Everything about Destrier totally explained
The
destrier is the most well-known
war horse of the
medieval era. It carried
knights in battles,
tournaments, and
jousts. It was described by contemporary sources as the
Great Horse, due to its size and reputation.
The term
destrier is derived from the
Vulgar Latin dextarius, meaning "right-sided" (the same root as our modern
dexterous and
dexterity). This may refer to the fact that it was led by the
squire at the knight's right side (or led by the right hand) or to the horse's pacing (leading with the right).
While highly prized by knights and men-at-arms, the destrier was actually not very common. Most knights and mounted men-at-arms rode other war horses, such as
coursers and
rounceys. These three types of horses were often referred to generically as
chargers.
Characteristics of the destrier
The word
destrier doesn't refer to a breed, but to a
type of horse: the finest and strongest warhorse. These horses were usually stallions, bred and raised from foalhood specifically for the needs of war.
The destrier was perhaps more suited to the
joust; coursers seem to have been preferred for other types of
warfare. They had powerful hindquarters, able to easily coil and spring to stop, spin, turn or sprint forward. They also had a short back and well-muscled loin, strong bone, and a well-arched neck. From medieval art, the head of the destrier appears to have had a straight or slightly
convex profile, strong, wide jaw, and good width between the eyes.
The destrier was specifically for use in
battle or
tournament; for everyday riding, a knight would use a
palfrey, and his baggage would be carried on a sumpter horse (or
packhorse), or possibly in wagons.
Breeding and size of the destrier
draft types. Recent research undertaken at the
Museum of London, using literary, pictorial and archeological sources, suggests war horses (including destriers) averaged 14-15
hands, and were distinguished from a riding horse by their strength, musculature and training, rather than their size. This estimate is supported by an analysis of medieval
horse armour located in the
Royal Armouries, which indicates the equipment was originally worn by horses of 15 to 16 hands, about the size and build of a modern
field hunter or ordinary riding horse.
It is probable that the modern
Percheron draft breed may be a descendant in part from the Destrier, though it's probably taller and heavier than the medieval horse. Other draft breeds such as the
Shire claim destrier ancestry, though proof is less certain.
Equestrian statues in
Italy suggest a "Spanish" style of horse that today would be referred to as a
Baroque horse, such as the
Andalusian horse,
Friesian horse, or even a heavy but agile
warmblood breed such as the
Irish Draught. Modern estimates put the height of a destrier at no more than 16
hands, though with a strong and heavy physique.
Modern attempts to reproduce destriers usually involve crossing an athletic riding horse with a light draft breed. One example is the "
Spanish Norman," bred by crossing a
Percheron with an
Andalusian.
Value of quality war horses
A good destrier was expensive. 7th century
Salic law gives a price of 12 solidi as
weregild, or reparational payment, for a war horse, compared to 3 solidi for a sound mare or 1 solidus for a cow. In later centuries destriers became even more expensive: the average value of each of the horses in a company of 22 knights and squires in the county of Flanders in 1297 compares to the price of seven normal coursers. The price of these destriers varied between 20 and 300 livres parisis (parisian pounds), compared to 5 to 12 livres for a normal courser.
Further Information
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