Chevaux de Frise

[Keith]

Is there any evidence that this defensive device was used in ancient times? I've just procured a couple of packs of the excellent Renedra 28mm reproduction of this stuff (for my SYW gaming), but wondered if its use might be justified in ancient engagements.

http://www.renedra.co.uk/product.php?product=264

Thanks in advance, Keith.

[Duncan Head]

They are supposedly of mediaeval Frisian origin, rather than ancient. There are similar devices in Ming Chinese manuals.

There is a suggestion that Imperial Roman palisade stakes, the shaped ones with a narrow "handgrip" in the centre, might have been tied to a beam as some sort of cheval-de-frise - see here - but I think it's just a guess.

[Erpingham]

Duncan's already covered this (although most dictionary sources actually place the origin of the term in the Wars of Religion period, not the middle ages).  However, the term has been used by historians to mean a defence like anti-tank obstacles (also sometimes called by the name) and projected back into history e.g. this prehistoric fort defence at Inishmore in Ireland is referred to as a cheval-de-frise.

[Keith]

Thanks gents - that confirms what wikipedia told me! I suppose I could claim that my imaginary ancient states could have some imaginary field defences...