Guest spartacus Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Just how effective where the use of Chariots in Battle ? They were useless if you took out a horse, but if they penetrated into the lines, especially the ones with blades fitted to the wheels they would have been lethal ! Any thoughts on this ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Scanderbeg Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Ah, Chariots. Chariots were useful until about the time people started getting better at riding horses. They were awkward, not nearly as mobile and were very difficult to use. The ground inwhich the chariots rode on had to be nearly perfectly leveled. If there were too much obstructions they were prone to breakdown(the wheels). Darius III the night before the Battle of Guagamela is said to have told his soldiers to take off all obstructions from the field so the his chariots were not put to waste. In Britain they were popular with the celts as cavalry up there was too small to ride. Horses never grew past ponies. They were powerful however but against an enemy as mobile as the Romans it was useless. The Romans simply moved out the way. Antiochus III had a large army of scythed chariots(the one with spikes) he used at the battle of Magnesia. They proved ineffected though. They were simply too big too move good. Making a simple turn was troublesome. It was abandonned later but was used later by enemies such as the Vandals where they used them to protect their villagers at the Battle of Andrianople. It was still used within the ROman world however, just not for battles, more for show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest spartacus Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 So you would agree that they were mostly ineffective ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Scanderbeg Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Yes after cavalry took the field it was rendered useless. Too bulky for a fight. In the Romance of the three kingdoms there was a battle described that involved heavily armoured charioteers. They were almost impenetrable. The battle was won when cavalry lured the chariots on top a high top of a mountain. The cavalry quickly moved out of the way but because the chariots were not nearly as able to steer they flew right off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest spartacus Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 The same could be said for the use of elephants ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Scanderbeg Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Yea elaphants often proved more trouble then they were worth. More than not they did more damage to the army they were supposed to be protecting(Magnesia, Zama, Ilipa, Hydaspes etc.) They were also hard to breed. Not exactly European animals. They were at their best in their home territory. Not to mentiona big trouble to carry, hard on the money as they required a LOT of food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest spartacus Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 I believe they were quite effective one time, against Alexander ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Scanderbeg Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 I beliee the battle you are thinking is the Battle of the River Hydaspes. They were extremely numerous(200) but in they end they were frightened by Alexander's cavalry and turned on their own army. Quite a battle that was too! 100 of the Elaphants were killed and 80 were capured by Alex to begin his conquest of the west. Obviously we know that never happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest spartacus Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Chuck Heston handled a 4 horse chariot - brave fellow ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Scanderbeg Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Who is Chuck Heston if I may ask? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest spartacus Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 You mean you never seen the movie - Ben Hur ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Scanderbeg Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Ohhh, Charleston heston. I never heard his name short before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest spartacus Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 He is the one whom read the 10 commandments ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 You can discuss movies in the media forum. Please keep the History forum about actual events Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeke Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 but yeah...Chariots in Rome wern't use very much cause as Skenderburg said they were clunky and not very effective, I mean you can't really turn one when you are charging at an enemy and you can let is pass through you lines, lol Zeke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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