Back Destrer Catalan Destrier German Destrier English Destrero Spanish Destrier French Destriero Italian 데스트리어 Korean Destrier Malay Dextrarius Polish Дестриэ Russian
William Marshal mounted on a destrier unseats an opponent during a joust.
The destrier is the best-known type of Warhorse 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 significance.
The word destrier comes from the Vulgar Latin dextarius, meaning "right-sided" (the same root as our modern dexterous and dexterity). This may refer to it being led by the squire at the knight's right side (or led by the right hand) or to the horse's gait, (possibly leading with the right).[1]
While highly prized by knights and men-at-arms, the destrier was not very common.[2] Most knights and mounted men-at-arms rode other war horses, such as coursers and rounceys.[3] These three types of horse were often called chargers.
- ↑ Christopher Gravett, English Medieval Knight 1300-1400 (Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2002), p 59
- ↑ Michael Prestwich, Armies and Warfare in the Middle Ages: The English Experience (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996), p 30
- ↑ Ewart Oakeshott, A Knight and his Horse, Rev. 2nd Ed. (USA: Dufour Editions, 1998), pp 11-12