View source for Stirrup

A '''stirrup''' is a metal foot-ring which hangs from a [[saddle]], allowing a [[cavalry|rider]] to brace their weight more effectively.  

Without stirrups, a [[fighter|warrior]] fighting from [[horse|horseback]] must grip the horse's sides with his legs, forcing him to fight from the sitting position.  This means that the warrior can only use his arm and back muscles, greatly reducing the force of a [[sword]]blow.

In [[battle]], a rider who ''stands in the stirrups'' is able to use the full power of his legs to increase the power of a swordblow or the impact of a [[lance]], a great advantage in mounted [[combat]].

Stirrups were invented in [[China]] and were brought to [[Europe]] via the [[Middle East]] during the early [[medieval]] period.  The advantage of stirrups was decisively proven by the [[Norman|Normans]] at the [[Battle of Hastings]], where Norman [[knight|knights]] rode down [[Anglo-Saxon]] [[infantry]].
[[category:artefact (medieval)]]