Kolchuga - the basic hauberk of early
medieval Rus warriors shown on the right. One style of pantsir' is shown
here on the left. By the 11th and 12th centuries, heavily armored horsemen
comprised the basis of the cavalry forces. Their defensive armor was already
well known from the 11th century scale armor, (cheshuychatypantsir). The pantsir
together with a shield, could sufficiently and reliably protect the cavalryman
both during the battering charge that usually began a cavalry battle and during
the hand-to-hand combat that followed the mounted thrust.