RE: Byzantines in space..was Re: X to GZG conversions...

>Kataphractos is an alternate name for	Klibanophoros, the lesser
>armoured cavalry were called Cavallaroi. The Pelstatoi term was
probably
>used for skirmishers and not line infantry.
<snip>
>David Best
>

	No! Kataphractos is any cavalry, but light skirmishing cavalry,
which was
all (technically) meant to have armour. Kavallaroi is a term used from
12th
century on. The Klibanophoros were created by Nikephoros II about 965.
They
were meant to be the revival of the old Roman Cataphractoi, ie Heavily
armoured men riding heavily armoured horses. The fact that Nikephoros
used
a name that in old Persian refered to a somewhat lighter cavarly type
(man
with breastplate and helmet, horse only partial armour at best) is
rather
ironic. As for the Peltastoi it is rather hard to work out what they
were
actually doing. Traditionally they have been thought of as light
infantry
but no military manual of the time deals with them. It is quite possible
that they were used as line infantry but equipped with javelins as they
had
no archers in their units as the Skutatoi did. To me, as contemporaries
were complaining about how few people practiced archery (Brits will
understand), this is the most likely explaination. :)
	It's nice to know that someone out there has the same interest
in history
but I think we'd better go to private mail.

	Tony.
	"Dues Nobiscum!"
	"Kyrie Elesion!"
	twilko@ozemail.com.au