German Dismounted Knights

[Wallachian]

Historians tell us that at the battle of Sempach in 1386 the Austrian heavy mounted knights dismounted their horses and used their cavalry lances as infantry against the Swiss.

Here is a portrayal of this battle


My question is: was this a common tactic for the German knights? To dismount and use their cavalry lances as an infantry weapon? Or was this a rare or even once off occurence?

[hellheaven1987]

Dismounted knights were ridiculous common during Middle Age in all periods, not just in Germany.

[Wallachian]

You misunderstood my question. I am aware that dismounted knights were common. My question was if it was common for dismounted knights to use their cavalry lances as an infantry weapons? As in the above picture.

[Roma_Victrix]

You misunderstood my question. I am aware that dismounted knights were common. My question was if it was common for dismounted knights to use their cavalry lances as an infantry weapons? As in the above picture.

It most certainly had to be a rare occurrence for knights to dismount en masse and coordinate an infantry attack using cavalry lances essentially as pikes. The only reason the Austrians dismounted from their horses in the first place was because the given terrain at Sempach was deemed unsuitable for a cavalry attack against the Swiss. If the terrain had been different they most likely would not have dismounted at all. And yes, dismounted knights were common, but not while wielding long cavalry lances that were used primarily for mounted shock tactics.

[Blatta Optima Maxima]

Cavalry lances were simply long, heavy spears until the latter half of the 15th century. So obviously they could be used on foot.