Cavalry

The Normans

Horsemanship played a vital role in Norman warcraft: the cavalry was the elite of the Norman army. Their cavalrymen were trained from an early age and were usually organised into groups of ten called conroys. Conroys trained, ate and fought together, and over many years formed close-knit fighting units able to anticipate each other's actions and provide support where necessary. Like Roman auxiliaries, Normans also wore chainmail. Although historically the hauberk was only really a chain shirt, they were more heavily armoured than the Romans and so for this article I have equipped them accordingly.

Norman cavalry units made use of charging tactics. Typically the conroy would divide itself into two ranks of five, allowing knights in the rear rank to take the place of any fallen knights at the front. This could be a dangerous undertaking, what with riding with a spear at full gallop, so the rear rank was positioned far enough behind to allow manoeuvres like this to take place at a minimum risk to the front line. The spear was the traditional weapon of the Norman cavalryman, and they used it in a variety of ways: it could be carried underhand for thrusting or overhand for stabbing and throwing.

The classic example of Norman cavalry in action can be found in the Battle of Hastings, where horsemen proved vital in securing the victory against the Anglo-Saxon defenders, whose forces consisted mainly of infantrymen. More than a quarter of the Norman part of the invading army was mounted, indicating that many of the invading Normans were nobles, knights or at least wealthy. The chief advantage these Normans had over the Saxons was their speed: they could hit and run quickly, and any Saxons that gave chase were drawn away from the shield-wall that constituted the main part of their defence.

Norman Cavalryman, male human War3: CR 2; Medium Humanoid (Human); HD 3d8; hp 13; Init +1 (Dex); Spd 20 ft. (armour); AC 18 (+1 Dex, +5 armour, +2 shield), touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk +4 melee (1d8+1/?3, spear) or +4 melee (1d8+1/19-20, longsword) or +4 ranged (1d8+1/×3, spear); Full Atk +4 melee (1d8+1/?3, spear) or +4 melee (1d8+1/19-20, longsword) or +4 ranged (1d8+1/×3, spear); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; AL N; SV Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +0; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.
     Languages: Norman French.
     Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +7, Intimidate +5, Ride +13; Animal Affinity, Mounted Combat, Skill Focus (Ride).
     Possessions: Spear, longsword, chainmail, heavy wooden shield.

Pony, War: CR 1; Medium Animal; HD 2d8+4; hp 13; Init +1 (Dex); Spd 40 ft.; AC 13 (+1 Dex, +2 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 12; Base Atk +1; Grp +3; Atk +3 melee (1d3+2, hoof); Full Atk +3 melee (1d3+2, 2 hooves); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; SQ Low-light vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +0; Str 15, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 4.
Skills and Feats: Listen +5, Spot +5; Endurance.
Possessions: Military saddle.