arbogast a écrit:
C'est peut être décrit dans les textes carolingiens... mais nous reconstituons l'armée romaine au Ve siècle de notre ère... soit 3 siècles avant. Je suis sûr qu'il y a des persistances mais tout de même...
A ceci près que les tactiques mérovingiennes et (dans une moindre mesure) carolingiennes sont des héritières directes de celles de l'armée romaine tardive. En l'occurrence, entre Arrien, Agathias, Végèce et Nithard, soit à peu près réparti sur 8 siècles, on retrouve des descriptions très proches de cette fameuse retraite feinte. Et c'est Arrien qui écrit (désolé, je n'ai le texte qu'en anglais) :
Arrien, Tactica, 37 :
Between the right wing of the formation and the forward position of the two horsemen, the cavalry charges out unexpectedly, riding out in front from their own formation, and throw javelins at those riding past. But as they wheel round to the left they ride past showing their unprotected side. It is here that good horsemanship is especially required, so as to be able simultaneously to throw a javelin at those riding past and to use the shield to protect the right side. When the cavalryman rides parallel to the target he must swivel to the right in order to throw the javelin. And in making a complete about-turn, he must perform what is called the
petrinos in the Gallic language, which is the most difficult of all. For he must turn right round, as far as the tender nature of his sides will allow, to face the horse's tail in order to throw backwards as accurately as possible. When he has done this, he has to turn quickly forward again and bring his shield to cover his back, since if he turns without his protection, he will expose his unprotected back to the enemy.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/13901224/gree ... ry-writers