Page 66 - All About History - Issue 08-14

Wrath of the Khans

Mongol horsemen BORN TO FIGHT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

In Mongol society, all men between
Each warrior was responsible for his
the ages of 16 and 60 who were own food and equipment and had
physically fit to fight were warriors. at least three reserve horses. By
The army created by Genghis Khan following Genghis – including his
was almost exclusively made up of grandson Kublai – did not significantly Some 60% of the Mongol cavalry was constantly changing their mount, they
light and 40% heavy, although they travelled enormous distances in a very
cavalrymen divided into heavy change the structure of the Mongolian
and light cavalry. Its power lay in horsemen. Although Kublai Khan was complemented each other tactically, short time.
combining the shock power of the
its mobility, the effectiveness of its involved in fewer battles than his
specifically created tactics and that predecessors he did use the famous latter with the rain of arrows of the INSIGNIA
former. The riders were so skilled with
it was a highly qualified army for horsemen in his invasions of Japan, The Black Standard or Khar
the type of war it fought. The rulers Burma and Vietnam. the bow and arrow that they could Sulde. Made from horsehair,
load and fire while at a gallop with
almost infallible precision. it was only used for war.
Helmet Bow
When in combat the The long bow carried by
traditional wool hat was Mongolian troops could
replaced for a helmet of shoot more than 300 SHOOTING AN ARROW
leather or iron. metres (980 feet). Each bow, depending on its use and
characteristics, has a distinct way of
firing. The Mongols had their own
technique for firing arrows…
Armour
Under leather armour was a
thick silk shirt which helped to
The pinch Mongol
reduce the impact of an arrow.

Mediterranean
The arrow is held with the
gripped with the index
digit, pulls the cord. The
index finger, without using
the fingertip. The cord is
index and ring fingers
finger and thumb. The
strengthen the grip around
pulled using the middle The end of the arrow is The thumb, the strongest
cord is pulled using the
and ring fingers. middle and ring fingers. the back and the thumb.
Sabre Extra protection
Instead of swords, sabres Leather shoulder pads
were carried which were and wrist guards added an
curved, short and light: a extra level of protection.
deadly cavalry weapon.
Horses
They usually belonged to
the Przewalski’s sub-group
and were small, strong, fast
and hardy.

Quiver
Two quivers were
carried which generally
contained at least 60
arrows of varying types.

Stirrups
These were short, which
enabled them to be more
secure and so provide a better
shot for the horseman.
Shield
Mongolian warriors often went
without a shield and if they
did carry one it was made of
wicker and wrapped in leather.

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