me battles in Mount and Blade Warband...

  • @Tomartyr
    @Tomartyr 8 років тому +81

    'probably China' the standard answer for where everything was invented probably.

    • @smygskytt1712
      @smygskytt1712 8 років тому +40

      +Cowsrthebest
      They are now manufactured there instead.

    • @isaacvasquez4743
      @isaacvasquez4743 8 років тому +11

      +Cowsrthebest All the modern inventions are from Japan, and built by China, and sent back for repairs by everyone else.

    • @G96Saber
      @G96Saber 8 років тому +7

      Ironically China are traditionally really, really awful at horse-based warfare. They were smashed so many times back steppe peoples - where the horse was probably domesticated.

    • @isaacvasquez4743
      @isaacvasquez4743 8 років тому +1

      ***** I was making a joke based on the fact that a lot of things are invented in Japan, I wasn't being serious.

    • @danb4900
      @danb4900 8 років тому +9

      Oh flight and space travel was invented in Japan too.
      In fact the only reason why japan is so advanced is trade with the western powers where japan learned 300 years of technology in just 30 years.

  • @christophkauf4579
    @christophkauf4579 4 роки тому +2

    Brave Warrior 800BC: "Look how brave I am! I tamed this creature and ride into battle on his back while towering over all other warriors! Look at me!"

  • @johnqpublic2718
    @johnqpublic2718 4 роки тому +2

    In my experience, and I have a substantial amount with quarter horses, they have the same temperament as female housecats.