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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mmadsen" data-source="post: 4507965" data-attributes="member: 1645">I think you're making a mistake equating the Polish winged hussars with typical western knights.  First, their heyday was in the early days of gunpowder, when their enemies were musketeers guarded by a smaller number of pikemen (who did not have shields).Second, they were a truly elite unit, literally awesome, with, as you mentioned a special hollowed-out lance that was significantly longer than the pikes they faced.  (They also used an enormous thrusting sword, once their lance broke.  And pistols.)I think you misunderstand the point being made.  No one is claiming that knights are inferior fighters, just that a cavalry charge relies on a break in the formation of the defenders.  This break might already exist, or it might form when the defenders lose heart and begin to flee.And, as you recognize, a charging line of winged hussars should send most troops running.You can't "throw" footmen at mounted knights.  Mounted knights are mobile and only engage when and where they want to -- and a moving formation of infantry has trouble maintaining a perfect "hedge" of spears against cavalry without revealing a gap.The charge is a game of chicken; whoever flinches first loses.  If the pikemen are professional and don't run at the sight of charging knights, they can hold their ground.  If they lose their composure, they get run down.(I found an article on <a href="http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/HowHussarFought.htm" target="_blank">How the Hussars Fought</a>, for anyone interested.)</blockquote>

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