Table of Contents
Was Byzantine armor effective?
The Byzantine lamellar was uniquely constructed by using round-top metal lamellae against a leather base, making it very resistant to most weapons and a very effective piece of body armour. However, being quite expensive to produce, the lamellar was largely limited to rich and elite units of the Byzantine cavalry.
What strategy did the Byzantines use to stop invasions?
The Byzantine general was to immediately collect a force of cavalry from the nearest themes and to shadow the invading Saracen army. Such a force might have been too small to seriously challenge the invaders but it would deter detachments of plunderers from breaking away from the main army.
Which group effectively conquered the Byzantine Empire resulting in its end?
the Ottoman Empire
‘Conquest of Istanbul’) was the capture of the Byzantine Empire’s capital by the Ottoman Empire. The city fell on 29 May 1453, the culmination of a 53-day siege which had begun on 6 April 1453.
What substance did the Byzantines employ successfully in naval warfare?
The rebels assembled a fleet of 200 ships which, despite some initial successes, were destroyed by admiral Marinus, who employed a sulphur-based incendiary substance to defeat them.
What was the role of the cataphract in the Byzantine Empire?
Byzantine cataphracts of the 10th century were drawn from the ranks of the middle-class landowners through the theme system, providing the Byzantine Empire with a motivated and professional force that could support its own wartime expenditures.
What is a cataphract in ancient Rome?
Roman chroniclers and historians Arrian, Aelian and Asclepiodotus use the term “cataphract” in their military treatises to describe any type of cavalry with either partial or full horse and rider armor. The Byzantine historian Leo Diaconis calls them πανσιδήρους ἱππότας ( pansidearoos ippotas ), which would translate as “fully iron-clad knights”.
Why did the Byzantines turn to theme cavalry?
Although they continued to make effective use of both shock and missile infantry, the Byzantines turned to theme cavalry.
What weapons did cataphracts use?
The primary weapon of practically all cataphract forces throughout history was the lance. Cataphract lances (known in Greek as a Kontos (“oar”) or in Latin as a Contus) appeared much like the Hellenistic armies’ sarissae used by the famed Greek phalanxes as an anti-cavalry weapon.