One of other myths that the battle of Dreux refutes is an idea that "reiters" were inefficient. They were a very versatile and cost effective unit that served multiple uses on the battlefield. Here's why...
https://twitter.com/LandsknechtPike/status/1472590042958909441
Just like with many other gunpowder military units of the era people focus too much on the quality of guns alone. While it's true that guns were still inaccurate and in the case of reiters had to be fired from close range ("so that enemy blood spills over you" was the advice)...
The reiters were nonetheless able to harass enemy infantry lines and force the enemy infantry to be at defensive. It's true that they could get shot back at by arquebusiers, but in turn they could charge at unprotected units outside of pike square like regular cavalry.
The reiters could use a "caracole" tactic where they would ride in a circle in front of enemy pike squares and fire one by one to provide continuous fire and pressure. They could also engage with enemy cavalry in cavalry melees, and provide back up for their own heavy cavalry.
I think a lot of poor reputation of reiters comes from the battle of Klushino where they lost to Polish hussars while serving as mercenaries for the Russians. But the hussars were a really bad match up for them in a direct fight, and the tactics in the east were different.
The reiters served really well in West European pike and shot era warfare as they were able to combine the threat and mobility that the heavy cavalry used to provide with modern gunpowder fire, and could soften up the enemy pikemen lines.
You can see how this cavalry combination of reiters and heavy cavalry worked well at Dreux. They were pretty much the only useful offensive troops that the Huguenots had, and they almost beat the much larger French Catholic army.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
