The techniques of cavalry spear battles of Kazakhs nomads of the 17 - mid-19 centuries

Complex analysis of archaeological, graphic, written and folkloric records helped the author to reconstruct the main techniques used in cavalry spear battles by Central Asian nomads of the 17 - mid-19 centuries. Earlier only heavy-armoured warriors were supplied with pikes. As it was clarified, during this period Oiratic and Mongolian military leaders started to deliver pikes to light-armoured archers. Later Kazakh and Kirghiz leaders did the same. This resulted in the appearance of the new type of cavalry - light-armoured pike men. As the significance of close combats increased, the design of traditional spears changed. Long pikes (up to 3-5 m) with a narrow faceted blade became the most popular variety. They could be efficiently used to fight with both light and heavy armoured warriors.The Kazakhs preserved the most advanced techniques of spear battles used by steppe warriors of earlier times, but they also introduced a number of significant changes. Wide use of armour by Central Asian nomads in the 17 - early 18 centuries resulted in the popularity of ram attacks. Such attacks were performed by holding a pike with one or two hands and keeping its pole under the armpit. The second part of the 18 century witnessed the gradual exclusion of armours from nomadic military practice, thus resulting in the spread of free technique of holding a pike with one hand and the development of fencing with a pole. Spear battles of nomads in the 17 - 18 centuries significantly influenced on the evolution of military science of Russian Kazakhs who continued to use and improve pike techniques throughout the whole 19 century.

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