![\"hastings-l-1\"](\"http:\/\/www.sallyharrison.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/hastings-l-1.jpg\" "\\"hastings-l-1\\"")
Stirrups. We take them for granted. But\u00a01,000 years ago they brought about an important change in mounted warfare.\u00a0\u00a0Many historians even credit them for the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.<\/p>\nStirrups. We take them for granted. But\u00a01,000 years ago they brought about an important change in mounted warfare.\u00a0\u00a0Many historians even credit them for the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.<\/p>\n
Ancient Western cavalrymen – Assyrian, Persian and Greek – essentially rode bareback (without framed saddles) while wielding their shields and lances. The solid frame saddle developed by Romans to give their cavalrymen greater security, also enabled them to fight more effectively.<\/p>\n
But when stirrups were attached to a saddle, \u00a0the energy of a running horse could be transferred to the weapon being held by its rider – as Harold’s foot soldiers found out as they struggled against the stirrup-equipped Norman cavalry at the Battle of Hastings.<\/p>\n
I was inspired to research this topic a few days ago, after I watched an early episode<\/a>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=fifthlegpublishi&l=ur2&o=1\")