Where is Aeglos?

[davem]

"Now his wrath (Gwindor's, that is) was kindled to madness, and he leapt forth on horseback, and many riders with him: and they pursued the heralds and slew them, and drove deep on into the host."

-The Silmarillion, Chapter 20

Seems to imply a cavalry charge - specifically the classic 'wedge', as they 'drove deep' into the enemy. But does it? Possibly the reason they managed to 'drive deep' was not that they had trained cavalry but that the enemy simply weren't expecting Elves to charge into them on horseback at all - they didn't know how to respond, & just ran away. An army that expects cavalry to be used by their opponents usually has plans in place to deal with it.

Another thing to take into account is that cavalry have to be trained - its not just a matter of sticking a bunch of guys on horseback & sending them charging off in the general direction of the enemy. You also need plenty of horses & fodder. Aristocratic Elves had horses as we've seen, but we don't know if they fought on horseback - Fingolfin rode to Angband to challenge Morgoth, but he dismounted & fought him on foot, & generally we hear of Elven armies 'marching up' to battle. Its as much a matter of what means the Elves had to hand (how many horses did they have access to?) & what tactics they had developed. Finally, you can't ignore the Elves 'embalming' tendencies & that generally speaking innovation was anathema to them. If traditionally they had fought on foot then there's very little likelihood that they would decide to try something new.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Originally Posted by davem

Seems to imply a cavalry charge - specifically the classic 'wedge', as they 'drove deep' into the enemy. But does it? Possibly the reason they managed to 'drive deep' was not that they had trained cavalry but that the enemy simply weren't expecting Elves to charge into them on horseback at all - they didn't know how to respond, & just ran away. An army that expects cavalry to be used by their opponents usually has plans in place to deal with it.

Another thing to take into account is that cavalry have to be trained - its not just a matter of sticking a bunch of guys on horseback & sending them charging off in the general direction of the enemy. You also need plenty of horses & fodder. Aristocratic Elves had horses as we've seen, but we don't know if they fought on horseback - Fingolfin rode to Angband to challenge Morgoth, but he dismounted & fought him on foot, & generally we hear of Elven armies 'marching up' to battle. Its as much a matter of what means the Elves had to hand (how many horses did they have access to?) & what tactics they had developed. Finally, you can't ignore the Elves 'embalming' tendencies & that generally speaking innovation was anathema to them. If traditionally they had fought on foot then there's very little likelihood that they would decide to try something new.

I find this discussion very facinating and want to chip in my self, but should we not make a seperate thread for this subject of horseback ridding?

[Mithalwen]

Tolkien said - I think in one of the letters - in response to someone querying Glorfindel's use of a saddle that a trick cyclist could ride a normal bicycle.

Having ridden a lot in my youth, I have to say that while I am sure that Legolas had no need of the saddle and rein, and that an elf is a less cumbersome burden than any human to a horse, itmust be much more comfortable for both parties to use a well fitting saddle especially if any baggage or equipment is to be carried. While Glorfindel no doubt travelled light and needed little more than a waterbottle, flask of miruvor, lembas and a hoof pick ..these are still more conveniently carried in a saddlebag.

I always think it must have been a bit of a nuisance for the riders to get lumbered with an extra saddle but at least Legolas had the excuse of Gimli.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Fingon maintained a force of mounted archers, the ones who drove the half-grown Glaurung back to Angband. Of course, that doesn't address the saddle question, since some Native Americans, especially the Comanche, were superb bareback archers.

[davem]

There are a couple of mentions of 'cavalry' in the Sil:

Fingolfin and Fingon his son held Hithlum, and the most part of Fingolfin's folk dwelt in Mithrim about the shores of the great lake; to Fingon was assigned Dor-lomin, that lay to the west of the Mountains of Mithrim. But their chief fortress was at Eithel Sirion in the east of Ered Wethrin, whence they kept watch upon Ard-galen; and their cavalry rode upon that plain even to the shadow of Thangorodrim, for from few their horses had increased swiftly, and the grass of Ard-galen was rich and green. Of those horses many of the sires came from Valinor, and they were given to Fingolfin by Maedhros in atonement of his losses, for they had been carried by ship to Losgar.

Between the arms of Gelion was the ward of Maglor, and here in one place the hills failed altogether; there it was that the Orcs came into East Beleriand before the Third Battle. Therefore the Noldor held strength of cavalry in the plains at that place; and the people of Caranthir fortified the mountains to the east of Maglor's Gap

So, there was 'cavalry', but are we talking heavy cavalry, with heavily armoured 'knights' replete with lances, or light cavalry used for skirmishing & hit & run raids? And was this cavalry a major part of their fighting force?