The Evolution of War 1 – Cavalry Battle

From now on, we will look at the equipment used during cavalry battles. Not only Korea, but also China and many European countries fought against the nomads of the north, so they needed units of skilled riders in their armies.

Unlike the tribes inhabiting the highlands of Central Asia and Siberia, Korean people who lived on the plains of the south seldom rode horses as they had settled down and begun farming. Thus the Gaya only developed cavalry tactics during the 4th century.

Although Gaya began to use cavalry at a later date, Gaya people developed various kinds of harnesses using their knowledge of ironwork. The iron plate on your left is a piece of armor designed for a horse. If horses were protected on the battlefield, their riders were also afforded a greater degree of safety.

Especially during the late 5th century, horse harnesses with elaborate decorations were common to dishearten the enemy and to improve the morale of home troops in battle. The horseback flagpole in the middle was designed to be laid across a horse’s back, allowing both hands of the cavalryman to remain free. An elaborate saddle on the left was designed for the same reason.