D

estrier.  A warhorse and valuable. It was ridden into battle and at tourneys but was not used for general riding purposes. Its name is supposed to come from the idea that either it led from the right hoof when galloping down a tiltyard run and turning, or that it was led from the right. There has been debate. Generally a destrier was a stallion, although I don't doubt that there some geldings and mares among the mix. The size of a destrier in the period I write about (late 11th to 13th centuries) was around fifteen hands high. This is according to equine historian Ann Hyland. It would look something like a modern Welsh Cob or quarter horse, or Frisian, or the Villanos type of Spanish Andalusian. The idea was to have a strong, stocky animal that was lively in movement, could live on poor rations if it had to, and that was capable of short, sharp bursts of speed - the shock charge i.e. it had to have the same straits as a good steer roping horse today and be strong enough to bear the weight of a mounted, mail-clad knight without sagging in the middle. Historian Matthew Bennet has also compared the destrier of this period with the stronger types of Morgan Horse. Cart horses they certainly weren't, as Medieval illustrations prove. You quite often come across destriers as gifts in the pipe rolls of the period, where they are referred to by the macho sounding Latin title of Equo or Equus. In 1208 Henry de Fontibus gave King John a Lombard destrier as a gift in order that he might take the daughter of Henry FitzHervey to wife. (The great roll of the Pipe for the tenth year of King John.)

Reprinted with special permission from

Elizabeth Chadwick.

Please visit her website to read the entire article:  http://livingthehistoryelizabethchadwick.blogspot.com/

2009/02/horses-for-courses.html

 

 

 

Elizabeth writes of William Marshal

& his war horse, Blancart…

 

Soon after his knighting, William was involved in fighting the French in Normandy, at Drincourt, where he acquitted himself well, but lost his new warhorse when it was killed under him. Although he fought out of his skin during the battle, he was not street wise and neglected to take ransoms or prizes from the men he downed. Thus at the debriefing, he found himself mocked for his impoverishment, even while being voted the most doughty fighter.

 

William learned swiftly from this encounter and from that day forth set out to win ransom prizes at every tourney and battle he attended. He obtained another warhorse from his lord, although initially there was a problem.  The new animal was unrideable because it had something wrong with its mouth and whenever the bridle pulled on that part, it went wild. William thought about this and adjusted the bridle so that it would not hurt the horse and from that moment, found himself with a very fine destrier indeed. We even know that this horse was called Blancart – which suggests it was of a white colour. The incident itself, reveals that William knew horses well and was intelligent enough to think things through for himself.

Reprinted with special permission from

Elizabeth Chadwick.

Please visit her website to read the entire article:

 http://www.elizabethchadwick.com/Marshals/

william_marshal-p1.html

war_horse_pic

Knight and his war horse

 

Elizabeth Chadwick lives near Nottingham with her husband and two sons. She is the author of 18 historical novels, with The Greatest Knight, The Unsung Story of the Queen’s Champion being her latest release in the US.  Please go to www.elizabethchadwick.com to view Elizabeth’s complete list of books.

 

Editor's note: All unlined words and/or phrases will send you to a link for more information.

 

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