Parthian shot
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The Parthian shot is a light cavalry hit-and-run tactic made famous by the Parthians, an ancient Iranian people. While performing a real or feigned retreat at full gallop, the horse archers would turn their bodies back to shoot at the pursuing enemy. The maneuver required superb equestrian skills, since the rider's hands were occupied by his composite bow and his body was twisted around. As the stirrup had not been invented at the time of the Parthians, the rider relied solely on balance to stay mounted and guide his horse.
History
In addition to the Parthians and their successors, the Sasanians, this tactic was used by most nomads of the Eurasian Steppe, including the Scythians,<ref>Adrienne Mayor: "The Amazons" | Talks at Google</ref> Xiongnu, Huns, Turks, Magyars, Koreans, Mongols, as well as the Urartians and the Comanche.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
The Parthians used the tactic to great effect in their victory over the Roman general Crassus in the Battle of Carrhae.
A tactic similar to the Parthian shot was attributed to the Phoenicians from Sidon by Silius Italicus.<ref>Silius Italicus, Punica</ref>
The tactic was later used by the Afsharid Empire in the Battle of Karnal (1739) against the Mughal Empire, by the Ghurid Empire under Muhammad of Ghor in the Second Battle of Tarain (1192) against Indian war elephants, heavy cavalry, and infantry, by the Seljuk Turks under Alp Arslan in the Battle of Manzikert (1071) against the Byzantine Empire, and by Subutai in the Battle of Legnica (1241) against Polish knights.
As metaphor
The term "Parthian shot" is also used as a metaphor to describe a barbed insult, delivered as the speaker departs.
Gallery
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Korean (Goguryeo) Horse Back Archery in 5th-century.
See also
- Feint
- Pyrrhic victory
- Caracole, a similar cavalry maneuver
- Cantabrian circle
- L'esprit de l'escalier, also called staircase wit