Hobelar

The Hobelar was a mounted spearman, using their horse to travel to the battlefield, but unlike the man at arms always fighting on foot. They appear in English armies in the early fourteenth century as part of an attempt to deal with the mobility of Scottish raider, particularly after Bannockburn (1314), although originated in Ireland, where they remained important long after disappearing in England. They played a part in the victory of Boroughbridge, where Sir Andrew Harcley defeated the rebels of Thomas of Lancaster using a force of hobelars, dismounted men at arms and archers.In the mid 1340s, landowners with lands worth £10 per year were expected to provide one hobelar, compared to £25 per year for a knight. During the reign of Edward III, they slowly faded out of English armies, to be replaced by the mounted archer.
How to cite this article: Rickard, J. (11 February 2001), Hobelar, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_hobelar.html

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