Crossbow on Horseback

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 3:04 am

In general, I have always said that the crossbow was not used on horseback because of the difficulty of loading it braced against the rider's feet. Another problem is that the quarrel would quickly drop off the stock.

But from time to time I see evidence to the contrary and here is an example. These, toy sized models were made in the Eastern Han period and come from Sichuan. I think that they are showing riders from the Qiang Kingdom (proto Tibetans) who were powerful at that time. (Note the hair bound at the neck in a net on the rear view.

A nother horse toy which I bought with the first shows that the horses were not saddled but were ridden with a pad. This allows the crossbowman to sit side-saddle while he is loading.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 9:34 pm

On later crossbows in the Middle East, they used a hook on the stock to attach to the stirrup while drawing. When the Chinese introduced rope loops on the stock to stand on while drawing the bow, they could have easily transfered the technique to horseback use. I have seen the loops in Ming books. I do not know when they were invented.

serindia · Post by **serindia** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:46 pm

Stephen Selby wrote:In general, I have always said that the crossbow was not used on horseback because of the difficulty of loading it braced against the rider's feet. Another problem is that the quarrel would quickly drop off the stock.

But from time to time I see evidence to the contrary and here is an example. These, toy sized models were made in the Eastern Han period and come from Sichuan. I think that they are showing riders from the Qiang Kingdom (proto Tibetans) who were powerful at that time. (Note the hair bound at the neck in a net on the rear view.

A nother horse toy which I bought with the first shows that the horses were not saddled but were ridden with a pad. This allows the crossbowman to sit side-saddle while he is loading.

Dear Mr. Selby,

This is LI Tao. Please forgive me didn't contact with you for a long time. I'm quite busy to study and live in Napoli.

Well, I found the evidence of the horse crossbow in "the Chapter of Han Yanshou, Han Shu". It mentions that Han cavalries used crossbows on the horseback to defend Xiong-nu nomads.

Well, I will prepare the final thesis now. The title is the Research of the Standard Arms of the Single Soldier along the Silk Road from 4 c. B.C to A.D 3 c. I would like to invite you to be one of my academic advicors, if you are interested about this topic.

Let's keep in touch

Best Wishes

Yours
LI Tao

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Tel/Fax: 0039 081 574 5029
Mobile: 0039 320 9125 111
Address:
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Napoli, Italia.

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:32 am

Delighted to help if I can. Are you coming through Hong Kong any time?

S

serindia · Post by **serindia** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:42 pm

Stephen Selby wrote:Delighted to help if I can. Are you coming through Hong Kong any time?

S

Thank you for your kindness. I'm not sure whether I could pass by Hong Kong, when I will go back next time. You know, my Chinese ID card belongs to Xi'an. But I would like to think and discuss with my italian mentor- Prof. GENITO, if it is possible I invite you to Napoli on 2009, as the member of the academic comunity of my final thesis conference. Of course, I would like to pay for your air ticket.

Furthermore, yesterday, my Chinese mentor- Prof. WANG Jianxin said that if I could invite other experts to be my academic advicors, he will be very happy. I also contacted with Prof. YANG Hong yesterday. He also would like to help me, as well as direct the theroy and method. He also said that he misses you, and thank you to invite him to Hong Kong last time. However, he said he is old man, even doesn't know how to use email. So please forgive him not to contact with you for a long time. He hopes to meet you again sometime.

Alewar · Post by **Alewar** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:23 pm

Hello,
Im late to say a word about this subject, but I have just seen it today, and registered today! Im doing a research about archery in my country Spain, mainly in muslim Spain - Al-Andalus - period (711 aC - 1492 aC) which interests me the most. I have found evidence in texts of the use of crossbow on horseback (besides of the bow) during this time. I attach also an image taken from a miniature from La Alhambra that represents a crossbow on horseback.
I havent finished yet my research yet... theres a lot of work to do!

Hyarmendacil · Post by **Hyarmendacil** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:25 am

Well, if we don't restrict ourselves to Asian subjects, then the Germans made extensive employment of mounted crossbowmen, particularly in the 14th an 15th centuries. Their crossbows seem to have had some sort of system for keeping the bolt in place once the weapon was loaded--I'll try to go and find a picture of it, just in case it might remind the experts here about this or that mysterious feature in an Asian crossbow.

Of course, these mounted crossbowmen were not exactly used like horse archers. The accounts of their behavior in battle suggest that they usually loosed only one shot before either moving to the rear to reload or joining the heavier horsemen in the charge. I wonder how applicable these tactics would be to their Asian equivalents?

(And, BTW, what about the possibility that the mounted Chinese crossbowmen were actually mounted infantry? Any opinions on that?)

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 1:00 pm

European gentry were used to hunting on horseback with crossbows using a cranequin to draw the bow. A cranequin is a geared device with a handle something like a jack. But its high cost prevented its use by soldiers. The bolt was held in place by a small leaf spring attached in back of the lock and reaching over it pressing down on the bolt. This crowwbow could be fired in any position.

Crossbow on Horseback

Crossbow on Horseback

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