The horse archer was the basic tactical unit of the Mongol army, and the use of mounted archers gave the Mongols a decisive advantage over most of their enemies. The horse archer was equipped with a recurved composite bow, a short sword, a lance, and a lasso, and he was trained to shoot accurately from horseback at a full gallop. The horse archer was, in effect, a one-man army, and the Mongol army was composed of tens of thousands of these skilled warriors.
The horse archer was the central feature of Mongol military tactics, and the Mongol horse was, in effect, a second weapon. The Mongol horse was a small, hardy breed that was capable of sustained travel and that could survive on minimal food and water. The Mongols used multiple horses for each warrior — typically three or four — and the system of remounts allowed the Mongol army to travel and fight at speeds that were unmatched by any of their enemies.
The Recurved Composite Bow
The basic weapon of the horse archer was the recurved composite bow, a small but powerful bow that could shoot accurately at distances of 100–200 metres — effective combat range was about 100 m, but the bow could reach 200 m under good conditions. The bow was made of layers of wood, horn, and sinew, glued together and wrapped in birch bark. The bow was held in a leather case when not in use, and the warrior carried a quiver of arrows, with three different types of arrows for different purposes.
The recurved composite bow was a sophisticated weapon that was the result of centuries of development on the steppe. The bow was capable of shooting arrows with great force and accuracy, and it was particularly effective at long range. The bow was also relatively small and easy to handle, and it could be used effectively from horseback, even at a full gallop. The bow was, in effect, the perfect weapon for the horse archer, and it was one of the keys to the success of the Mongol military.
The Training of the Horse Archer
The training of the horse archer began in childhood, and it was a central feature of Mongol life. Boys learned to ride before they could walk, and they learned to shoot soon after. The training was rigorous, and the boys were expected to master the techniques of horseback riding, archery, and warfare. The training was also practical, and the boys were expected to participate in the hunts and games that were a central feature of Mongol life.
The most important of the training exercises was the nerge, the great annual hunt in which the entire army was mobilized to surround and kill a large herd of game. The nerge served as both a training exercise and a source of food, and it was a major feature of the Mongol military tradition. The nerge taught the warriors to coordinate their actions, to follow orders, and to use the tactics that they would later use on the battlefield.
The training of the horse archer also included instruction in the use of the sword, the lance, and the lasso. The sword was a single-handed weapon used for close combat; the lance was a long pole weapon used for thrusting; the lasso was a rope used for capturing horses and enemies. The combination of weapons gave the horse archer a versatility that was unmatched by most of his enemies, and it was one of the keys to the success of the Mongol military.
The Tactics of the Horse Archer
The tactics of the horse archer were based on speed, mobility, and deception. The horse archer was trained to shoot and move, to shoot from a variety of positions, and to use the terrain to his advantage. The horse archer was also trained to work with his unit, to follow the orders of his commander, and to use the signals and communication systems of the Mongol army.
The most famous of the horse archer tactics was the feigned retreat, in which the Mongols pretended to flee, drawing the enemy into a pursuit, and then turned and counterattacked. The tactic was particularly effective against heavy cavalry, which was not as maneuverable as the Mongol horse, and it was one of the keys to the success of the Mongol campaigns in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
The horse archer was also trained to use a wide variety of other tactics, including the envelopment, the hammer and anvil, the ambush, and the raid. The combination of tactics gave the Mongol army a versatility that was unmatched by most of its enemies, and it was one of the keys to the success of the Mongol military.
The Carac
The basic tactical unit of the horse archers was the carac, a unit of five archers. The carac was composed of a mix of experienced and inexperienced warriors, and it was the smallest unit of the Mongol army. The carac was used for a variety of purposes, including scouting, raiding, and skirmishing. The carac was also the basic unit of the nerge, the great annual hunt.
The carac was a flexible and effective tactical unit, and it was the model for the other units of the Mongol army. The carac could operate independently, or it could be combined with other caracs to form larger units. The carac was, in effect, the building block of the Mongol army, and it was one of the keys to the success of the Mongol military.
The Legacy of the Horse Archer
The horse archer was one of the most effective military units in the history of the world, and the Mongol horse archer was the most effective of all. The horse archer was a model of military efficiency, and the combination of weapons, training, and tactics gave the Mongols a decisive advantage over most of their enemies. The horse archer was, in effect, the prototype of the modern combined-arms warrior, and it has been studied by military commanders for centuries.
The legacy of the horse archer is also visible in the modern world. The horse archer was the model for the cavalry of the Ottoman Empire, the Mamluk Sultanate, and the Russian Empire, all of which adopted elements of the Mongol horse archer tradition. The horse archer was also the model for the modern cavalry, which inherited the emphasis on speed, mobility, and marksmanship that was characteristic of the Mongol horse archer.
Sources
- Timothy May, The Mongol Art of War (Barnsley: Pen & Sword, 2007), ch. 3.
- David Morgan, The Mongols (2nd ed., Oxford: Blackwell, 2007), ch. 2.
- Stephen R. Turnbull, Mongol Warrior 1200–1350 (Oxford: Osprey, 2003).
- George Cameron Stone, A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in All Countries and in All Times (New York: Jack Brussel, 1934; repr. Mineola: Dover, 1999) — the standard reference for the construction of the composite bow.