Demi-lancer

The demi-lancer or demilancer was a type of heavy cavalryman in Western Europe during the 16th and early 17th centuries. "Demi-lancer" was a term used in 16th-century military parlance, especially in England, to designate cavalrymen mounted on unarmoured horses, armed with a slightly lighter version of the heavy lance of a man-at-arms and wearing three-quarter or half-armour, in contrast to the full plate armour of the man-at-arms or gendarme, who rode barded mounts. The cuirass (torso armour) and pauldrons (shoulder protection) of the demi-lancer were intended to be at least pistol proof. An open-faced helmet, such as the burgonet, was often worn in place of the fully-enclosed close helmet. Armour for the leg and foot was replaced by long cuff-topped riding boots. In addition to the lance, the demi-lancer would have been armed with one or two wheellock or snaphance pistols carried in saddle holsters, and a sword (including Walloon swords and rapiers.) Demi-lancers were representative of the early modern trend of reducing the coverage of armour, while increasing its thickness to provide protection for the vital areas against the projectiles of gunpowder-based firearms of the time, such as the arquebus and, later, the musket. This abbreviated armour was also meant to increase the mobility of the men and horses, as well as reducing the expense of equipping and maintaining them throughout a long campaign. In common with other 16th-century cavalrymen, demi-lancers were frequently used to strike the enemy's flank and to pursue routing troops. Demi-lancers were prominent in the English troops who fought in the Dutch War of Independence, and were mobilised as part of the defences of England against the invasion threat posed by the Spanish Armada. In all 2,711 demi-lancers were raised in England in 1588, the year of the Armada. The English demi-lancers were raised using the "Trained Band" system, and from the feudal levy on nobles and ecclesiastics.