| Sassanian Elite Cavalry AD 224-642 (Elite) | 
 enlarge | Author: Kaveh Farrokh
Creator: Angus Mcbride
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $18.95
Buy New: $7.68
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Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 329821
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 64
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 9.6 x 6.9 x 0.2
ISBN: 1841767131
Dewey Decimal Number: 357.0935
EAN: 9781841767130
ASIN: 1841767131
Publication Date: July 13, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The Sassanians ruled the last great imperial Empire of Persia before the Arab conquests of the 7th century. Rome’s only equal in the classical world, the Sassanian Empire had an enormous impact on the development of architecture, mythology, arts, music, military tactics and technology. Within the Sassanian military, the cavalry was the most influential element, and Sassanian cavalry tactics were adopted by the Romans, Arabs, and Turks. Their cavalry systems of weaponry, battle tactics, Tamgas, Medallions, court customs, and costumes influenced Romano-Byzantine and medieval European culture, and this book allows the reader to see how a little-studied eastern power affected the development of cavalry traditions in the western world.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Could have been so much more March 16, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
As an amateur historian with a very strong interest in the Sasanians dating back 20 years I had hoped this book would be an examination of the evidence to dispel many of the myths about the Sasanians that have been purveyed by those too reliant on the usual Graeco-Roman sources (Ammianus, Maurikios, Libanius etc).
I was in fact very disappointed that Dr Farrokh should have chosen to approach the subject in the way he did. The claims that Sasanian chivalry (Asvaran vs the Yeoman Asvadat) directly influenced Western Knighthood via the Byzantine Clibinarii are unsustainable when we can look back to the Hellenistic period and see heavily armoured Kataphractoi using a Kontos (lance). The Sarmatians, another Iranian people have a much better claim to be the inspiration for this form of weapons technology.
In focusing on such things as this claim, and the exotic and 'different' such as the multi-arrow bow, Dr Farrokh missed an opportunity to discuss the evidence in later Arabic writings, such surviving military scraps and other material that contradicts the usual view of undisciplined Persian barbarians who employed mobs of mounted bowmen supported by reluctant peasants. Where was the examination of the material relating to the military inspectors, or the extensive fortifications.
The plates themselves were also a disappointment. The late Angus McBride was an excellent illustrator but these plates were not up to his usual standard, and to describe the book as about Elite Cavalry when the bulk of the plates show royal and non-military subjects was very misleading.
In summary, the author appears to know his subject very well, but has chosen to focus on sensationalised or nationalistic material rather than provide the evidence to support the claims of an effective, disciplined an largely successful arm of service.
 The Persian Knight In All His (and Her) Glory June 3, 2007
19 out of 20 found this review helpful
Dr. Kaveh Farrokh makes an excellent contribution to Osprey's Elite Series with this richly detailed volume on the history and traditions, organization and equipment of Sassanid Persia's elite caste of heavy cavalry, the "Savaran."
Unlike most other writers on this little-studied subject, Farrokh goes beyond referencing the Sassanians' obvious Parthian and Sarmatian influences. Citing original sources and the archeological record, he traces the roots of Iranian heavy cavalry back to Achaemenid times, when that dynasty began adopting the armor technology of their Central Asian Iranian cousins --and onetime foes-- the Massagetae.
It was, however, the Sassanians who made heavy cavalry the focal point of Persian military organization. In turn, these lance-wielding, mail-clad Savaran were a direct influence on their perennial enemies the Romans and their Germanic allies.
Let me conclude by highlighting two things in this book that readers will most likely find quite interesting:
Like other writers, Dr. Farrokh demonstrates the strong case for the foundations of Medieval Europe's knightly ideal --via Late Roman military adaptations and Gothic/Sarmatian interminglings-- in the honor code of the Savaran.
And, as the book's cover hints, Farrokh emphasizes a strong female presence both in the Savaran battle-order and its administration. Dispelling some Western stereotypes of the Iranian Woman, several of the plates by artist Angus McBride depict beautiful warrior-women in combat and ceremonial settings.
Some related titles from Osprey Publishing:
-SHADOWS In The DESERT: ANCIENT PERSIA At WAR (Kaveh Farrokh/Richard Nelson Frye)
-The PERSIAN ARMY 560-330 BC (Nicholas Sekunda)
-ROME'S ENEMIES (3): PARTHIANS And SASSANID PERSIANS (Peter Wilcox)
-MOUNTED ARCHERS Of The STEPPE 600 BC-AD 1300 (Antony Karasulas)
-The SCYTHIANS 700-300 BC (E.V. Cernenko)
-The SARMATIANS 600 BC-AD 450 (Richard Brzezinski/Mariusz Mielczarek)
Savaran April 2, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This title examines the tactics and battle-gear of the savaran knights, the elite noble warriors of the powerful Sassanid Empire, from the Sassanid revolt of the 3rd Century, to their fall to the Muslims in the 7th Century. Horse-archery, the primary strength and skill of the Parthians, declined sharply under the Sassanids, whose armies consisted mostly of poorly-armed spearmen-sappers, Iranian mercenaries, and the savaran. The plates of this book are wonderful, showing accurate images from Sassanid court life, the death of Julian the Apostate in battle at Ctesiphon, and female warriors. Unlike most contemporary peoples, the Sassanids held women in high regards and allowed them to play active roles in war and politics. My only complaint about this book is how, for all the mention made of them in the plates and plate commentary, little else is said of these women warriors.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the military history of the Empire that defied and defeated Rome again and again, and whose culture and military effected that of Europe and the Iranian peoples up until modern times.
A magnificent book January 23, 2007
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book is really an excellent research on the Sassanian cavalry and what they used as weapons. The author uses excellent sources to back up his research. I would really like to recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of Sassanians and their military. One of the strengths of this book is that the author uses primary sources to describe the origins of savaran. The details provided are really interesting and educational. Dr. Farrokh then describes the Sassanian army organization and reforms and goes in detail to explain the background. I really found this information interesting, especifically the tites used. The weapons of savaran are explained in detail as well as cotumes, insignia, and coats of arms. This book also describes the support and auxiliary troops. As well as battle formations.
I would like to recommend this book highly to anyone interested in the history of Iran and would like to thank Dr. Kaveh Farrokh for his detailed research.
A great lecture December 12, 2006
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Well, even if I can't call myself an expert about Sassanians, I've found this book very well made and absolutely matching the reuired good level of the others Osprey's books I own. I've been fashinated about sassanians because of this publication and I'm searching for more, but seems hard material to find.
Recommended.
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