Sassanian plate from Northern Wei tomb

 Salvete omnes,

the month of January is coming to its end today. It has been a very cold month in our Northern Hemisphere. 

King hunting wild boar

perusing the Wiki Commons archives I came across this Sassanian metal plate found in the Northern Wei tomb. Which gives me a chance to share some very fine photos of the Northern Wei tomb art showing their horses, warriors, horse musicians, hunting and their heavy cavalry on caparisoned horses. 

You can listen to the Chinese History podcast to learn more about the Northern Wei ( in the comfort of your own surroundings)- an interview with prof. Scott Pearce , author of the book on the Northern Wei.  

Northern Wei fresco - detailed images of horse archers, dogs, and prey animals

Model of the Northern Wei tomb

Northern Wei fresco 

. all these Bactrian camel sculptures come from the Northern Wei tombs - long distance travel, trade and influence  across the Central Asian lands were the essential parts of the Northern Wei state.

.
Nota bene, the story of Mulan (Hua Mulan) 

seems to have come  from this period (preserved in the writings of Song Dynasty), hence some researchers say that she was not really a Han Chinese but a  warrior from the northern China Sinicized (assimilated into the Han Chinese culture etc) nomadic northern peoples. 

enjoy

Valete

Justianian military and wars in books and podcasts 2025

 Salvete Omnes,

Mount Nebo mosaic 

The end of the year is near and there have been some books and podcasts about the military history of the emperor Justinian I. I still have an old book by Roy Boss  Justinian's War - Belisarius, Narses and the Reconquest of the West (1993) from Montvert Publishing.

Podcasts I have listened to within last month or so: 

Historians Adrian Goldsworthy and Geoffrey Greatrex talk about the Justinian I and his commander Belisarius 

and the historian Procopius (his translated books are available on Archive). 

riders without stirrups with long lances - Mount Nebo 

and here Adrian Goldsworthy is talking about the 'The Army that Retook Rome.'

* Osprey Military Publishing just released a book - Armies of Justinian the Great, AD 527-65 - by Raffale D'Amato.
I have not read yet this publication (rahter tiny 48 pages), but I have seen some plates from the book - illustrations done by Catalin Draghici and Giorgio Albertini. 

* Another publisher form UK, Helion Company, published a large (300 pages)  book, - Birth of the Byzantine Army 476-661 CE (sic!). Vol 1. Illustrations by Renato Dalmaso. 

I have not seen this book, but appears rather interesting 

Valete

Falconry and hunting in Codex Manesse

 Salvete Omnes,

Leuthold von Seven - famous minnesanger of the XIII century

 

Easter came and Easter went, so back to bloggin' -
    today I am going for a little entry - horses, riders, damsels, hawks, hounds, deer and boars in Codex Manesse  - beautiful manuscript from Medieval Holy Roman Empire aka Medieval Germanies. Today the manuscript is held presently at the Heidelberg University Library.

Falconry in Northern Germany - 600AD-1100AD - Academia article . 

Falconry by emperor Frederick II - a short .pdf from American Falconry.

Valete

Favila de Asturias' Last Kiss

 Salvete,

 

The occasion seems apt - the Valetnine's Day - so let us look at this XII century Spanish art showing king Favila de Asturias (son of king Don Pelayo and the 2nd king of the Kingdom of Asturias) and his wife Foiluba.
The Christian Reconquista (reconquest) of the Iberian peninsula from the Moorish occupation started with these Visigothic Asturian dynasts, with the legendary battle of Cavadonga, 722AD.  

From his capital Cangas de Onis Don Favila ruled but for two years, and in 739 was killed by a bear while hunting. He was burried

At the defunct monastery of San Pedro de Villaneuva (presently a parador aka hotel) there is Romansque art showing this Asturian king and his, in the spirit of Valetine's Day, beloved wife.

and there is a capitel carving  showing the royal couple in their last farewell

 and another capital sculpture showing hunters (XII century attire etc) hunting lions? or bears?

King was buried inside the small church he had founded - the  Santa Cruz de Gangas de Onis, and where he wife was also buried with him. but this temple   was destroyed and rebuilt twice (in 1632 and during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, when local Republicans? or Communists? destroyed the building to show the ancient dolmen that had been an integral part of the Christian temple) in its history, . But no trace of the  earthy remains of these royals can be found nowadays. 

 

enjoy your Valentine's Day

Valete

Hunting Spear - in chase and war I

 Salvete Omnes,

I am to devote more than several posts to the hunting spear, this ancient and very particular shafted weapon that for hundreds of years was used for hunting and war. Known as  'boar spear' 9or the  heavier version as boar spear) or as the French called it l'epieu, or the Slavic hunters rohatyna/Рогатина, Germans called it Saufeder/Bärenspieß, Italians chiavarina? (lancia di cinghiale) etc.
Hunting was done with a spear on foot or on horseback - nota bene there are videos on Yt showing a successful wild pig hunt with a bow & arrows on horseback (no saddle nor stirrups) from the US of A.
Caveat*
The illustrated material is rather graphic - so you are against hunting and against seeing images of hunt and war (albeit in traditional painting, textile or engraving etc) , then please do not continue perusing further down this page -
***

Valete