by guest blogger Regan Walker
When I
was doing the research for my new medieval, THE RED WOLF’S PRIZE, set in
England two years after the Norman Conquest, I learned a lot of surprising
things about the horses the Norman knights rode. For example, horses were
not so much distinguished by breed as by use. There were highly trained warhorses
like destriers, strong coursers, smooth-gaited palfreys for lords and ladies, and
general purpose rounceys. Knights did not, for the most part,
ride their warhorses around the countryside, at least not very often. They rode
palfreys, high-status riding horses.
Warhorses—the destrier and coursers—were
reserved for battle. The courser was preferred over the destrier as it was
light, fast, steady and strong—and less expensive. You can get a rough idea of
the warhorses from illustrations of the period, such as the Bayeux Tapestry,
which is actually an embroidery sewn in the 11th century and meant
to depict the events that surrounded the Conquest.
Destriers and coursers were stallions trained
for charging and putting up with the shock of impacts. They had to be
maneuverable, too, but with the strength to bear a knight’s weight in battle. (Though
the chain mail was much lighter in the 11th century than the mail
and plate armor that would come later.)
While the origin of the medieval
warhorse is not clear, it is thought they had some Barb and Arabian blood
through the Spanish Jennet, a forerunner to the modern Friesian and Andalusian
horse. Today, breeds that have similar bloodlines include the Welsh
Cob, the Friesian, the American Quarter Horse, a stocky Morgan and the
Andalusian.
The Spanish-Norman horse, like both the
Percheron and the Andalusian, is predominantly gray in color, and is the horse
Sir Renaud (“the Red Wolf”) rides in THE RED WOLF’S PRIZE. It is known that
William the Conqueror was gifted a Spanish stallion at one point and so it
occurred to me that a favored knight might also receive one as a gift from his
lord.
In addition to palfreys, nobles rode the
general purpose rounceys, but not typically knights, although knights might use
them in a pinch. There were also horses for the hunt and the race that were
fast and had stamina. And there were workhorses (common plough horses), and carthorses
bread for hauling things.
Interestingly,
William the Conqueror shipped horses across the English
Channel when he invaded England in 1066—as many as thousand or more. Unlike the
English, who rode their horses to battle and then dismounted to fight on foot,
the Normans fought on horseback. It is also why they fought using longer swords
than the English. The outcome of the Battle of Hastings has been described as
“the inevitable victory of stirrupped cavalry over helpless infantry.”
When
the battle was over, the knight would leave his warhorse and his helm with his
squire and ride off on a palfrey, a much more manageable horse than his often
mean-spirited warhorse, and one that had a smoother gait making for a better
ride. Hence, the Red Wolf rides his Spanish horse when
going to the Siege of Exeter and the Battle of York, while his squire leads his
destrier.
Ladies
rode the smooth-gaited palfrey, too, often riding either astride or pillion
(sitting sideways and having their horse led by a groom). In THE RED WOLF’S
PRIZE, Lady Serena rides a white palfrey her father had given her.
Here's the blurb for Regan's new historical romance, THE RED WOLF’S PRIZE:
HE WOULD NOT BE DENIED HIS PRIZE
Sir Renaud de Pierrepont, the Norman knight known as the Red Wolf for the beast he slayed with his bare hands, hoped to gain lands with his sword. A year after the Conquest, King William rewards his favored knight with Talisand, the lands of an English thegn slain at Hastings, and orders him to wed Lady Serena, the heiress that goes with them.
SHE WOULD LOVE HIM AGAINST HER WILL
Serena wants nothing to do with the fierce warrior to whom she has been unwillingly given, the knight who may have killed her father. When she learns the Red Wolf is coming to claim her, she dyes her flaxen hair brown and flees, disguised as a servant, determined to one day regain her lands. But her escape goes awry and she is brought back to live among her people, though not unnoticed by the new Norman lord.
Deprived of his promised bride, the Red Wolf turns his attention to the comely servant girl hoping to woo her to his bed. But the wench resists, claiming she hates all Normans.
As the passion between them rises, Serena wonders, can she deny the Norman her body? Or her heart?
To celebrate the release of her new book, Regan is giving away the eBook of The Red Wolf's Prize to one winner. To enter the random drawing, simply enter in the rafflecopter below. It's super easy!
Regan Walker - Author
Bio:
Bestselling author Regan Walker loved
to write stories as a child, particularly those about adventure-loving girls,
but by the time she got to college more serious pursuits took priority. One of
her professors encouraged her to pursue the profession of law, which she did.
Years of serving clients in private practice and several stints in high levels
of government gave her a love of international travel and a feel for the
demands of the “Crown” on its subjects. Hence her romance novels often involve
a demanding sovereign who taps his subjects for “special assignments.” And in each of her novels, there is always real history and
real historic figures.
Regan lives in San Diego with her
golden retriever, Link, whom she says inspires her every day to relax and smell
the roses.
Buy The Red Wolf’s Prize on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wolfs- Prize-Medieval-Warriors-Book- ebook/dp/B00MRF8WVA
Regan’s blog: http://reganromancereview. blogspot.com/
The Red Wolf’s Prize on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ reganwalker123/the-red-wolfs- prize-by-regan-walker/
10 comments:
Hi, Donna! Thanks so much for having me and the Red Wolf on your blog. He is happy to talk about his favorite Spanish stallion.
Wonderful information. Congrats on the release!
Thanks, Alana.
I like reading historical romances because, just as in fantasy, it's fun to be transported to a different world. I know it's just a change in time and place, but I like having a new environment to live in while I'm reading the book. Also, as someone who majored in history in college, I really appreciate well-researched historical stories that I can learn from while I'm reading.
I love historical fiction as well and will for sure check this one out- looks amazing! Currently I am reading a great historical fiction that centers around Thomas Edison, "Inventing Madness" by J.G. Schwartz http://www.inventingmadness.com/. Definitely not for those who are under 18, but a great read... here's a teaser about the book.. Did Thomas Edison fail to reveal his greatest invention? You will have to read the book to find out!
The Red Wolf looks intriguing - I just love historical fiction romances :-). Thanks for recommend as well, Ashley. Sounds like an exciting read!
Hi, Ashley. I do hope you enjoy The Red Wolf's Prize.
Donna, thanks for stopping by. Do let me know what you think of The Red Wolf's Prize. You can always reach me via my website.
You're welcome Donna! Enjoy!
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