War and Military Atlas

How Battles Were Fought
Strategy and Doctrine

Frankish Heavy Cavalry Charge

Medieval, Kingdom of Jerusalem

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The Frankish heavy cavalry charge was the Crusader states' core battlefield tactic: an armored charge of couched-lance knights delivered as one concentrated shock against a single point of the enemy line. A typical Crusader army built its whole order of battle, infantry archers and turcopole light horse, around protecting the knights until the charge could be unleashed.

Facts
Core Claim
Screen and protect the knightly charge with infantry and light cavalry until it can be launched as one concentrated shock against a single point of the enemy line. 1
Origin Year
1099 1
Dated to the kingdom's own founding rather than to one battle; the tactic itself has no single point of invention in the sources consulted.
Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Military history of the Crusader states
WikipediaCrusader armies section
Quote, Crusader armies section
A typical Crusader army consisted a core of heavy cavalry (knights) in chainmail wielding lances and swords. These were backed by a much more numerous body of infantry armed with bows and spears.
View the Source
1. Wikipedia: Military history of the Crusader states
WikipediaAssociated With: Army of the Kingdom of JerusalemView the Source
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