The Irruption of the Stirrup in the Roman Cavalry of Late Antiquity and its Tactical Application During the Reign of the Emperor Heraclius (610-641 AD). An Historiographical Approach

Authors

  • Luis Alfredo De la Peña Investigador independiente

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22380/2422118X.2093

Keywords:

tactical innovation, military history, late antiquity, byzantine empire, cavalry, stirrup

Abstract

Tactical innovation has been one of the fundamental engines of war change and development as an activity throughout history. These changes have sealed the fate of empires and entire nations, as well as have made the difference between life and death for thousands of combatants. The objective of this article is to analyze, through historiography, the tactical importance of the use of the stirrup for the forces on horseback of the Eastern Roman Empire, and how the appropriation and application of this element established a tactical advantage against its contenders for the domination of the Middle East during the century VII A. D. Without leaving behind the importance that the stirrup has had from its massification during the wars between Romans and Sassanids to our context, where wars were fought and countries became independent fighting on horseback with or without stirrups.

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Author Biography

Luis Alfredo De la Peña, Investigador independiente

Historiador de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Bogotá. Máster en Historia Militar de las guerras contemporáneas de la Universidad Jaume I en Castellón, España; Máster en Historia Comparada de la Central European University en Budapest, Hungría.

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Published

2020-09-01

How to Cite

De la Peña, Luis Alfredo. 2020. “The Irruption of the Stirrup in the Roman Cavalry of Late Antiquity and Its Tactical Application During the Reign of the Emperor Heraclius (610-641 AD). An Historiographical Approach”. Artificios. Revista Colombiana De Estudiantes De Historia 17 (September):31-46. https://doi.org/10.22380/2422118X.2093.

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