Emma Herbert-Davies
I was awarded a PhD from the Institute for Medieval Studies at the University of Leeds in June 2024. My thesis is titled 'Warhorses Under Edward I and Edward II: 1272-1327' and explores the warhorse trade in the Middle Ages, the breeding of warhorses, their training, and their lived experiences on campaigns. I come from an equestrian background, having evented, hunted, raced and shown horses for many decades.
I am an experienced palaeographer with a specialism in 13th- and 14th-century manuscripts. I am also a tutor of Latin and have taught research methods, historical skills, and the Middle Ages to undergraduate students.
Outside of my medieval horse research, my other interest is numismatics, a subject that I was introduced to via a Laidlaw Research Scholarship at the University of Leeds. I identified and catalogued over 3000 ancient coins dating from Ancient Greece to the Renaissance, and curated an exhibition of the coins.
Supervisors: Dr Alan Murray and Dr Karen Watts
I am an experienced palaeographer with a specialism in 13th- and 14th-century manuscripts. I am also a tutor of Latin and have taught research methods, historical skills, and the Middle Ages to undergraduate students.
Outside of my medieval horse research, my other interest is numismatics, a subject that I was introduced to via a Laidlaw Research Scholarship at the University of Leeds. I identified and catalogued over 3000 ancient coins dating from Ancient Greece to the Renaissance, and curated an exhibition of the coins.
Supervisors: Dr Alan Murray and Dr Karen Watts
less
InterestsView All (12)
Uploads
Drafts
Conference Presentations
Papers
against arrow shot, and to assess the circumstances in which such armour might play a useful role. Since the
protection given by mail is largely dependent on the thickness of the underlying padding, a preliminary step was
to estimate the maximum thickness of padding that could be worn by the horse during cavalry operations.
Experimental tests were then conducted by shooting arrows with reproduction medieval bodkin points at
reproduction mail over various thicknesses of woven linen fabric.
It was concluded that it would not be feasible to attain complete protection against arrows by mail armour and
linen padding while remaining within the carrying capacity of horses for day-long operations. The fully-armoured
medieval warhorse would probably have had a very limited role. The combined effect of weight and thermal
loading meant that it could only perform effectively for relatively short periods. In engagements where remounts
might be at hand, such as battles and tournaments, this was not a problem. However, for chevauchée type
operations, which were likely to be carried out further afield and required sustained periods of speed and
endurance, it would have proved counterproductive
Books
Thesis Chapters
against arrow shot, and to assess the circumstances in which such armour might play a useful role. Since the
protection given by mail is largely dependent on the thickness of the underlying padding, a preliminary step was
to estimate the maximum thickness of padding that could be worn by the horse during cavalry operations.
Experimental tests were then conducted by shooting arrows with reproduction medieval bodkin points at
reproduction mail over various thicknesses of woven linen fabric.
It was concluded that it would not be feasible to attain complete protection against arrows by mail armour and
linen padding while remaining within the carrying capacity of horses for day-long operations. The fully-armoured
medieval warhorse would probably have had a very limited role. The combined effect of weight and thermal
loading meant that it could only perform effectively for relatively short periods. In engagements where remounts
might be at hand, such as battles and tournaments, this was not a problem. However, for chevauchée type
operations, which were likely to be carried out further afield and required sustained periods of speed and
endurance, it would have proved counterproductive