| A destrier is an historical term for a knight's war horse. The
term destrier is derived from the Vulgar Latin 'dextrarius,' meaning
right-hand. The Destrier was usually an ungelded stallion, raised
from foal specifically for the needs of war, and would not shy at
loud noises or in the presence of armed men. The most famous
depictions of destriers is on the Bayeux Tapestry, where horses of
roughly 14-16 hands high can be seen being used as Norman mounts.
The destrier was specifically for war use- when not fighting the
Norman would utilise a sumpter horse to carry his spare wargear and
a palfrey to ride long distances on- the destrier, despite being
powerful, lacked endurance. There are many theories as to what
"type" and size destriers attained, though it now seems clear they
were not enormous draft types. Equestrian statues in Italy suggest a
"Spanish" style of horse that today would be referred to as Baroque.
Modern attempts to reproduce destriers usually involve crossing a
lighter, more athletic horse with something heavier. One example is
the "Spanish Norman," bred by crossing a Percheron with an
Andalusian. Modern estimates put the heights at no more than 16
hands, though with a strong and heavy physique.
Northern European depictions seem to suggest a heavy version of
the modern quarter horse (actual quarter horses were not bred in the
middle ages). The Friesian horse, 14.2 to 17 hands high, is said to
have been used as destrier in medieval times in Northern Europe. Due
to its heavy, muscular physique today's Friesian is not suited to
aerobic sports like all-out racing, but it is an excellent dressage
and student horse famous for its imposing presence and spectacular
trot. When harnesses (plate armor) fell out of use, Andalusian blood
was added to the Friesian lighten its weight.
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 the horses of a company of 22 knights and squires in the
county of Flanders in 1297 compares to the price of seven normal
coursers (J. de St. Genois, Inventoire analytique des chartes de
comtes de Flandres, Ghent, 1843-1846). The price of these destriers
varied between 20 and 300 livres parisis (parisian pounds), compared
to 5 to 12 livres for a normal courser. Horses of kings and
important nobles could be even more expensive. Mounted knights would
take a number of horses campaigning, different horses and breeds for
separate tasks. A destrier fit for battle would be properly trained
as well as of a breed physically capable of carrying a mounted
soldier in battle kit.
The destrier was bred to not only hold an armored knight along
with its own armor, it was bred for shock combat. Shock combat was
the idea during the Middle Ages to literally mow down the enemy.
When used with the couched lance, the destrier-mounted knight could
inflict extreme damage.
It was often said that destriers would die for their owners. They
were able to bear incredible pain from arrow, sword, spear wounds
and other types of wounds. Even though they had on very heavy armor,
destriers were sometimes trained to rear up and fight like "boxers".
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