Feudal English: Muntator vs. Hobilar
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 10:48 pm
OK, I've only looked at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobelar
"More recently, however, this view has been challenged by Robert Jones, who believes that the ancestor of the hobelar was a form of second class cavalryman called a muntator. These soldiers originated in the Anglo-Welsh armies which invaded Ireland in the 12th century. Jones accepts, however, that the hobelar diverged from the Anglo-Welsh muntator during the 13th century, with the hobelar becoming lighter armed, perhaps for economic reasons. The hobelar is thus still seen as a response to military conditions in Ireland, rather than elsewhere."
It seems that muntatores were second class cavalry (Bad Cavalry), and that hobilars were light cavalry (Javelin Cavalry). I see from the DBM army list that hobilars are a downgrade from munatores, but otherwise it seems that the troop types in Triumph are reversed. Why would Edward I recruit hobilars for the Scottish wars (and on the continent) if they were worse than Anglo-Welsh muntatores?
"More recently, however, this view has been challenged by Robert Jones, who believes that the ancestor of the hobelar was a form of second class cavalryman called a muntator. These soldiers originated in the Anglo-Welsh armies which invaded Ireland in the 12th century. Jones accepts, however, that the hobelar diverged from the Anglo-Welsh muntator during the 13th century, with the hobelar becoming lighter armed, perhaps for economic reasons. The hobelar is thus still seen as a response to military conditions in Ireland, rather than elsewhere."
It seems that muntatores were second class cavalry (Bad Cavalry), and that hobilars were light cavalry (Javelin Cavalry). I see from the DBM army list that hobilars are a downgrade from munatores, but otherwise it seems that the troop types in Triumph are reversed. Why would Edward I recruit hobilars for the Scottish wars (and on the continent) if they were worse than Anglo-Welsh muntatores?