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Hunnic Composite Bow

Type Object Region Eurasian Steppe Time c. 370–500

The Hunnic composite bow was a recurved composite bow used by 4th–5th century Huns and steppe peoples, made of layered wood, horn, and sinew, with lo…

Timeline

  1. c. 370–400Volga–Don steppe · Volga–DonThe Huns migrated westward from the East Asian steppe to the lower Volga, bringing the composite-bow horse-archery tradition into Eastern Europe, forcing the Goths and other tribes westward and triggering a chain of migrations.
  2. c. 434–453Pannonia · PannoniaUnder Attila, Hunnic light cavalry used the composite bow for feigned retreats, flanking encirclements, and dense arrow storms, fighting Roman–Germanic coalitions at battles such as Chalons, shaking Western Europe.
  3. c. 453–500Eurasian Steppe · Eurasian SteppeAfter the Hunnic Empire disintegrated, composite-bow technology continued to spread through the Avars, Bulgars, and other peoples, influencing the cavalry equipment and tactics of Byzantium and Eastern European states.

Sources