Can you really use a two-handed melee weapon in mounted combat?

[Dannyalcatraz]

Passing strikes would be most common, where the rider was merely holding/controlling the weapon, letting the force of his mount's movement impart force into the blow.

However, a skilled horseman would be able to control his steed with his legs and verbal commands, freeing both hands.

Think of a more modern figure- the cowboy or vaquero with a lasso- 2 hands required to use THAT- and the infamous Mongolian mounted bowmen who did similar things.

That kind of skill would release the warrior to do a few more things with his hands.

 

[billd91]

There's nothing in the RAW preventing it (except for a note under the longbow, specifically). But I personally can't imagine it making much sense for most weapons that are used with a cleaving or swinging motion. Thrusting, like with a yari (spear), makes more sense in general.
Bows are clearly a case of two-handed use, but as missile weapon, the awkwardness of swinging or cleaving with it doesn't really apply.

 

[Someone]

I´ve seen a lot of medieval pictures showing mounted fighters using weapons two handed, but the best are from the Maciejowsky bible, 1250 AD. Some examples from the book:

Notice here the guy using the lance two handed.

this one is good. Notice the guy with the strange two handed... sword? falchion?

Here there are not any weapon wielded two handed, but it´s interesting nonetheless because of the variety of weapons shown at the left. Most used weapon is still the sword, however.

Another example here; a knight using a mace two handed, and another knight with a greataxe.

 

[Someone]

Now that I have some more time, one more battle scene from the same source, with more mounted knights with weapons wielded in two hands here. Also, a mention to the persian, sassanid, goth or palmyrian (and other) cataphracts that fought with the kontos, a large lance that was used two handed.

 

[Storyteller01]

Now that I have some more time, one more battle scene from the same source, with more mounted knights with weapons wielded in two hands here. Also, a mention to the persian, sassanid, goth or palmyrian (and other) cataphracts that fought with the kontos, a large lance that was used two handed.

Excellent! Thanks for the pics. It looks like the majority of the attacks are aimed at other riders. Did the source have any notation/technical writing about weapon use?

PS: I'm stealing yout last pic for another thread.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Now that I have some more time, one more battle scene from the same source, with more mounted knights with weapons wielded in two hands here.

Who is wielding weapons in two hands in this pik?

 

[Storyteller01]

Who is wielding weapons in two hands in this pik?

From the lance user, go right. Gentleman with a red helmet is wielding an axe two hnded.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Something I found out visiting the armories of Europe: Historically speaking- a 2 handed weapon wielder was a pretty rare bird, on foot or mounted. With the exception of polearms, most of what we think of as 2 handed weapons of war were actually weapons of execution or even presentation/display weapons, never intended for combat.

Still there are reports of heavy flails, maces, axes and swords being used from horseback.

You might be able to find more info searching at http://www.thearma.org/

 

[Hussar]

It also bears mentioning that early katanas called Tachi were mounted two handed swords. Much longer grip than the "typical" katana, but, still a sword.

 

[Sanguinemetaldawn]

Some of us discussing using a lance as a one handed/two handed weapon. Thing is, I can't think of any RL examples of a two handed melee weapon being used regularly on horse back (besides the lance, but that has special dispensations ). I can think of the bow, but nothing for hand-to-hand.

Since my knowledge of mounted combat is extremely limited, can anyone on Enworld think of such a weapon?

I am surprised no one has mentioned this yet...

There is a weapon nomenclature:

Footman's Flail...Horseman's Flail
Footman's Mace...Horseman's Mace
...and so on.

The difference was a footman's weapon was a two handed version of the one handed horseman's weapon.

The typical use of hands when mounted was on-hand: weapon, off-hand: shield & reins.

There were probably some weapons that were "bastard" weapons, usable with either one or two hands, but it seems like that would be the reasonable extent of such things.