396 CHAPTER 8
by the proportions of the mounted warrior,38 which is equal to the length of
the Byzantine ‘kontos’.39 However, this type of lance was not only known in
Byzantium but also in Inner Asia where it was represented on petroglyphs,40
and its use by the Turks is attested by Chinese written sources.41
Similar representations are known in the Middle East during the Parthian
and Sassanian periods.42 The use of the lance is connected to the heavy
armoured cavalry (cataphractarii and clibanarii), which was well known
in Europe from the Late Roman period, and it was an important unit of the
Byzantine army of the 7th century as well.43 The Late Roman name for the
lance was the ‘contus’ (or ‘kontos’ in Greek),44 though Maurice used the term
‘kontarion’ even for the lances of the Avars,45 which were equipped with small
straps and a flag according to his description.46
In all of the known representations lances were held in two hands support-
ing them from below and they were positioned either parallel with the body
of the horse or was placed on the neck of the horse, from where it could be
used against both mounted or infantry enemy.47 The stirrup was not neces-
sary for its use, since the Late Roman or Sasanian heavy armoured cavalry also
did not use stirrups, though this artefact could enhence the effectivity of the
lance’s use.
The heavy cavalry had very limited ability in maneuvering, and consequently
it could only be used effectively in a closed formation, and was used to enact a
decisive attack during a battle after confusing the enemy with arrows.48 István
Bóna estimated the number of Avar heavy armoured cavalry to be between
1,000 and 3,000,49 though these units would have composed only a small pro-
portion of the Avar army.
38 von Freeden 1991, 622; Maurice II 6, 11 (Dennis – Gamillscheg 1981, 123).
39 For the 5–6 m long spear-shafts see Kolias (1988, 192).
40 Khudjakov 1986, 166–167.
41 According to the Zhou-shu: ‘Als Waffen besaßen sie Bogen, Pfeile, heulende Pfeilspitzen,
Panzerjacken, lange Reiterspieße und Schwerter; als Gürtelschmuck trugen sie auch Dolche.’
(Liu Mau-Tsai 1958, 9).
42 Gall 1990.
43 Mielczarek 1993; Khazanov 1968, 180–191.
44 Von Gall 1990, 76; Mielczarek 1993, 41–50; Kolias 1988, 191.
45 Kolias 1988, 191.
46 Maurice I. 2, 18. In: Dennis – Gamillscheg 1981, 79.
47 Mielczarek 1993, 44–45.
48 Mielczarek 1993.
49 Bóna 1984a, 321.