in my kingdom.” The western façade features a rose window above three exquisitely
carved Flamboyant porches, which recall those at Saint-Maclou in Rouen. A bell tower,
attached to the south side, is capped by an unusual three-tiered octagonal spire that recalls
the papal tiara. The triple nave (185 feet by 72 feet), with three-story elevation of arcades,
triforium, and clerestory windows, is typically Flamboyant. Notre-Dame preserves a
magnificent ensemble of 15th-and 16th-century stained glass, including windows devoted
to John the Baptist, Our Lady, and SS.Michael, Catherine, and George. There also
survive impressive late-medieval statues in wood and stone.
William W.Kibler/William W.Clark
Steinke, William A. “The Flamboyant Gothic Church of Caudebec-en-Caux: A Neglected
Masterpiece of French Medieval Architecture.” Diss. New York University, 1982.
CAVALRY
. Military units on horseback are often seen as the supremely characteristic form of
medieval warfare. Glorified in chivalric literature, the image is one of medieval armies
composed primarily of knights engaged in mounted shock combat and of medieval wars
won by these cavalry forces. Until the 12th century, however, mounted shock combat was
impossible. Throughout the Middle Ages, fighting on foot and sieges against
fortifications dominated warfare, with the horsemen playing only a subsidiary role.
Although the Franks were excellent horsemen, and Merovingian armies had many
cavalry units, drawn not only from among the Franks but also from the remnant of
Roman forces as well as from other Germanic peoples, most of the wars of this period
centered on the taking and holding of fortified sites, both cities and castra. The decisive
military forces thus were the engineers and footmen who weakened and stormed the
defensive works, with horsemen playing virtually no role in this sort of fighting.
Moreover, even in battles in the open field, cavalry was usually ineffective against well-
trained and disciplined foot soldiers in prepared defenses. The role of the cavalry was
usually limited to areas where its mobility was helpful: in reconnaissance, patrol duty,
prevention of encirclement, feigned retreats to draw the enemy from its lines, flank
attacks, and pursuit. While aristocrats reveled in hunting on horseback and received
careful training in horsemanship, they usually dismounted and fought on foot throughout
the Merovingian, Carolingian, and post-Carolingian periods.
The development of mounted shock combat was delayed until the 12th century, when
technology finally permitted it. The stirrup, introduced in western Europe by ca. 700, was
not used in warfare until the 10th century. In the 12th century, cantles to keep the
horseman from being pushed off the rear of the saddle were introduced, along with high,
wraparound pommels to protect his groin and abdomen and double girths to hold the
saddle firmly on the horse. At last, a horseman with lance clutched firmly to his side
could make a charge at full speed with a reasonable hope of success and survival.
Steven Fanning
[See also: ARMOR AND WEAPONS; COURTRAI; HUNDRED YEARS’ WAR;
WARFARE]
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